IBM RT 6150?

[Sridhar Ayengar]

Jason T wrote:
> Well I finally got the IBM - mine is a 6151/115.  Not sure what the
> last digits signify. Original hard drive?  I didn't think it's like
> IBM to put the hard drive size on the faceplate like that.

IBM's standard way of marking machines is Type-Model.  XXXX-XXX

The -XXX will tell you about its original configuration.  CPU, memory, 
disk, everything.

For example, an IBM 2007-AD1 (the machine I'm typing this on), is a 
ThinkPad T60p with a/b/g wireless, 2GB RAM, 100GB 7200RPM SATA disk, 
bluetooth, no fingerprint reader and ATI Mobility FireGL V5200 graphics. 
  Knowing just the type and model is enough to tell me all I need to 
look *all* of that up.

Usually, the first digit of the model is a major revision, and the last 
two refer to a specific configuration.

I have my doubts as to whether a drive as large as 115MB would have been 
a common default factory configuration on that machine.

> Keyboard connector - definitely odd.  Fortunately the 'board itself is
> a regular Model M, which made replacing the keys damaged in shipping
> easy.  Unfortunately the cable is not modular on the keyboard end, so
> I'll have to make sure to keep it out of range of the cats :)
> 
> The mouse looks like a strange connector, too.  Unfortunately I got no
> mouse with the system :(

I wouldn't worry about it, if you don't have a Megapixel card and 
monitor.  If you do, then it would be worth it to get a mouse.

> Don't know how much RAM I've got.  How can I tell?  The system doesn't
> turn the display on until AIX is booting, so if there's a POST screen
> I can't see it.

There's nothing there to see.  IBM workstation posts didn't display 
anything on the screen until *very* recently.

> As everyone noted, it is *heavy*!  I'm used to heavy workstations from
> the mid-80s (Sun 3, SGI and the like) but this one tops the list, at
> least in my collection.

Welcome to the world of IBM, with plastics heavier than steel.

> There is what looks like the standard IBM 37-pin external floppy
> connector on one of the cards.  Is that what it is?  Or maybe for a
> tape drive?  If it's the latter I may even have a drive for it...

I can't help you there.  I doubt any third-party tape drive would be 
compatible, though,

> All in all an interesting historical footnote machine.  I booted it
> and played Hunt the Wumpus on it last night, so I'm happy with it. :)

I don't know if I'd call it a footnote, since it led directly to RS/6000.

> It also had a Stallion 16-port RS-232 card in it, with breakout box,
> which I removed so as not to damage the cabling going to the box.
> Cool as it is, it's unlikely I will ever use more than one external
> serial device on this box, if any.  Can anyone make use of this kit?
> I'd be happy to trade it for just about anything - help getting a copy
> of the O/S for this machine would be ideal.  I believe these are all
> ISA slots, so perhaps it will work on a PC also?  Here's a pic of the
> box:
> 
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/chiclassiccomp/2318580337/

I'd be interested in that card, cable and box.  Email me.  We might be 
able to come to an arrangement.

Peace...  Sridhar