RE: BSC, etc WAS: Dedicated console

The company had two S/38's when I started. Frick & Frack. It was an interesting discussion about vowels when we got a 3rd (Development) S/38.

Settled on SysA, SysB, and SysC. BORING.....

Eventually went to four AS400's and added SysD.

It was a fun place - we always needed/bought the biggest/fastest AS/400 available.



-----Original Message-----
From: MIDRANGE-L <midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Rob Berendt
Sent: Friday, May 28, 2021 4:27 AM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: BSC, etc WAS: Dedicated console

Oh, the dark ages. I did one BSC RPG program for EDI or something. Been a long time ago.

I also used modem eliminators in our data center. We had multiple S/36's in the same room which did not talk to each other. We called them BERT and ERNIE. (When we tried to name our first AS400 SNUFFY for Snuffaluffagus it got shot down.)
Anyway our network started with such equipment we had laying around.
I found a comm line going to a 5294 at a remote plant. The 5294 sat on top of a S/36 which we wanted to communicate with. Had to get them to cut a check for a splitter but it got done. I think the S/36 came with PASSTHRU but I'm not sure if I had to pay extra for that.
Baby steps. Much of it drawn out on a bar napkin at CUDS at COMMON. I miss that kind of networking.

Rob Berendt