>>NetBSD/vax on this "Vaxstation 3100 M38".  However, the support pages show
>>conflicting information about whether or not this machine is supported -
>>anyone know for sure?
>
>Yes, this machine will run NetBSD/vax very nicely.

could you give a performance estimate? :-)
performance comparison could be to a 68k mac, or an x86 maybe.

>>found what looked to be a SCSI2 interface on this card pointing out of the
>>back of the computer (it also had a terminating plug).  Is this really a
>>SCSI2 interface? Maybe I'm underestimating vax technology here.
>
>I don't believe it's actually a SCSI-2 interface, just SCSI-1, though a more
>experienced VAX geek could answer that more definitively (I'm still a bit
>new to this myself).  There is a cable (DEC BC09J) that mates with the
>68-pin connector on the VS3100 and has a normal 50-pin SCSI-1 connector on
>the other end.

You're right, it's not SCSI2. It's some modification of SCSI1 apparently.
I'll probably need to find an adapter if I want to connect an external
drive.

>>I plugged everything to the back of the machine, including a Vax monitor
>>(with it's coax-to-15-pin connector), a mouse that looks like a hockey
>>puck, a keyboard, a AUI<->10Bt tranceiver, and power cords, and started the
>>machine up.  I'm not exactly sure what the bootup was supposed to look
>>like, but I heard intermittent beeps, in sync with the blinking light on
>>the floppy disk drive and the lights on the keyboard.  Anyone know what I
>>should do next? Looks like some kind of warning message or something. :-\

I just thought of another question:

Can another monitor be used on this system? The video port on the VAX looks
like a mac's video output, except opposite gender.  I have either VGA
monitors or mac monitors available to use.

>Hope this helps - keep us posted on your progress.

I will.  Thanks a lot!

  - a