HP3000/HP 3000 FAQ

Last Updated: Thursday, February 01, 2007 02:38 PM

Third party HP3000 Hardware Options

2.2. Third party/used hardware options

See http://www.triolet.com/HPVend/hpvend.html under the vendor/products directory.

2.2.1. List of known hardware vendors

See http://www.triolet.com/HPVend/hpvend.html under the vendor/products directory.

2.2.2. Used CPUs

See http://www.triolet.com/HPVend/hpvend.html under the vendor/products directory.

There are also some newsgroups dedicated to computers for sale.

2.2.3. Third party CPU upgrades

Are 3rd-party upgrades a "safe" option?

JK

As (memory), check into maintenance and guarantees too. If you are doing a box-swap, you're probably safe *IF* the original box was a 3000 (not a 9000) and is certified for HP maintenance and the vendor covers the box installation. If a board swap, be more careful. Be sure you are getting a *real* update from the vendor (CPU, PDH, and sometimes PSM firmware, etc) from a bona-fide 3000. If the equivalent parts came from a 9000 box you're again looking at time and materials, and possibly invalidating your service contract (there *is* a difference, albeit small, and HP has a low tolerance for swapping parts across platforms).

2.2.4. Third party printers and the HP3000

There are several third-party printer companies that are quite popular in HP3000 shops. In fact, many "HP" printers are actually manufactured by other companies and HP "puts their name on them". In many cases, you can buy the exact printer directly from the original manufacturer for quite a bit less than direct from HP.

2.2.5. Third party disc drives

In the past, third party disc drives on HP3000s were almost unheard of. HP claims that their drives (even the drives not made by HP), though appearing identical to drives from other manufacturers, have "sector atomicity" robustness the others do not. Nonetheless, third party disc drives are becoming more popular on HP3000s - including many RAID solutions and disc farms. Several of these are even recommended by HP (especially since they stopped making drives themselves some time ago).

Several HP3000-L members have installed FW SCSI drives (bought from local PC/Computer stores) and successfully installed them in their HP3000s - though the robustness of these drives is not thought to be of the same level as drives actually sold for HP3000s.

2.2.6. Third party tape/DAT drives

2.2.7. Third party memory

I want to add memory to my system. Are 3rd-party brokers OK? Is "used" memory OK?

JK

For the most part, yes. If you get HP boards, make sure they have been certified for HP maintenance; if you get 3rd party boards, check on their support options (typically FedEx overnight board swap). EMC, Kelley, and Datasys are (IMHO) reliable and easy to install (speaking first-hand, no sleight to the other vendors). But bear in mind if you have a suspected memory problem, you are best served by having adequate HP memory to be able to pull the "alien" boards and still be able to reproduce an error if you are calling HP for service, else you may get into "finger-pointing" relative to the cause of the problem. If the "alien" board is at fault, you're looking at time and materials billing. Likewise for any other 3rd party products you purchase. There are some good deals out there. There are also some questionable brokers.

CB

Note that there are a few brokers out there that will actually let you try the new memory out before you make any committment to buy. You get the opportunity to verify that the memory will help your system without having to "stick your neck out" getting a purchase order approved.

Also note that even HP buys some memory from 3rd party brokers for their internal systems.

2.2.8. Self-Maintenance issues for HP3000 owners

2.2.8.1. Replacing the onboard (clock) battery on a 9x8 system

The clock battery is in a socket on the proc board and is a BR2325 available from anywhere that sells watch batteries. Radio Shack has plenty.

BJ