It is funny you mention having to shut down a store becuase of server crash.
I used to work at this store and that is exactly what happened regularly
becuase trying to run too much software on sh** equipment. They decided to
start having customer "reward" cards and thats where the problems began.

If you worked too fast you would get the dreaded system buisy on the ibm
cash registers. If you hit any key on the keyboard it just make it stay
locked up longer. Some times it would require you to reboot and reload the
software on the register before it would start working again. That would
kill 2 registers becuase they were tied togeather in a master / slave setup
and it slowed everything else down also because the server would be buisy
sending the software to the crashed register.

Oh I don't miss the problems of Winn-Dixie's cash registers. Too many
headaches, and it was company wide problem.

-Mike
----- Original Message -----
From: "gb"
Newsgroups: sci.electronics.repair
Sent: Sunday, September 25, 2005 5:17 PM
Subject: IBM RISC 6000 Server Type 7009 worth anything?


"Michael Kennedy" wrote in message
...
Okay, that sounds like a good explanation of what it did, but why were
all of the network connections to the cash registers token ring type 1
connectors. They were all plugged into a hub which went to 2 Pentium 3
netfinity servers. The netfinity servers had the IBM POS system on them
for controling the cash registers. One server was just a backup (as far
as I know)and the other was for for any cash operations. They both had
identical software on them and could both peform the same things.

What I can't believe is how much they wanted for the netfinity servers.
$500 each! You can buy one on ebay for $150 easy.


Well Token Ring was the IBM corporate network solution (and still is in
some areas) for almost 20 years. The MAU or TR hub then worked just like
an other network hub. A second (backup) server is very likely -- who
wants to shutdown a retail store because the POS server is down !!
(Actually happen in 1980s with some penny pincher buyers or procurement
offices) -- after first hardware failure -- many were looking for new
work.

Within the retail world - they likely can petal this as used retail POS
equipment and command a premium (especially if the OS is still loaded) -
remember that the users/businesses are largely non-tech oriented - its a
black "mystery" box.

gb

gb