Old Wang OSI system

[Maxxarcade]

I have a really old Wang OIS-70 server sitting in my garage that still has the hard drive in it, and still powers up. Problem is, it won't function without the special terminal that goes with it, so I can't do anything with it. Is there any way to emulate one with a PC? I've only found the emulator for the base system, which does me no good.

This was an old government system, so it would be interesting to see if there is anything on the hard drive. It's a big full height MFM/RLL drive that holds 85MB. Imagine how much that cost back in the late 70's

Hoping to get the monster in the house sometime soon so I can get pics, but it weighs about 80Lbs

[PeteS in CA]

Re: Old Wang OSI system

Didn't the old mini computers use "dumb terminals" rather than PCs with stand-alone computing capability? Is the "Hyper Terminal" program (Start Button --> All Programs --> Communications) a terminal emulation program?

[Maxxarcade]

Re: Old Wang OSI system

I'm pretty sure the OIS systems had special terminals which handled most or all of the application processing, the base unit is mainly just for storage.

There are 4 ports on it that look like joystick ports for local terminals, and there are about 16 BNC connectors also.

[pentium]

Re: Old Wang OSI system

Start posting pics of it.
Labels answer all. What the socket looks like is usually useless information.

EDIT: 80 pounds is nothing. My SGI weighs about the same and I can pick it up no sweat.

[kc8adu]

Re: Old Wang OSI system

Start posting pics of it.
Labels answer all. What the socket looks like is usually useless information.

EDIT: 80 pounds is nothing. My SGI weighs about the same and I can pick it up no sweat.

iirc maxxarcade is in a wheelchair.
depending on why that unit might as well be a car.

[Maxxarcade]

Re: Old Wang OSI system

I'm not in a wheelchair yet, but having cerebral palsy that worsens as I age, it won't be long I'm 27 and I feel like I'm 65.

40Lbs is about all I can handle without hurting the next day, since I can't lift with my legs, only my back, which is not all that straight.

[kc8adu]

Re: Old Wang OSI system

if you can post pics of the connectors and the model of the needed terminal i will look at the shop.
i get lots of old stuff to repair and grab extras to rebuild and shelve for exchange in an emergency.
seems i have some wang stuff.

[pentium]

Re: Old Wang OSI system

iirc maxxarcade is in a wheelchair.

I didn't know that.

[Maxxarcade]

Re: Old Wang OSI system

Finally got around to getting some pics.

There are a lot of boards in the system, I've only seen the one on the end.

The hard drive is a Micropolis.

Not sure what type of terminal it needs to work. There is not much info available online.

[pentium]

Re: Old Wang OSI system

Well besides the fact that there is a full-height drive in there you might need several items. Unless wang used the socket for another implimentation you might need a twinax adapter and a terminal capable of twinax input.

Also try pulling up a diag terminal or something on the serial port. I know that the IRIS 1000 (one of the first SGI's) can do it so why not try here?

[PedroDaGr8]

Re: Old Wang OSI system

Those look like they could be old 15 pin serial cable ports. Not entirely uncommon. While the others, I have no idea what they would be used for other than ethernet?

[Maxxarcade]

Re: Old Wang OSI system

From what I hear, the 15 pin ports are for local terminal, and the BNC's are for terminals a longer distance away. But the terminal is not just a serial terminal like most servers use. It does all of the processing power as well. Basically the terminal would be like a pc, and the main system is like a NAS. Hooking an HP serial terminal to the workstation ports got me nowhere. I'm pretty sure the pinout is non-standard though.

Also got nothing on the serial port.

[RegR]

Re: Old Wang OSI system

dug into my list of useful websites and found this http://pinouts.ru/ have already done a search voor wang but no luck,maybe you have better luck.

RegR

[pentium]

Re: Old Wang OSI system

THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY LARGE PAGE BUMP BUT...

I got good news. If you still have the system sitting in the garage I have finally located a lot more information on it.
The bulk of it is here.

Also, The Wang external workstation interface is pretty unusual--4.5MHz serial data over coax.

Please don't kill me for bumping this. ._.

[Maxxarcade]

Re: Old Wang OSI system

I've seen that page before. I actually sold my whole workshop full of computer stuff some time ago, and this went with the lot. I kinda wish I would have kept it, because it was in good shape and probably worked fine.

[PCBONEZ]

Re: Old Wang OSI system

Figur's.
Have a thread about dumb terminals and old wangs and Pentium wants to bump it.

[stretch0069]

Re: Old Wang OSI system

maybe its me, but there's a good joke about old guys there.

[pentium]

Re: Old Wang OSI system

Figur's.
Have a thread about dumb terminals and old wangs and Pentium wants to bump it.

Oh yes, I love to bump stuff when it involves wangs
Bummer you sold the thing. Looked like a good space heater.