GeoffB17
Veteran Member
Any interest here in 'vintage' software?
When I started with computers way back about 1990, we used to install Novell Netware systems as well as do software for them. I certainly remember installing all the software for Novell 2.2, and I think I even did a couple of 3.1 (or was it 3.11) as well. The 2.2 was fun, working your way through a pile of 360k floppies, often going back and forth with the specific disks (OSEXE?) where the installed copy of the OS was being created. And keeping trck that you had the right drivers for the network card you were using.
I kept hold of some of the Btrieve bits, I always longed to do something with Btrieve, but never did.
Why do I mention this?
Just yesterday, got a call from an old client, with a 2.2 network (running a Clipper S87 system that we wrote/installed. The connection to the server had failed.
Oh, I thought, this could be 'interesting'. The server is a somewhat ancient Packard Bell, I think a 386.
Anyway, I went there today, and Oh, as soon as I booted the w/s, I got the logon prompt and everything seemed to be fine. I checked the files, checked other markers, and all AOK. So, what caused the problem, no sign. Maybe just a funny contact on the network cable (co-ax, with the T-pieces on the back of the PCs and 'terminators' at each end of the cable.
Boss on the customer business may be thinking of 'upgrading', I think I should place a claim for the old bits. They should have the full set of disks for 2.2, with manuals etc.
Anyway, this system installed prob early 1990s, server barely touched since, and still chugging. Occasional problems with the wiring, but this does NOT affect the server, and usually a little jiggle of the cable connectors restores the link.
Oh, my older 486sx PX still has the old network card (with the coax connector) in, maybe even the original card drivers are there to as the machine was once connected to a novell network. Long ago (late 90s ?). All I need is a working server to connect to??
Anyone else still interested in this sort of software.
Geoff Barnard
When I started with computers way back about 1990, we used to install Novell Netware systems as well as do software for them. I certainly remember installing all the software for Novell 2.2, and I think I even did a couple of 3.1 (or was it 3.11) as well. The 2.2 was fun, working your way through a pile of 360k floppies, often going back and forth with the specific disks (OSEXE?) where the installed copy of the OS was being created. And keeping trck that you had the right drivers for the network card you were using.
I kept hold of some of the Btrieve bits, I always longed to do something with Btrieve, but never did.
Why do I mention this?
Just yesterday, got a call from an old client, with a 2.2 network (running a Clipper S87 system that we wrote/installed. The connection to the server had failed.
Oh, I thought, this could be 'interesting'. The server is a somewhat ancient Packard Bell, I think a 386.
Anyway, I went there today, and Oh, as soon as I booted the w/s, I got the logon prompt and everything seemed to be fine. I checked the files, checked other markers, and all AOK. So, what caused the problem, no sign. Maybe just a funny contact on the network cable (co-ax, with the T-pieces on the back of the PCs and 'terminators' at each end of the cable.
Boss on the customer business may be thinking of 'upgrading', I think I should place a claim for the old bits. They should have the full set of disks for 2.2, with manuals etc.
Anyway, this system installed prob early 1990s, server barely touched since, and still chugging. Occasional problems with the wiring, but this does NOT affect the server, and usually a little jiggle of the cable connectors restores the link.
Oh, my older 486sx PX still has the old network card (with the coax connector) in, maybe even the original card drivers are there to as the machine was once connected to a novell network. Long ago (late 90s ?). All I need is a working server to connect to??
Anyone else still interested in this sort of software.
Geoff Barnard
I worked at the time too with NetWare (having originally but my teeth on 3Com gear). We installed a bunch of NetWare on NetFrame 386 towers. They where really much more like minis with redundant everything and $100K price tags. Those were fun...