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Here's What Happens When an 18 Year Old Buys a Mainframe

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Conor Kosi recounts his journey of acquiring and setting up an IBM z890 mainframe in his basement, detailing challenges faced during disassembly, reassembly, and software loading. Despite encountering obstacles like storage costs and configuration issues, Conor remains enthusiastic about learning and sharing the mainframe's capabilities while planning future steps to enhance its functionality.

Insights

  • Conor Kosi's journey of acquiring and setting up an IBM z890 mainframe showcases the importance of meticulous planning, attention to detail, and perseverance in overcoming technical challenges, highlighting the significance of patience and precision in vintage computing projects.
  • The exploration of cost-effective storage solutions, such as connecting a SAN device to a FICON port via fiber channel protocol, demonstrates the speaker's resourcefulness and adaptability in problem-solving, emphasizing the value of seeking alternative methods when faced with expensive hardware constraints in vintage technology projects.

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Recent questions

  • How did Conor acquire the IBM z890 mainframe?

    Conor purchased it from Rutgers University in New Jersey for $237.39.

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Summary

00:00

Conor Kosi's Journey with Vintage Mainframe

  • The speaker, Conor Kosi, shares his experience of purchasing an IBM z890 mainframe a few months ago, detailing his journey with vintage computers and electronics.
  • He acquired the mainframe for $237.39 from Rutgers University in New Jersey, planning a meticulous disassembly to transport it to his basement.
  • With the help of friends, Conor disassembled the mainframe into manageable parts, facing challenges like fitting it under a deck due to the basement's unique entrance.
  • Conor's father excavated land to create a pathway for the mainframe into the basement, emphasizing the importance of planning and measuring accurately.
  • Reassembly involved labeling and reattaching components, with a significant hurdle being the discovery of poor thermal compound application on the heat sinks.
  • Powering the mainframe required converting three-phase to single-phase, with a friend's guidance on wiring and power specifications.
  • After resolving initial errors and power supply issues, Conor encountered difficulties with the Input/Output Configuration Data Set (IOCDS), requiring assistance to create a functional configuration.
  • Loading software over FTP revealed the need to connect the mainframe to a LAN port on a laptop, with a caution against using special characters in passwords.
  • Conor successfully loaded the operating system, Think Blue, via FTP after overcoming password issues, highlighting the importance of patience and attention to detail.
  • SSH access was established, marking a successful completion of the mainframe setup process, showcasing the speaker's perseverance and problem-solving skills.

17:42

Challenges and Triumphs in Mainframe Storage

  • The issue of expensive storage arises, with FICON ESCON-based storage being costly, thousands of dollars.
  • Alternative storage solution considered: connecting a SAN device to a FICON port via fiber channel protocol due to its cost-effectiveness.
  • List of items acquired for the SAN setup: SAN data Gateway, SCSI converter, various cables, HP storage works, SFP transceiver.
  • Configuration roadblock encountered: configuring fiber channel protocol, specifically the SAN data Gateway, leading to delays and challenges.
  • Inability to IPL the machine due to missing feature code 9904, a SCSI IPL feature, causing a dead end in the project.
  • Consideration of purchasing a used DS6000 storage solution, with options explored including contacting Fundamental Software Incorporated (FSI) for a Flex Cub PCI card.
  • Installation attempt on a 3990 model 9 setup using SuSE Linux Enterprise 11, with challenges faced during the lengthy installation process.
  • Gratitude expressed towards individuals and companies who provided support and assistance throughout the project, including IBM, HP, and FSI.
  • Plans for future steps include resolving issues with the DS6000 storage, connecting a real 3270 terminal, and potentially experimenting with other operating systems like ZBM 5.3e.
  • Acknowledgment of the significant cost reduction in acquiring the mainframe, from an original price of $350,000 to a total cost of approximately $350, highlighting the journey and experiences gained in the process.

38:20

Enthusiast sets up vintage Mainframe for learning.

  • The speaker is enthusiastic about vintage computers and wants to set up vacu column tape drives on a Mainframe in their basement, but finding punch card readers or key punches is challenging, with key punches available on eBay for high prices but readers scarce.
  • They plan to use the Mainframe for learning purposes, considering options like Music Mill University for interactive Computing, and have contacted IBM for more resources to enhance its functionality, aiming to eventually make it accessible for others to experiment with.
  • Despite concerns about power consumption, the speaker is committed to exploring the Mainframe's capabilities, with a license for the flex Cub lasting around six to seven months, and they are open to sharing the IP address for others to access and experiment with the system.
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