The Vanishing Act of VA Linux Hardware Docs? 57
Joshua Johnston asks: "Yesterday, my roommate and I picked up a used (and slightly abused) VA Linux 2231 2U server system at a computer show here in New Hampshire. Given the manufacturer, I had expected that support documentation would be a piece of cake to locate. Unfortunately, I couldn't have been any further away from the truth. Only the
Internet Archive copies of the VA Linux/VA Software website had any information whatsoever on the system, with even Google striking out badly on almost any reference material. This comes as a complete surprise, as I had expected much more to be available in regards to a system once touted as a success for the Open Source movement. The current VA Software site has nothing even mentioning the fact they once made some solid server-class hardware, let alone a buried archive of the PDF manuals. What kind of options still remain for reviving some kind of community archive of these files? In the span of three years, are we left with nearly no trace of information on these machines?"
Then it;'s time to create a convenient archive... (Score:1)
Isn't it just made out of commodity parts? (Score:3, Interesting)
It's vaguely possible that they have some really funky firmware RAID controller, I've seen Dell server machines require a special microcode load into the RAID controller to work with Linux. That's a pain in the butt, and when the only thing is available is the binary and only from the vendor I just think the offending device is evil and punt it. (Lotsa RAID stuff is still this way, and sometimes it's even on the motherboard, which means you toss the motherboard).
This isn't just a VA Software problem. (Score:4, Insightful)
Not being able to find server documentation is one thing; not being able to find, say, Planck's Constant [wikipedia.org] is quite another.
Re:This isn't just a VA Software problem. (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:This isn't just a VA Software problem. (Score:3, Informative)
There are non-nuclear EMP devices, you know. Also, to quote from the link the grandparent provided:
"A large device detonated at 400-500 km over Kansas would affect all of CONUS. The signal from such an event extends to the visual horizon as seen from the burst point."
Usual airburst detoniation for an ICBM (at least from what I found on Google) is in the 4-20 km range. That is to say, once
Re:This isn't just a VA Software problem. (Score:2)
if they seriously hit the city with a massive EMP burst it would have been downtime for alot longer than a few seconds...
Re:This isn't just a VA Software problem. (Score:1)
No.
if they seriously hit the city with a massive EMP burst it would have been downtime for alot longer than a few seconds...
Yeah, that's kind of the point, isn't it?
Re:This isn't just a VA Software problem. (Score:2, Funny)
Re:This isn't just a VA Software problem. (Score:1)
Political cuteness (Score:2, Insightful)
How sad to have such a small mind filled with such misguided hatred..
You people are ill and need serious mental help.
Ah.. mod me into oblivion, I don't care..
Re:Political cuteness (Score:2)
Re:Political cuteness (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Political cuteness (Score:2)
Why not use your right to keep and bear arms? The whole point of that was to overthrow an oppressive government. Now, the US looks very much to me like people told me the USSR was like 20 years ago. Department of Justice ordering library copies of statute books destroyed? People being dragged off the streets and held without charge, or access to legal advice, and without
Re:This isn't just a VA Software problem. (Score:2)
the thing is, even if the thing shipped with hardcopy docs(probably did) the asker wouldn't have had access to them. though, probably the thing never had a proper manual(in good length) of it's own if it was just slapped together from common parts..
or you suppose that there should be hardcopy manuals of every device ever made in the local library? a
Re:This isn't just a VA Software problem. (Score:1)
Re:This isn't just a VA Software problem. (Score:1)
The first one being important to me.
What would you like to know? (Score:4, Interesting)
But seriously, what would you like to know that you can't find at Phoenix or Intel?
A.
Tried calling? (Score:4, Insightful)
INSIGHTFUL?? (Score:2)
Bias? (Score:3, Funny)
Slightly OT (Score:4, Interesting)
I purchased a lot of 4 VALinux 2u rackmount chassis from ebay a few months ago for a good price (model "FullON 2130"). I knew they weren't going to be 'standard' atx but figured I could rewire things from documentation to get the power button and LEDs working. No dice. There is no documentation left at all. So im taking it upon myself to document/diagram what I did to make the power/reset headers ATX-usable and will post a procedure on my humble website. Hopefully google will pick it up and I can help the next guy that comes along wanting to do the same thing . . .
My VA Linux Ebay Story (Score:3, Informative)
I thought about bidding on some VA units on Ebay [I'm sure the dude still has them up for sale].
Again, no online documentation. Fortunately, the guy was kind enough to go open a case and give me the motherboard part number [kudos to him for doing that].
Turns out VA just took a basic Intel boxed motherboard, with six PCI slots, slapped it into a two unit rackmount, and put in a riser card to give you [at least theoretical] access to two ["risen"] PCI slots.
Anyway, to make a long story short, in my dec
Re:Slightly OT (Score:3, Informative)
VA never -made- computers - they just assembled them into boxes and loaded Linux.
So just treat it like you would a Dell, or a Gateway, an E-Machine, or anything from any number of other assembly-line vendors - treat it like there's no name -at all- on front of the box.
And then begin a bit of research.
Look for a model number on the motherboard, and a manufacturer name. If you can't find a manufacturer, look up the FCC ID (it's always printed on there somewhere, if sold in th
Re:Slightly OT (Score:2)
Re:Slightly OT (Score:2)
Following my own instructions, I struck out on ASUS's web page and asked Google. I found that it's exactly the same board as the P3B-1394, but minus FSB dipswitches and with a different model number.
Download the manual. [asus.com]
My instructions are thus provably clear.
Re:Slightly OT (Score:2)
It doesn't matter, though. If the board has Compaq written all over it, head to Compaq for information. If it says HP, hit up HP.
If the web pages don't include the data you're looking for, ask Google, or just pick up the fucking phone.
Please use your brain. Thank you.
Japan (Score:3, Interesting)
Anyway, you may want to try VA Linux Japan [valinux.co.jp], who are still in the server business. ("UltraPossum 0.1beta is available now!") Like others have said, though -- I don't think there's anything especially unusual about those VA boxes, apart from blue LED's.
Re:Japan (Score:5, Informative)
Ehh they're fairly proprietary once you open the case. Here's what Ive found - I've only looked into their 2u and smaller cases so larger ones may be more brown-bag:
-Case specific power supplies in some models (cant replace)
-Model specific PCI risers
-Short ATX mobo header cables (wont reach some boards)
-Proprietary power/reset/LED headers (unusable unless cut and spliced - good luck tracing through multi-layered PCB)
With a little work though they do make kick-ass cases and can usually be had on the cheap since no one wants to waste time modding them.
California Digital (Score:5, Informative)
Did you try contacting them?
The six servers (of three flavors) that I had were all Intel server motherboards, Intel CPUs, popular raid controllers (I forget brand/model), and VXA standard tape drives. What's confusing about that?
Re:California Digital (Score:5, Informative)
VA Linux Legacy Parts
California Digital acquired the Systems Division of VA Linux in November 2001. We continue to support VA's award winning line of Linux Server and Cluster products. If you are the owner of an existing VA Linux product, please contact us to determine if you can purchase extended warranty and support coverage.
In addition to providing support for warranty holders, we stock almost all of the replacement components for VA Linux products. The items listed here are available for immediate delivery. If you have a need for an part not listed below, please contact us at sales@californiadigital.com.
The Weirdest Part (Submitter here) (Score:4, Interesting)
I suppose that with the motherboard information that I have, I can probably manage things just fnie, but there are still a few areas that make me wonder. My RAM seems to be the a slightly off speed, as I get an incorrect speed warning that requires an F1 to continue booting each time the system is turned on. That's going to make for an interesting day of eBay or Pricewatch next week.
Primarily though, I have to say I'm bothered by such a dearth of information being available. Why on Earth would VA entirely remove -all- information on the products they sold, not even archiving a manual?
Re:The Weirdest Part (Submitter here) (Score:2)
The RAM warning is just a BIOS switch set wrong. You've got your RAM set as X, while the BIOS code thinks it should be Y for whatever reason. So, it yells at you on bootup to fix your mistake.
So change the RAM speed in BIOS to whatever it actually is. Turn ECC on or off, that sort of thing. The worst that can happen is that the machine turns unstable, or fails to boot - but since you've got a manual, defaulting the CMOS shoul
Re:The Weirdest Part (Submitter here) (Score:1)
I guess the lesson here is that if there's a site with some documentation that is really important to us, we should wget as much of it as we need (or all of it, if we have the space), and just archive it. Since a lot of CD media doesn't seem too good on longevity, in some cases having it printed and
Re:The Weirdest Part (Submitter here) (Score:2)
Look at who owns VA's hardware business now... (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Look at who owns VA's hardware business now... (Score:3, Informative)
http://www.californiadigital.com/legacy_parts.sht
Re:Look at who owns VA's hardware business now... (Score:2, Funny)
Always cache copies of useful web content (Score:5, Insightful)
The loss of old content is sad, really. The web is sometimes more like the spoken word than the written word. It is ephemeral -- if you weren't there when the page was posted, you have a high chance of never getting it.
Re:Always cache copies of useful web content (Score:2)
It's always worth trying the Wayback Machine [archive.org]. I've found documentation for lots of old hardware from defunct companies there. Also Usenet, via Google Groups [google.com].
OT: my backup setup (Score:2)
I also bought 2 bare drives ( 250GB Maxtor MaXLine Plus II 7200rpm 9ms 8MB Cache Parallel ATA ATA/133), a Miglia Catalyst ATA/FW Conversion Kit (its a little circuit board that mounts inside an old external SCSI drive enclosure and converts it to use any ATA drive on firewire), and an ancient external SCSI drive wit
VA Linux Hardware (Score:1)
While we're on the subject (Score:2)
Server hardware (Score:1)