On Thu, Sep 24, 2009 at 1:35 AM, Dr. David Kirkby <david.kir...@onetel.net> wrote: > > As you are aware, I am trying to improve Sage on Solaris. My progress > has been stunted recently as three of my Sun computers were destroyed by > lightning, including the fastest one I own. The damage is currently > subject to an insurance claim, which I believe is almost resolved. > > Soon I should have some new Solaris hardware (both SPARC and x86). One > of the x86 machines will be a quad core Xeon 3.33 GHz, so hopefully > building Sage wont be too painful on Solaris x86. > > I know Sun computers are complex bits of kit, using components like > resistors and even integrated circuits, but I thought removing the > covers from them was pretty dam simple. All one needs is a Phillips > screwdriver, and a little bit of common sense. Failing that, the service > manuals are online at docs.sun.com. > > As part of the insurance claim, a couple of the Suns were returned to a > company called iVal, that deals with computer insurance claims. > > (The machines had to be later returned to me, as iVal were unable to > test Sun computers - despite I'd told them in advance what they were. > The insurers agreed to pay a local company I found to test them instead.) > > I thought I'd amuse you with a few photos of how the covers were removed > from two of the Sun computers returned to me. > > Here is how to open a Sun Ultra 60: > > First break off the corner of the cover: > http://sage.math.washington.edu/home/kirkby/Computer-experts-in-action/Broken-corner-of-Sun-Ultra-60.jpg > > Since that obviously does not allow the cover to be removed, smash off > the part where the screwdriver should have been inserted: > > http://sage.math.washington.edu/home/kirkby/Computer-experts-in-action/ultra-60-broken-centre.jpg > > Here's a close up of that bit, which they kindly wrapped up in bubble > wrap for me. I guess the bubble wrap gave it protection in transit! > > http://sage.math.washington.edu/home/kirkby/Computer-experts-in-action/broken-bracket-from-Sun-Ultra-60-case.jpg > > At that point, all it needed was the cover to be slid back, but these > computer experts decided it was easier to break off the 4 little catches > on the cover. This would allow them to pull the cover out sideways, not > backwards as it was designed to be removed. I did not notice the absence > immediately, so don't have any photos of that. > > On another machine, they managed to remove the cover, but had some > difficulty in fitting it back, so shipped it back to me with the cover > in place on one side, but not on the other. > > http://sage.math.washington.edu/home/kirkby/Computer-experts-in-action/netra-t1-Lid-misplaced-and-scratched.jpg > > The third Sun computer destroyed by the lightning, (a Sun Blade 2000) > was too heavy to ship - I refused to wrap it up, so after some argument, > the insurers agreed for that to be inspected in my home. So it never > suffered the same fate as the other two machines. > > The computer company have given me a *very* frustrating time, and my > insurers agreed to compensate me £200 (around $325) for the messing > around I received. This £200 was not for the damage, only the messing > around - the machines was written off anyway. > > I thought I'd amuse you a little, and hopefully my progress on Solaris > will improve somewhat in the near future, when I get the hardware replaced. >
LOL I remember struggling very, very hard once to get the cover off of my Sun Fire V20z. It's shocking how badly they messed up your boxes though! William --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ To post to this group, send an email to sage-devel@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to sage-devel-unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/sage-devel URL: http://www.sagemath.org -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
