Re: VAXstation 4000/90 questions

[Johnny Billquist <bqt%softjar.se@localhost>]

On 2011-05-27 18.36, John Klos wrote:
> Hi, VAX fans,

[...]

> So here are my questions:
>
> 1) am I correct in assuming that there's NO software crash that could
> cause the system to hang and not drop to the boot ROM chevron prompt
> from a break?

I would believe so, yes.

> 2) has anyone seen issues like this with similar machines, and if so,
> was the root of the problem discovered?

The only times I've heard of something similar, it was overheating.

> 3) does anyone have suggestions about anything else to check or try?
>
> 4) I think the only thing I haven't tried is replacing the heat sink
> compound on the CPU. Any thoughts on whether this could be an
> overheating CPU issue?

To me, overheating definitely sounds like a possibility.

> 5) unrelated to the crashing, how does one tell the difference between a
> 4000/90 and a 4000/90a? The casing doesn't seem to match the guts. Does
> someone have the specific results from a NetBSD benchmark on either a
> 4000/90 or a 4000/90a, or both?

Well, the difference between the machines, as far as I know, is the 
speed. So I'd look at the output of a SHOW CONFIG in the boot monitor, 
or check the hardware.
I don't have any benchmarks numbers, unfortunately. And only a /90 to 
play with.

        Johnny