HP X-Terminals
This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2011) |
HP X-Terminals are a line of
These 1990s X-Terminals, together with offerings from many other vendors from that time, were precursors to thin computing: the use of small dumb front-end systems for I/O and a larger processing system as back-end, shared by many concurrent users.
700/X
These were the first X-Terminals HP produced, featuring a similar case to that of some HP 9000/300 (Motorola 68000-based) workstations. They were driven by a pretty obscure CPU combination, an Intel 186 with a TI DSP as video coprocessor.
- CPU: 16 MHz Intel 80186 with a 60 MHz Texas Instruments DSPas video processor
- RAM: 1MB on board, 9MB maximum; one slot takes up to 8MB modules of unknown type
- Video RAM: Unknown
- Maximum video resolution/color-depth: 1024×768/8-bit
- I/O connectors: RS-232 serial, HIL and two PS/2 for keyboard/mouse devices, AUI and BNC 10 Mbit Ethernet connectors and VGA video connector
- Expansion: Unknown
700/RX
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5e/HP_700_RX_X-Terminal_100_2420.jpg/220px-HP_700_RX_X-Terminal_100_2420.jpg)
These are the direct successors to the 700/X line of X-Terminals and changed the architecture significantly. They were the first in a line of terminals to be driven by an Intel
Several submodels were available, featuring different video-options:
- 16Ca: 1 MB video RAM, max. 1028×768 resolution, 8-bit color-depth
- 19Ca: 2 MB video RAM, max. 1280×1024 resolution, 8-bit color-depth
- 14Ci/16Ci/17Ci: 1 MB video RAM, max. 1028×768 resolution, 8-bit color-depth
- 19Mi: 0.2 MB video RAM, max. 1280×1024 resolution, monographics
All models have these base features in common:
- CPU: 22 MHz Intel i960CAwith 1KB instruction cache
- RAM: 2 MB on board, 34 MB maximum; two slots take each up to 16 MB 72-pin non-parity SIMMs
- I/O connectors: RS232 serial, HIL and two PS/2 for keyboard/mouse devices, parallel for printer, AUI and BNC 10 Mbit Ethernet and VGA video connector
- Expansion: slot for a Boot-ROM cartridge
Entria
The Entrias were the low-cost line of X-Terminals, featuring the same architecture as the 700/RX terminals, but in a plastic case the same style as the HP 9000/712 workstation. They are very small and quiet.
The Entrias were available in different video configurations, depending on the exact model:
- 0.6 MB video RAM: max. resolution of 1024×768 with grayscale graphics
- 1 MB video RAM: max. resolution of 1024×768 with 8-bit color depth
- 2 MB video RAM: max. resolution of 1280×1024 with 8-bit color depth
Common:
- CPU: Intel i960CAwith 1 KB instruction cache
- RAM: 4 MB on board, 68 MB maximum; two slots take each up to 32 MB 72-pin non-parity SIMMs
- I/O connectors: RS-232 serial, two PS/2 for keyboard/mouse devices, parallel for printer, TP and BNC 10 Mbit Ethernet and VGA video connector
- Expansion: none
Envizex
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/HP-HP9000-EnvizeX-Terminal_14.jpg/220px-HP-HP9000-EnvizeX-Terminal_14.jpg)
The Envizex were the successors to the 700/RX terminals, featuring the same flat pizzabox case and a slightly modified architecture with a faster version of the Intel i960 RISC CPU. They have a (very quiet) fan inside.
Three different series were available which featured different speeds of the CPU:
- i SERIES: 25 MHz Intel i960CF with 4 KB instruction and 1 KB data cache
- a SERIES: 28 MHz Intel i960CF with 4 KB instruction and 1 KB data cache
- p SERIES: 33 MHz Intel i960CF with 4 KB instruction and 1 KB data cache
Common aspects:
- RAM: a and i SERIES: 4 MB on board, 132 MB maximum; four slots take each up to 32 MB 72-pin non-parity SIMMs. p SERIES: 6 MB on board, 102 MB maximum; three slots take each up to 32 MB 72-pin non-parity SIMMs
- Video RAM: 2 MB
- Maximum video resolution/color-depth: 1280×1024 (i SERIES might do only 1024×768) 8-bit
- I/O connectors: two RS-232 serial, HIL and two PS/2 for keyboard/mouse devices, parallel for printer, TP, AUI and BNC 10 Mbit Ethernet and VGA video connector
- Expansion: They offer a range of expansion options:
- 3.5″ PC floppy drive
- CD-quality audio support
- Either one of the following three cards:
- SCSI/ROM adapter card
- Token Ring adapter
- 100VG AnyLan adapter (HP-proprietary 100 MBit networking)
- They also have two PCMCIA sockets for:
- Boot-ROM card
- SRAM cards which contain fonts or a local copy of the X server(no network download necessary)
Entria II
These were the successors of the low-cost Entria X-Terminals, keeping their HP 9000/712-style small footprint plastic case. The system architecture was changed completely and is shared with the later Envizex II terminals. It is based around a
- CPU: 100 MHz R4300
- RAM: 64 MB maximum; two slots take each up to 32 MB 168-pin DIMMs (PC66/100/133 DIMMs in different sizes can be used, but only 8 MB of each module will be available; the larger modules (16 and 32 MB) were HP-proprietary)
- Video RAM: 2 MB
- Maximum video resolution/color-depth: 1280×1024/8-bit
- I/O connectors: RS-232 serial, two PS/2 for keyboard/mouse devices, parallel for printer, TP Ethernet (probably 10 Mbit) connector and VGA video connector
- Expansion: none
Envizex II
These are the bigger brothers of the Entria II X-Terminals, driven by the same R4300 MIPS CPU and PCI I/O architecture. The case was redesigned, is very easy to open and does not have any fans, making the terminal rather quiet.
- CPU: 133 MHz R4300
- RAM: 96 MB maximum; three slots take each up to 32 MB 168-pin DIMMs (PC66/100/133 DIMMs in different sizes can be used, but only 8 MB of each module will be available; the larger modules (16 and 32 MB) were also HP-proprietary)
- Video RAM: 2 or 4 MB VSIMM
- Video chipset: ATI Mach64
- Maximum video resolution/color-depth: 1600×1200/16-bit
- I/O connectors: two RS-232 serial, two PS/2 and USB for keyboard/mouse devices, TP Ethernet connector and EVCvideo connector (requires an adapter-cable to use standard VGA monitors)
- Expansion:
- 3.5″ PC floppy drive
- Audio Kit with telephone I/O
- Flash DIMMs card for booting and storing configuration and font files
- 100VG AnyLan PCI card
- 100 Mbit Ethernet PCI card
- Combined BNC and AUI card (expands the onboard NIC)
Software
These X-Terminals/stations run a proprietary operating system from HP — Netstation, formerly Enware, with some versions apparently based on VxWorks (probably those with RISC support).
This software runs on theoretically any
Netstation Version 7.1
The older Enware/Netstation Version 7.1, HP product B.07.11, supports the following i960-based terminals:
- 700/RX
- Entria
- Envizex
It was downloadable from a public HP
Read the included documentation and technical reference and refer to the installation instructions. Generally, a Unix server is needed from which the station can boot its kernel and load its X server. This is done via TFTP; the station can be managed locally via a configuration screen or remotely on the server via customizable configuration files.
Netstation Version 9.0
The most current available Netstation version is 9.0, HP product B.09.11. This version supports the newer MIPS-based X-Terminals:
- Entria II
- Envizex II
Same as with the older Netstation software, version 9.0 was available from a HP FTP service, which was discontinued. (See above)
The newer X-Terminals (IIs) can boot in different ways, over a
. Included in the Netstation software is a native Java environment which makes execution of local Java applets on the terminal possible.References
![]() | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (January 2010) |
Specific references:
- ^ Last tested September 2008.
General references:
External links
- 700/RX and envizex Terminal password unlocking (Bart Dopheide: n.d. Accessed September 2008)
- Setting up the Envizex (N.a.: January 2008. Link updated July 2013) Installation instructions for the HP X-Terminal software
- Information and Software for HP Envizex, Entria, and 700/RX X-Terminals (Brian McElroy: April 2000. Access September 2008)
- Updated HP Envizex files and basic config (James Baker: Posted July 2013)