ZXnet

This VAXstation started life at GNS Science in Lower Hutt on the 1st of October 1992 according to the Customer Delivery Docket. It was one of two such machines purchased around that time, the other being svax (formerly ONE) which was collected in December 2008. This machine remained at GNS until the 28th of November 2009.

According to the delivery docket, the machine was originally shipped as:

• -PV61A-AC: 4000-60 8MB VR319 4PLANE S/H
• -BN19H-2E: POWER CORD AUSTRALIA/NZ
• -LK401-AA: LK401-AA KYBD, US/UK
• Set of Software License Docs

This was my fourth VAX which I purchased from the original owner in November 2009. It is the last of three VAXen I purchased from GNS (the other two were retired a year earlier).

Its condition is generally excellent. It had a few clips attached to it so that it could be strapped down (incase of an earthquake) in a 19" rack but these were easy enough to remove. The CD-ROM drive appears to not work - probably needs cleaning has it hasn't been used in some time. The power switch seems a little unreliable at times too - switching it doesn't always have an effect.

The machine came with no internal hard disk (but it did have the mounts for one). It is currently running on an external drive.

Configuration

I recieved it configured as:

• VAXstation 4000 Model 60
  • 16MB of RAM (making it my VAX with the least RAM)
  • RRD42 CD-ROM drive (with three caddys) - manual
• VR319 Monochrome display
• Documentation binder containing manuals for system and display
• Loopback adapter (12-22196-01)
• LK401 Keyboard
• VSXXX-GA Mouse
• 17-02640-01 Rev B01 Keyboard/Mouse extension cable
• BC29G-09 A01 Video Cable
• Original Customer Delivery Docket

Current Status

The VR319 used to work nicely but back in 2012 it let out the magic smoke and it works no more. Otherwise the machine still functions well (aside from the faulty CD-ROM and power switch). Its currently my primary vax after the failures of svax and lhnvax.

November 2023 status update: This machine spent five years in storage and in that time it appears to have died. A new NVRAM chip has been ordered in case that's the cause of this issue. If that doesn't fix it then I'll be all out of VAXstation 4000s!

Images

There are no images of the machine at this time. However, it looks just about identical to svax (for which there are images) except M5G has an internal CD-ROM drive.

Documentation

• EK-PMARI-OM.A02 VAXstation 4000 Model 60 Owner's and System Installation Guide (manx)
• EK-RZ26B-IN.A01 The RZ26B Fixed Disk Drive in the VAXstation 4000 (manx)
• EK-V4000-OG.A01 OpenVMS Systems Operations Guide: VAX 4000 and VAXstation 4000 Systems (manx)
• EK-V4066-SV.001 VAXstation 4000 Model 60 Optional Devices Service Information [Replaced by EK-V4666-DK] (manx)
• EK-V466H-PS.A01 VAXstation 4000 Model 60 and VLC Condensed Service Information (manx)
• EK-VAXOP-ES.A01 VAXstation 4000 Options Installation Guide Errata Sheet (manx)
• EK-VAXOP-IN.B01 VAXstation 4000 Options Installation Guide (manx)
• EK-VX690-UP.A01 VAXstation 4000 Model 60 to VAXstation 4000 Model 90 Upgrade Guide (manx)
• EK-VAXST-UP.001 VAXstation 3100 Family to VAXstation 4000 Model 60 Upgrade Guide (manx)
• EK-VX463-IN.A01 VAXstation 3100 Family to VAXstation 4000 Model 60/90 Upgrade Guide (manx)

Links to manx pages are provided where available