Special thanks to:
Russ Poffenberger - Special thanks for the detailed info!
Tom Doong
Casper Dik
David L. Markowitz
Original Question:
That is not a typo. I believe the E stands for "embedded" as these are
embedded Sun systems. As part of a UNIX Y2K and infrastructure upgrade
project I am directing, we've discovered six Sun embedded systems
running SunOS 4.1.E. We have no information from Sun and currently
cannot find any information on whether this system is Y2K compliant or
not. Beyond that, we have no information on this operating system at
all. Can anyone help me out? (what i didn't add was the sensitivity to
having a VME bus.)
Solution:
1. Not Y2K compliant. never will be.
2. Upgrade using a Force Computer or similar system
##############################################
Russ Poffenberger:
SunOS 4.1E is a derivative of 4.1 specifically for the SparcEngine 1E. This
is the only OS that will run on it, and it is NOT y2k compliant, and no
patches or updates are available. Sun only has patches for SunOS 4.1.3_U1
and 4.1.4. Neither will run on the SparcEngine 1E.
The SparcEngine 1E is basically an SS-1 class processor in a 6U VME form
factor with a VME bus interface.
We used to use these in our product, but upgraded them all long ago to
CPU-2CE from Force computers (an SS-2 based board), and then to CPU-5V
(SS-5 based processors) from Force. Both of which run SunOS 4.1.4 and Solaris.
Actually, the VME bus is alive and well, and there are lots of vendors
supporting it.
If you really want to get into a new bus (I mention VME still alive because
obviously you have a lot of investment in it), then consider compact PCI.
Force computers (not really an endorsement, but we have been using them for
years, and are satisfied) makes products both for VME (including SS-5, SS-20,
and Ultra based) as well as compact PCI. They all run popular versions of
SunOS and Solaris, and drivers provide the interface to the VME or PCI bus.
Themis is also a player in this field.
For Force, go to their web site "www.forcecomputers.com" and
follow the link "About Force", then "How To Find Us". They have contacts based
on geographic region.
For Themis, go to "http://www.themis.com/contact/index.html".
There is also a lot of information you can get from the "VMEbus International
Trade Association" at www.vita.com.
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David Markowitz:
4.1e was for the SPARCengine 1E (kernel architecture sun4e). It is
*not* Y2K compliant, and will never be. Some versions of Solaris
supported the 1E (I don't remember which, but I think 2.4 did). If you
can upgrade them, then add the Y2K patches, you should be okay. Y2K
patches are available for Solaris 2.3 - 2.6.
There is no way to do this under SunOS 4 because only 4.1.3U1 and 4.1.4
can be patched for Y2k, and they never supported the 1E.
##############################################
Tom Doong
What you probably have are Sun or Force Computer, Sparc 1E, 6U VME form
factor boards/systems. They are Sparc 1's on VME (Sparc 1 == 25MHz
original SPARC architecture).
Since they are VME based systems they could be runing SunOS 4.x or
they could run Solaris up to 2.5 (Sun stopped supporting VME after 2.5)
They could even be running a real-time OS like VxWorks.
In any case, if they are runing SunOS 4.x they probably could be made
as compliant as any other SunOS system (provided Sun has patches for
SunOS, I don't know) If they are runing Solaris 2.5, you have a bettr
chance of becoming Y2K compliant.
Since Sun is claiming ignorance, I'd call Force Computers to see if they
can help you. They still make and sell SPARC based VME single board
computers for the embedded market.
www.forcecomputers.com
Hope this helps a little.
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