I just got a new computer and need massive help

[cs30841]

For starters im prety new to actual hardware stuff. I just got a Compaq prosignia VS 486/66 computer. Is there anybody that has one that can tell me about the motherboard and all the stuff on it? from what i read on compaq's site it is a server computer. it has a 10t ethernet built in and a coaxal connecter for something. I would just like to see if i could get linux running on this to possable use it as a gateway/firewall computer for my home network or would it be better put to use doing something else? does anybody know if the slots it has are PCI,ISA,EISA or what? i know the internal connections are all fast scsi drives. but does it have PCI,ISA,EISA or what. i cant really tell the connection is rather long and brown if that helps. i know it is longer than the short black ones i have seen in other computers. any help would be great. thanks.

[Gweedo]

The long brown one your describe is EISA.
The black short one is ISA.
If it has a Short white slot, usually above the ISA, that is PCI.

It won't have AGP guarenteed. http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/wink.gif

[cs30841]

ok so do they make EISA NICs that work with linux? i know it has a 56K modem already installed i dont know if it will run with linux or not because i dont have a monitor yet so i cant install anything yet. i just want to know what my options are or if i should just take it apart an dsell the parts off and get my money back and look for another one.

[Gweedo]

I doubt you can find a NIC for EISA, you can get one for ISA though but ya gotta have a slot.Is there no ISA at all on it?? 3com ISA suggested.

I bet ya would have a hard time puttin in a RJ-45 cable into a 10t coax. http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/wink.gif



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[Thunderbird750]

Another thought, just go ahead and install Linux on it and see what goes. The worst that will happen is you will get a bit familiar with the install process, and have to do a fresh install to a new box. Trust me, you will probably learn something during your install that you will want to change; you will probably do a reinstall "to get things just right" even if "successful" on the first few.

[Unruly]

Yeah, no harm in just throwing it on there haphazardly, at least you have nothing to worry about. Installing linux a few times really gives you a good idea of how things work and some experence that will be valuable once you decide to settle and really work with it.

an ISA card is your best bet (save the pci for video or another device that is more important) 3com makes some good ones, also look at some realtek ones (my pci card is extremely universal and works great everywhere). Just don't spend too much on it. http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/biggrin.gif

[bugfix]

I think EISA are backwardly compatiable so you can use ISA cards in them it just won't use those extra 8/16 bits on the end - I think its seperated in to two blocks.

The coaxial connector is for a BNC/Coaxial network. Also, you say its got ethernet built in, why then would you need a NIC as well? Have you got a cable / DSL connection or something?

duggeB.

[cs30841]

did yall not read the top messages. i have no monitor yet, so i cant load anything and know what is going on. and i really dont know what slots this thing has. all i know is the are kinda long and dark brown. all i know is it is a compaq prosignia VS it is a 486 with 16mb of ram, a 532mb harddrive and a floppy drive.

[witman]

Originally posted by cs30841:
did yall not read the top messages. i have no monitor yet, so i cant load anything and know what is going on. and i really dont know what slots this thing has. all i know is the are kinda long and dark brown. all i know is it is a compaq prosignia VS it is a 486 with 16mb of ram, a 532mb harddrive and a floppy drive.

The title of your post is I just got a new computer and need massive help. That is not a new computer.

[CrashWire]

Well, since its a 486, I'd suggest you get a VL-bus graphics card if you have a VL-bus slot in it (its an ISA slot an additional reddish slot I think) and get yourself a monitor. Only then can you install Linux on it.

There would probably be network cards for VL-bus too, but they could be pretty hard to find right now. Try some second-hand hardware shops.

CrashWire

[mdwatts]

As I said in my response to your email, Compaq has loads of online reference guides, technical info etc. on the Prosignia VS. The documentation will answer most of your questions.

[BobC2]

I wouldn't try any VL bus stuff if it were me. Been there and its a waste of time fighting every inch of the install. I'm on my 7th install in 3 weeks. I'm learning a lot http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/smile.gif

VL Bus slots can hold ISA cards, and so can EISA slots. ISA cards are cheaper and more likely to work.

[slim]

Originally posted by cs30841:
ok so do they make EISA NICs that work with linux? i know it has a 56K modem already installed i dont know if it will run with linux or not because i dont have a monitor yet so i cant install anything yet. i just want to know what my options are or if i should just take it apart an dsell the parts off and get my money back and look for another one.
I have several EISA NICS they are 10 Base T with both coax and Twisted Pair. They are NE2000's if you are interested email me it will take a little bit to find. And if you have ISA NICS they will work on an EISA. EISA uses almost the same protocal just more bits run to the bus ;-).



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