If you just like the old machines that is cool but I am curious, what would you use it for? I ask this because I have a load of old computers ( I used to repair them and people would give me their old ones). I know of some things you can use them for that modern computers seemed to have abandoned. Sending a Fax with a fax card, reading 360k, 1.2, 720K or 1.4mb disks. Run old operating systems natively and the software that requires those old OS. VM machines don't always cut it, especially with games. I would love to hear any other examples of things you can only do with these old machines.
@@michaelterry1000 Honestly, I'm just autistic and enjoy old/obscure machines doing era-appropreate stuff, Or even run Modern stuff, like some form of Linux. Most of my machiens are either used as servers, or toys for OS-es (For example, my Dell Optiplex I got is what I used to dip my toes in the waters of Hackintoshing.)
I may just go ahead and put a BSD on my Sun Blade 100. I fixed the NVRAM and reprogrammed the IDPROM (but this sun4u is different to earlier ones like the Ultra30/60, Ultra2, etc. so I had to scare up some info on how to fix IDPROM... was years ago now!) I tried installing Debian 12 on it, and yep, systemd strikes again. Last I had it booting, it would try to boot up, but something in systemd was rotten, so it fell over. Today, it doesn't even have valid boot blocks. :o(
I've not had good luck with Linux on this machine, nor on my Alphastation XP900, nor on my HP9000 D230. You might get it installed headless (no xwindows), but OpenBSD has always been my Go-to OS for vintage machines. They maintain machines for a much longer time than other distros (NetBSD and FreeBSD for example). Both of those latter work, but not with the graphics hardware on the machines. On the PA/Risc box, Linux just doesn't install.
Interesting! I have a Sun Blade 100 at home with a broken ID PROM. I've had replacement parts for it for years, but I was never able to implement a fix that would stick. What were your steps in fixing the NVRAM on the IDPROM?
Having old obscure machines like this, how does it feel to live my dream xD
If you just like the old machines that is cool but I am curious, what would you use it for? I ask this because I have a load of old computers ( I used to repair them and people would give me their old ones). I know of some things you can use them for that modern computers seemed to have abandoned. Sending a Fax with a fax card, reading 360k, 1.2, 720K or 1.4mb disks. Run old operating systems natively and the software that requires those old OS. VM machines don't always cut it, especially with games. I would love to hear any other examples of things you can only do with these old machines.
@@michaelterry1000 Honestly, I'm just autistic and enjoy old/obscure machines doing era-appropreate stuff, Or even run Modern stuff, like some form of Linux. Most of my machiens are either used as servers, or toys for OS-es (For example, my Dell Optiplex I got is what I used to dip my toes in the waters of Hackintoshing.)
@@sometime- Interesting. Thanks for the reply. I am always interested in what people do with old machines.
I may just go ahead and put a BSD on my Sun Blade 100. I fixed the NVRAM and reprogrammed the IDPROM (but this sun4u is different to earlier ones like the Ultra30/60, Ultra2, etc. so I had to scare up some info on how to fix IDPROM... was years ago now!)
I tried installing Debian 12 on it, and yep, systemd strikes again. Last I had it booting, it would try to boot up, but something in systemd was rotten, so it fell over. Today, it doesn't even have valid boot blocks. :o(
mx linux : debian without systemd, try it
I've not had good luck with Linux on this machine, nor on my Alphastation XP900, nor on my HP9000 D230. You might get it installed headless (no xwindows), but OpenBSD has always been my Go-to OS for vintage machines. They maintain machines for a much longer time than other distros (NetBSD and FreeBSD for example). Both of those latter work, but not with the graphics hardware on the machines. On the PA/Risc box, Linux just doesn't install.
@@Technoid_Mutantyes, same challenges here.
You could check T/2 (René Rebe from Berlin)
Interesting! I have a Sun Blade 100 at home with a broken ID PROM. I've had replacement parts for it for years, but I was never able to implement a fix that would stick.
What were your steps in fixing the NVRAM on the IDPROM?
run neofetch