Technical deep-dives into the operating systems, networking, and software that powered classic workstations and computers.
Technologies
Technical articles about vintage computing systems and software
CDE Keyboard Repeat Rate on Solaris 2.6
How to increase the keyboard repeat rate in CDE on Solaris 2.6 by configuring Xsun server options
Compile Time Comparisons Across Vintage and Modern Hardware
Benchmarking C++ compile times across Sun workstations, SGI machines, Raspberry Pis, and modern desktops
DOS Networking with mTCP
Getting vintage DOS machines online using packet drivers and Mike Brutman's mTCP TCP/IP stack
Getting SunOS 4.1.4 Working
Notes on installing and configuring SunOS 4.1.4 on real hardware, including networking, DNS, X11, and GCC
Replacing a Sun IPX Power Supply with a Mini ATX
How to replace a failed Sun SPARCstation IPX power supply with an inexpensive TF400 Mini ATX supply
M48T02 Timekeeper External Battery Mod
How to add an external coin cell battery to M48T02 timekeeper chips
ZuluSCSI Disk Images
Getting started with ZuluSCSI disk images for vintage workstations
The Rise and Fall of SPARCstation Clones
When Sun had competition from its own architecture
Commodore 64 Hardware Reference
Ray Carlsen's authoritative Commodore 64 technical resource
Commodore SX-64 Schematics
Complete schematic diagrams for the Commodore SX-64 portable computer
Compaq Portable BIOS Diskettes
BIOS configuration utilities for Compaq Portable II and Portable III computers
IBM PCjr Resources
Essential online resources for IBM PCjr restoration and upgrades
Indy Retro-Reimagined Display
Converting a Sun LCD monitor into an SGI Indy-styled teal display
NeXT Retro-Reimagined Display
Converting a Sun LCD monitor into a NeXT-styled display that never existed
Resetting IDPROM on Sun Workstations
How to reprogram the IDPROM on sun4c, sun4m, sun4d, and sun4u workstations
Silicon Graphics Parts Sources
Where to find parts for SGI workstation restoration
Sun Hardware Reference Guide
Technical reference for Sun workstation hardware
SunOS 4.1 Using DNS without NIS
How to modify the shared C library on SunOS 4.1.x to use DNS resolution without NIS
ZuluSCSI Storage Solutions
Modern SCSI storage replacement for vintage workstations
Bootable Compact Flash Card for IBM PCjr
How to create a bootable compact flash card with DOS for the IBM PCjr
Retrobright: Science and Philosophy
Understanding the chemistry of yellowed plastic and the case for restoration