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Hacking HP3000 Model Numbers

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the presto-change-oh-switcheroo dept.

tmjva writes "A hardware hack reported last Wednesday on the HP3000-L list proved that a newer version of Hewlett Packards's MPE operating system can be loaded on HP's more venerable machines. Normally this is impossible according to HP (the installation message declares this.) This also brings up some important legal questions as convictions and lawsuits have been handed down before for converting HP3000 systems. Since the HP3000 is sold no more and support ends in 2008, HP may decide to show no interest. Then this hack may allow those who are clinging to old machines the ability to upgrade their OS. Those with newer models may also be able to upgrade their intentionally crippled HP3000 processors to equivalent HP9000 speeds as shown in this table."

2 of 26 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Okay.. by duffbeer703 · · Score: 3, Informative

    Its like the HP version of IBM's AS/400. Solid, reliable minicomputers that were typically sold with pre-packaged custom applications. Alot of municipal utilities bought out-of-the-box billing systems based on HP3000's for AS/400's.

    --
    Conformity is the jailer of freedom and enemy of growth. -JFK
  2. No, not the workstation... by IANAAC · · Score: 2, Informative
    They're talking about this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HP_3000 Having worked with MPE/iX and Image databases, I can honestly say I don't miss it.

    It was nasty. Particularly coming from a UNIX background, MPE/iX just seemed ass-backwards.