SPARCstation IPC
The SPARCstation IPC (Sun 4/40, code-named Phoenix) is a
Specifications
CPU support
The SPARCstation IPC incorporates a 25 MHz Fujitsu MB86901A or LSI L64801 processor. The SPARCstation IPC is limited to use as a single-processor machine.
Memory
The SPARCstation IPC has twelve SIMM memory slots, in three 4-slot groups. Each group of 4 slots can be filled with either four 1MB SIMMs or four 4MB SIMMs, for a maximum of 48MB.
Disk drives
The SPARCstation IPC can hold one internal 3.5", 50-pin, single ended, fast-narrow SE
Interfaces
The SPARCstation IPC has the following interfaces:
- SCSI
- Ethernet
- Two DB-25adapter cables are provided)
- Video: DB13W3 connector for integrated bwtwo[1] monochrome framebuffer
- Keyboard, mouse: two 8-pin mini-DIN connectors
- Two SBus slots
Network support
The SPARCstation IPC comes with an on-board
NVRAM
The SPARCstation IPC uses an M48T02 battery-backed RTC with RAM chip which handles the real time clock and boot parameter storage. An issue with this chip is that the battery is internal, which means the entire chip must be replaced when its battery runs out. As all SPARCstation IPCs made are now older than the battery life of this chip, a substantial number of these systems now refuse to boot. Additionally, the SPARCstation IPC design used the reserved bits in the M48T02's NVRAM in a non-standard way; since later revisions of the M48T02 chip exert stricter control over these bits, a current M48T02 will store the NVRAM data, but the RTC will not function correctly and the system may fail to auto-boot.
Due to incompatibilities with modern M48T02s, it is common to modify failed NVRAMs by cutting into the encapsulation and patching in a new battery.[3] It is also possible to replace the entire encapsulation, which also contains a 32.768 kHz clock crystal.[4]
Operating systems
The following operating systems will run on a SPARCstation IPC:
- SunOS 4.0.3c onwards
- Solaris2.0 to Solaris 7
- Linux – Some but not all distributions still support this SPARC32 sub-architecture
- NetBSD/sparc32 since 1.0
- OpenBSD/sparc32 - All versions up to 5.9 (OpenBSD 5.9 was the last release to support SPARC32[5])
Related computers
The SPARCstation 1+ (Sun 4/65) is architecturally very similar but housed in a pizza box form factor.
The SPARCstation IPX (Sun 4/50) is a later lunchbox form factor system.
See also
References
- ^ "bwtwo - black and white memory frame buffer". spiegel.cs.rit.edu. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
- ^ "Introduction (sparc and sun3 specific), Diskless NetBSD HOW-TO". www.netbsd.org. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
- ^ "Frequently Asked Questions about Sun NVRAM/hostid". Archived from the original on 2001-08-24.
- ^ "Mostek/ST 'Timekeeper' IC (Sun NVRAM) repair - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum". www.vintage-radio.net. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
- ^ "OpenBSD/sparc". www.openbsd.org. Retrieved 2021-10-28.