RE: Trying to identify pre iSeries AS/400 system units

Andy -

Digging through my old handbooks:

1.)  A 5042 is a System Unit Expansion Rack.  It's listed as attaching to a
model 310 or 320, but it also says that it can be converted to a 5044 for
attachment to a model 5xx or 6xx.

2.)  The 50S is a 1995 era single processor server model, available with
FC2120(21.4/77.7 CPW) FC2121(30.7/104.2 CPW) or FC2122(30.7/130.7 CPW).

3.)  FC 5062 - a System Unit Expansion Tower for a model 310 or 320.
     F/C 5080 - a Storage Expansion Tower for a model 5xx.
     FC 5082 - a Storage Expansion Tower for a model 5xx.
     FC 5072 - a System Unit Expansion Tower for a model 5xx.

Hope this helps,

Scott Ingvaldson
AS/400 System Administrator
GuideOne Insurance Group

-----Original Message-----
date: Wed, 18 Jun 2003 10:25:04 +0100
from: Andy Cranston <a.cranston@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
subject: Trying to identify pre iSeries AS/400 system units

Hello Midrangers,

This is my first posting to the list.

I have been assigned the task of identifying just over a dozen AS/400 system
units.  They are in three broad visual categories:

(1)
A couple of beige coloured cabinets (65cm wide, 92cm deep, 160cm high).
Both cabinets are labelled "9406 FC 5042".  Both have a expansion bay (slots
front and back).  One has a 8inch floppy drive (that takes be back :-) and a
1/2inch reel to reel tape.  The other has two DASD units.  I think this is
one of the first series of AS/400 systems and that the two cabinets combine
to make one working system but I'm only guessing.

(2)
Black cabinets on castors (49cm wide, 67cm deep, 96cm high).  Some have
serial numbers and some don't.  Here is an example serial number:
MS940644G8010.  This particular system has a sticky label on it saying
"9406-50S" which I take to mean a model 50S AS/400.  However most of these
cabinets don't have any obvious serial number and hence I currently haven't
a clue what they are.

(3)
Black cabinets on castors again (110cm wide, 67cm deep, 96cm high).  These
are similar to the other black cabinets but appear to have what looks like
some sort of UPS'ed power supply attached to the side.  Again only a guess.

Both types of black cabinets have one of the following markings:

  Type 9406
  FC 5062
  F/C 5080
  FC 5082
  FC 5072
  FC 5062

Being an AS/400 newbie I'm at a loss at how to identify things from a
hardware level.  The identification will have to be using visual means as I
can't boot any of the systems.

My gut feeling is that most if not all of these systems (and any modular
components within them) have long been outdated and are now commercially
worthless but I need to at least be able to report what the systems actually
are.

Any help gratefully recieved.

I have some pictures of some of each type of cabinet which I can email to
anyone generous enough to help me in my quest.  If more detail is needed
from me please advise.

Thanks in advance.

Regards,

Andy Cranston.