Chad:
Below is old computer trivia about "big case" boxes:
Since you all enjoy looking for old hardware, keep your eyes open for
Banyon Tower computers. They look like an AS/400 mini-computer (nearly
waist height, about arms length deep, and about 20" wide). The boxes
were designed by Banyon as a 24/7/365, 99.99999% reliable unit (that is
less than 6 hours of downtime in a 365 day - 24 hour year of operation).
I have often seen 250 to 300 users attached to a single Banyon server (a
'486-33 with 32 MB and 10 MB Ethernet). In 1991, with all the extras,
they sold new for about $35,000 USD.
Banyon "boxes" were built in the 1985 through early-1992 era. Early
units were '386-20 MHz with 80387 co-processor (which have less than 24
MB RAM). The later models were '486-20 MHz to '486-33 MHz based (which
have less than 64 MB RAM) using standard SCSI architecture. Both '386 &
'486 could handle up to four 5 1/4" full-height SCSI drives (most of the
latter units are 650 MB max. - a lot of the early ones were in the 190
MB to 550 MB range). They have up to two tape drives. Some of the later
'486's had a floppy & some even had built-in CD's.
The interesting design feature that lead to their high reliability is
they have two 5 1/2 inch fans, a 500 watt power supply with built-in 550
VA UPS. The boxes weigh about 100 pounds with two drives and nearly 150
lbs with all the stuff in them. [ I have been told that Compaq built
them under the Banyon name; but I have yet to speak with a "real Banyon
hardware repair tech" to confirm that one. ]
The Banyon OS was more like UNIX than anything else. The Banyon OS also
required a special "hardware key with serial number" to operate. Banyon
boxes will work just dandy as a server with Linux or FreeBSD. That can
require some imagination on how to load an up-to-date "open source" OS
(remove the drives + controller and use another computer is one option -
adding a CD to the SCSI chain is another).
We have been able to find them because the Banyon OS is now dead. Most
of them are being replaced by Windows NT servers.
Soooooo, if you think you need a real workhorse box and speed on the
desktop to handle "Windows 9.x/NT/2000" is not your primary issue -
start looking for a Banyon box.
John O
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