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Gammitin (Ben) 💾 @gammitin.bsky.social · 12h

☀️ 😇

Sun Ultra 1 Enterprise, Sun SPARCstation LX

Gammitin (Ben) 💾 @gammitin.bsky.social · 12h

Option 4)
Setup my Sun Ultra 1 to auto-boot then act as an X11 server. Then try to get my SPARCstation LX to remotely graphically login.
Well this was my test run and it's AMAZING!
My LX is quite slow, but it flys, it's night and day difference!

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Gammitin (Ben) 💾 @gammitin.bsky.social · 1d

Now this is sorted, a couple of things I'd like to try:
1) Add a second framebuffer card and try dual monitors.
2) See if I can find a Sun Ray thin client and try setting it up as a Solaris thin client server.
3) Try an Ultra SCSI SBUS card to add way larger storage.
Any ideas?

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Gammitin (Ben) 💾 @gammitin.bsky.social · 1d

The working drive installed, is a
SEAGATE: ST32430WC HAWK 2LP 2147MB 3.5"/SL SCSI2 WIDE

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Gammitin (Ben) 💾 @gammitin.bsky.social · 1d

Here's a shot of the inside of the machine:

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Gammitin (Ben) 💾 @gammitin.bsky.social · 1d

Result, we have seconds!

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Gammitin (Ben) 💾 @gammitin.bsky.social · 1d

Looking promising.....

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Gammitin (Ben) 💾 @gammitin.bsky.social · 1d

Let's give it a go with the XTAL this time 😀

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Gammitin (Ben) 💾 @gammitin.bsky.social · 1d

a space ship is flying through a tunnel of blue lights

ALT: a space ship is flying through a tunnel of blue lights

media.tenor.com

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Gammitin (Ben) 💾 @gammitin.bsky.social · 1d

Now that's better!

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Gammitin (Ben) 💾 @gammitin.bsky.social · 1d

Here it is, now I need to solder this to the chip and hope it works:

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Gammitin (Ben) 💾 @gammitin.bsky.social · 1d

I struck Gold! 😊

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Gammitin (Ben) 💾 @gammitin.bsky.social · 1d

And we have the reason why the time wasn't working, because I had pulled off the XTAL, so I heated it up and got digging:

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Gammitin (Ben) 💾 @gammitin.bsky.social · 1d

I freaked out, thinking I'd broken the chip, went back on RHD Discord, had a few suggestions and tried a few things, nothing. But then someone asked: did you accidentally discard the XTAL in the casing?
Jeez, ran outside, dove in the bin and rescued this, can you see the legs:

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Gammitin (Ben) 💾 @gammitin.bsky.social · 1d

This is supposed to change every second, when the seconds are going up. I guess we paused time, or I have a problem 😥

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Gammitin (Ben) 💾 @gammitin.bsky.social · 1d

'U WOT MATE?'

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Gammitin (Ben) 💾 @gammitin.bsky.social · 1d

All programmed up again, let's reset:

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Gammitin (Ben) 💾 @gammitin.bsky.social · 1d

So, I decided to install a fly lead as the SBUS card gets pretty close, also I can change the battery externally if I wish.

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Gammitin (Ben) 💾 @gammitin.bsky.social · 1d

Well, the system posted and remembers the settings, what a win!
Well, I thought so, but there's a clue on an issue in this picture, I went from a high to a low quickly. 😔

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Gammitin (Ben) 💾 @gammitin.bsky.social · 1d

So, I decided to test it without a battery, to see if I had destroyed it.
*NOTE: I want to show you where I messed up, this is always a learning journey for me and hopefully it will help someone, not make the same mistake.*

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Gammitin (Ben) 💾 @gammitin.bsky.social · 1d

The process involves heating slowly, then using a knife to pry off the outer case. When it's still warm (remember to be safe, PPE etc.), I used long nose pliers to pick away the filling. To my surprise it all crumbled and left this:

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Gammitin (Ben) 💾 @gammitin.bsky.social · 1d

So, I was having a discussion on RHD Discord, and I was recommended to try the heat up and remove the casing technique, rather than Dremel. I was a bit worried, but decided to give it a go!
This was the result, I don't have a hot air station, so I used a gas hob, warmed slowly:

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Gammitin (Ben) 💾 @gammitin.bsky.social · 1d

Not sure why, but this platform seems to not show replies/threads to some people. Here's some updates on my Sun Ultra 1 thread for today:
bsky.app/profile/gamm...

Gammitin (Ben) 💾 @gammitin.bsky.social · 1d

This is my Sun Ultra 1's NVRAM/Timekeeper/iDPROM chip. They don't make them anymore, but can be modded to add an external battery. Let's go and sort this out, as I'm sick to death of reprogramming it with 22 individual commands every time I switch it on.

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Gammitin (Ben) 💾 @gammitin.bsky.social · 1d

This is my Sun Ultra 1's NVRAM/Timekeeper/iDPROM chip. They don't make them anymore, but can be modded to add an external battery. Let's go and sort this out, as I'm sick to death of reprogramming it with 22 individual commands every time I switch it on.

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Gammitin (Ben) 💾 @gammitin.bsky.social · 1d

Luna says Hi 👋

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