#Off-th-wall UNIX
30 messages in this thread
I was rooting around WeirdStuff in Sunnyvale and found a working version of
an AT&T "Unix PC" that was running a UNIX identified as Version 3.0. It was
a small UNIX, but did include a C compiler. It had a green monitor, a 40 Mb
harddrive, and manuals available.
I'm tempted…it's only $300…I've done dumber things before….
Anybody know this machine or this UNIX?
Oh, why not? I'm going to buy it right now. 🙂 Rob.
Rob
The machine you are looking at had several incarnations. It was
variously the AT&T Unix PC ,the 7300, the 3B1, etc. Hmmm… that Unix
shouldn't be all that small, it was supposed to have a full System V,
release 3.0! Try taking a gander over in UNIXFORUM – they have (had?) a lot
of info & goodies for that machine.
It's a 7300 model with 2 MB ram and (you're right) System V Version 3.0. I
bought it.
The trouble is it came with manuals but no installation software and
*suddenly* the root password is unknown. Oh well, they gave me $50 off for
losing the password.
I'll ask in UnixForum if there's a default root password. Rob.
Rob,
I'm not positive but I don't think there is a default root password. Best
bet would be to try to get to install — from there you can change the root
password. Otherwise, you're gonna have to get the installation software.
If you do need the installation software and can't get it locally, let me
know, I might be able to get it for you.
-sja
Thanks, Steve, but AT&T is helping out. Looks like it's going to be fun.
Now, could I hook up the Amiga using AS225….hmmmm….Rob
What you have is a good buy, however not that it is *NOT* UNIX System V
Release 3. It is UNIX System V with sprinkles of 1, 2, and 3 in it. The
Release 3 refers strictly to the UNIX PC version number of the operating
systems.
No, there is no default root password (my recollection was that the default
for that box was no password). We have a few UNIX PC's here although not
have crashed in years and I haven't the slightest idea was the master
diskettes are. In any event, you should be able to bop on over to UNIXFORM
as there are other with said boxes over there.
Dave,
No…it's not SVR3, it's Convergent UNIX…a cross between BSD and
SVR2.
Don
No, no, it's not SVR3, and it is a Convergent Technologies port of UNIX,
however it's not a cross between BSD and SVR2.
Greg,
It's got many "BSDism's" in it, such as the use of more rather than
pg, a single crontab file in /usr/lib rather that (possible) multiple
crontabs in
/usr/spool/cron/crontabs (and no /etc/cron for that fact). You want to
have some real fun, try running the various init levels that should be
supported on a true System V machine.
Don
Funny- this all brings us to the eternal "when is a Unix XXX a Unix XXX,
pretty much open for debate no!?–<MW>
Mike,
No…not at all. There are very specific things that must be done
before you can say some version of UNIX is SVR3 (or any other release level
for that fact). That's besides getting permission for AT&T to use the name
"UNIX".
Don
Rob,
That machine is known by several names, and comes in several
versions.
AT&T UNIX PC
AT&T 7300
AT&T 3B1
(it was manufactured by Convergent)
It's 68010 based, runs UNIX and with the appropriate board, runs
MS-DOS but it's an oddball UNIX. Not BSD nor AT&T SystemV. The latest
version I know of was version 3.51 for that machine.
They're not bad machines…I've got one sitting beside me right
now…it belongs to work, but I use it here to play around. Depending on
how old it is, it either has a 10, 20 or 67 (?) Meg HD in it, and either
512K, 1 Meg or 2 Meg of RAM standard. The 512k version is a real
dog…almost all the memory is used up by the OS so you start swapping
(moving programs between disk and memory) almost right away. The 1 Meg
version is a bit better, and the 2 Meg version isn't too bad.
They have build in 1200 baud modems and for the most part, run from
their own specialized window'ed interface. It's a pain to get to a command
line, but it can be done.
Don
Thanks, Don; I'm getting smarter fast. While the label says 7300, it's got
2 MB Ram on the motherboard and a 40 MB hard drive The manuals say
"Beta-for internal use"; maybe the beast is a prototybe 3B1.
If only I could figure out the password…..maybe ATT still has software
available. Rob.
Rob,
The fully loaded 7300 was also known as a 3B1.
-sja
AT&T no longer officially support the machine. UNIXFORUM is your best bet.
Thanks, Greg, AT&T may not "officially" support the machine; they are
nevertheless providing me a copy of release (version?) 3.51. And I have
been to UNIX Forum – wish it were as active as Amiga Forums – maybe in
time. 🙂 Rob.
try booting in single user mode…
-Ed
I did it the easy way; I guessed the password.
When i lose my root passwd, i boot the machine in Single User mode
(Motorola type a key when booting, you ???) then edit /etc/passwd and
remove the second field so you get root::0:1:blah blah:/:ksh
or something like that. The important thing is the two adjecent colons
after the word root. Viel Gluck – For Sale: one state (CT) Cheap!
HandyMan's Special!
price includes bad roads and Bank of NE (owner must supply own budget)
That doesn't always necessarily work. Some systems still require a root
password to be typed before you can enter single user mode.
Even if that doesn't work, there are surprisingly large number of ways
obtain root priviliges. I've had to do it at work for systems that we
haven't used in a couple of years, or for vendor evaluation systems that
come in without the password. Then, right after I do that, I go back to
the system software we ship and make sure no one can get in the same way.
🙂
Steve
Richard,
The 7300's don't have that option (hit a key to boot in single user
mode) so it doesn't apply. You boot in the mode defined in /etc/inittab as
the initdefault value.
Were it as easy as hitting a key on bootup…there'd be no sense
having a password at all as anyone who could get to the machine, could
force it into single user mode and "crack" the machine.
Don
Well, after a couple hours trying, I guessed the password and got a rather
rude welcome screen. But now it's running fine.
Actually, I'm fairly impressed with it; it's working perfectly except for
the floppy – and that's probably my fault – I dobn't have the commands
right. The docs are somewhat opaque in a few areas, but AmigaDos mystified
me at first too.
The C and curses codde that it likes seems to port intact to our Suns at
work – so on the whole, I'm satisfied it was/is a bargain. I recognize,
however, that it is limited by today's standards and orphaned, as well.
But, that is why it cost only $300, no? Rob.
I'm glad you got it going, i wish i had a UNIX box @home. (I miss my 19" X
terminal). I'm impressed that you guessed the passwd!
Floppies; yuck! i never had any luck using the floppies (unrepeatable
results/success/failure) That's why god invented 150mb tape cartridges. Of
course, you haven't lived until you've fed a rack of 80 floppies into a Sun
(one at a time) to do an upgrade.
Good luck w/your new toy.
– For Sale: one state (CT) Cheap! HandyMan's Special!
price includes bad roads and Bank of NE (owner must supply own budget)
Floppies on your Sun? C/DRom makes it so easy…. 🙂
Getting a command line isn't all that hard: just change the entry in
/etc/passwd. In fact we don't even use the User Agent unless doing less
menial tasks such as tape backups and such. It can also be gotten from the
first window that comes up, no?
Greg,
Yes, it can be done by removing the trailing /usr/bin/ua from
/etc/passwd entries…the machine is really setup to be run from the User
Agent for the most part. Yes, when I play with it…I use it strictly from
the command line rather than from ua, but I'm not a novice with UNIX.
And yes, the first window in ua does have a UNIX System option, but
that spawns another shell…and unnecessary extra process on such a limited
machine.
Don
Rob,
I am fairly certain that that machine was on the cover of BYTE magazine
3-4 years ago. It may be a good way to get some education on using UNIX
but doesn't run a current version. It seems to me that it used either a
68000 or 68020. Perhaps the best way to make a decision is to dig up the
old BYTE and read the article. Did it have an attached keyboard?
….Mark
Yes, it was written up in BYTE a while back. Al Meyer(?), the guy who
wrote Cosy, software which BIX runs upon, did the review if I recall
properly.
Yes this is the AT&T 7300 also known as the Safari….And yes it's SRV 3.0
the cost of teh machine of good…but of you get into it and the thing
needs parts, god help you…better you get Minix for the Amiga or bbuy a
cheap 286 clone and Coherent–<MW>
I wouldn't touch Minix until they came out with an upgrade to the current
version….at least not unless you have access to the Internet archives.
Working from floppy disks is very frustrating.
Steve