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VAXstation 3100

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VAXstation 3100
VAXstation 3100 Model 30 system box (EK-285AA-MG-001 Figure 4-1)
Rear and front of the Model 30 system box (DEC, EK-285AA-MG-001, Figure 4-1)
Specifications
ManufacturerDigital Equipment Corporation
TypeWorkstation
ReleasedJanuary 1989[1]
CPUKA42-A CVAX, 90 ns cycle (Models 30 and 40); KA42-B CVAX+ (38, 48); KA43-A Rigel (76)[2][3]
Memory8 MB, expandable to 32 MB (Model 40)[2]
StorageUp to three internal SCSI drives; RX23 diskette on the Model 30[4][2]
Display1024 × 864 monochrome, or colour with the 8-plane graphics coprocessor; VR150, VR160, VR260 and VR290 monitors[4][5]
Sound—
Power100–120 V or 220–240 V, automatically adjusting, 47–63 Hz; 378 W (Model 40)[2]
Dimensions14.99 × 46.38 × 40.00 cm (Model 40 system unit)[2]
Weight17.8 kg (Model 40 system unit)[2]
OS / FirmwareVMS, ULTRIX-32[6]

The VAXstation 3100 is a family of desktop VAX workstations made by Digital Equipment Corporation, introduced in January 1989.[1] It runs VMS or ULTRIX-32 and was sold in five models, 30, 38, 40, 48 and 76, which differ in processor and in the size of the system box.[6][3] The VAXstation 3100 shares its BA42 enclosures and its H7821 and H7822 power supplies with the MicroVAX 3100 and the DECstation 3100 family.[7]

The system box contains a mains switching power supply. The monitors are separate CRT units with their own service guides; see CRT Discharge Procedure before opening one.[8]

Models

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VAXstation 3100 models
Model Processor module Enclosure Power supply
30 (VS42A) KA42-A, CVAX BA42-A (smaller) H7821
40 (VS42S) KA42-A, CVAX BA42-B (larger) H7822
38 KA42-B, CVAX+ BA42-A H7821-00
48 KA42-B, CVAX+ BA42-B H7822-00
76 KA43-A, Rigel BA42-A H7821-00

[4][9][7][3]

The Models 30 and 40 use the same system module and differ only in the box: the Model 40's taller BA42-B holds more drives.[3][9] The model number on the label at the back of the system box identifies the model; VS42A is a Model 30 and VS42S a Model 40.[4] Wikipedia gives clock rates of 11.12 MHz (KA42-A), 16.67 MHz (KA42-B) and 35.71 MHz (KA43-A).[3]

Hardware

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DEC's maintenance guide divides the Model 30 and 40 system box into up to nine field-replaceable units: the system module, one or two memory modules, a graphics module, the power supply, a mass storage controller (MSC) module, and up to three internal drives. The Model 30 takes an RX23 diskette drive or a TZ30 tape drive with one or two RZ22 or RZ23 disks.[4] The keyboard is the LK201.[4]

Main FRUs, Models 30 and 40 (DEC recommended spares list)
Unit Part number
System module (KA42-A) 54-17312-01
Memory modules MS42-AA / MS42-BA / MS42-CA (4, 12, 16 MB) 54-18287-AA / 54-18287-BA / 54-18324-AA
SCSI/SCSI MSC module (VS42X-RC) 54-17445-04
ST506/SCSI MSC module (VS42X-RA), Model 30 54-17314-02
8-plane graphics coprocessor (VS40X-PA) 54-17282-01
Battery pack, 5 V 12-19245-00
Power supply H7821 (Model 30); H7822 (Model 40)

[9]

The rear panel carries an external SCSI port, standard and ThinWire Ethernet ports with a selector switch, keyboard, mouse or tablet, video, printer and communications ports, a halt button, eight diagnostic LEDs and a switched AC outlet for the monitor.[10] Settings such as the boot device, the keyboard language and the time are kept in nonvolatile RAM backed by a rechargeable battery pack.[11]

Known faults

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  • Power supply capacitors. Malte Dehling describes the VAXstation 3100 supplies as plagued with leaky capacitors and fixes most by cleaning the board with isopropanol and replacing them; see VAXstation 3100 Power Supply Guide.[7]
  • Low NVR battery. A power-up summary line "? D 0050 0000.0005" means the battery is low; DEC's remedy is to leave the system powered so the pack recharges, then check its cable and replace it.[12][11]
  • Missing terminators. The ThinWire Ethernet port must be terminated or the power-up tests report "?? 1 00C0 0000.7004".[12] The external SCSI port uses a 68-pin connector with a DEC-specific pinout, not wide SCSI, and needs DEC's terminator, part 12-29635-01, or a home-made equivalent.[13]

See VAXstation 3100 Troubleshooting Guide and VAXstation 3100 Maintenance Guide.

Documentation

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Details are on VAXstation 3100 Documentation.

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  • Model 30 with the cover off: battery pack and cable (DEC Figure 4-21)
    Model 30 with the cover off: battery pack and cable (DEC Figure 4-21)
  • Model 30 power supply (DEC Figure 4-22)
    Model 30 power supply (DEC Figure 4-22)
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References

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  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Digital Equipment Corporation, VAXstation 3100 Cover Letter, EK-393AA-CL-001, December 1989, p. 1 (File:VAXstation 3100 Cover Letter (EK-393AA-CL-001).pdf). Family introduced in January 1989; owner's manuals for the Models 30, 38, 40 and 48.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 DEC, EK-266AA-OM-001, pp. D-1 to D-2, Tables D-1 and D-2. System specifications and dimensions.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "VAXstation", Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VAXstation, section "VAXstation 3100 Series". CPU modules and clock rates; Models 30 and 40 share the system board.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 DEC, EK-285AA-MG-001, p. 88, section 4.1. Model 30 enclosure, FRUs, monitors, keyboard, model labels.
  5. ↑ DEC, EK-266AA-OM-001, p. C-5. 8-plane graphics coprocessor, 1024 × 864 pixels.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Digital Equipment Corporation, VAXstation 3100 Model 40 Owner's Manual, EK-266AA-OM-001, January 1989, pp. 1-1 to 1-2 (File:VAXstation 3100 Model 40 Owner's Manual (EK-266AA-OM-001).pdf). VMS and ULTRIX-32.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Malte Dehling, "DIGITAL VAXstation 3100 PSU Repair", GitHub repository README, github.com/mdehling/vs3100-psu-repair. Supplies used by each model; capacitor problems. Community source.
  8. ↑ DEC, EK-285AA-MG-001, pp. 90 to 91, section 4.2 and Table 4-2. Monitor FRUs are covered by separate guides.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 DEC, EK-285AA-MG-001, pp. 246 to 247, Appendix H, recommended spares list.
  10. ↑ DEC, EK-285AA-MG-001, p. 89, Figure 4-1. Model 30 system box.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 DEC, EK-285AA-MG-001, p. 24, section 2.5. NVR contents and the low battery code.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Digital Equipment Corporation, VAXstation 3100 Maintenance Guide, EK-285AA-MG-001, February 1989, pp. 9 to 10 (File:VAXstation 3100 Maintenance Guide (EK-285AA-MG-001).pdf). Common power-up status messages.
  13. ↑ Malte Dehling, "VAXstation 3100 SCSI Terminator", GitHub repository README, github.com/mdehling/vs3100-scsi-terminator. Community source.
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