Hesperos

This page is a stub. You can help by expanding it.

hesperos
Hesperos G2 (Right)
Hardware
CPU:	Various@Various
Software
OS:	Various
Collection Data
Acquired:	2000
Catalog Data
Location:	Various
Usage Info
Role:	Various

Summary

Hesperos has been a steady staple in my computing lexicon since the G1 machine was built up in 2000. Having served multiple roles, from Oracle database server to Windows NT 4 domain controller to multitrack recording workstation to work machine, I have a deep fondness and sentimentality for the Hesperos name.

The article is divided into generations representing each substantial change to or replacement of the machine.

DFI 486 (G0)

Hesperos G0
No Photo Available
Hardware
Vendor:	DFI
CPU:	AMD 486DX4@100MHz
Software
OS:	Windows 95/Solaris RTM/7 (x86)
Collection Data
Acquired:	1998
From:	University Presbyterian Church
Paid:	$120
Relinquished:	2000
Relinquished to:	Hesperos G1
Catalog Data
Location:	Durango Ct/Martinez Household
Usage Info
Role:	Alternative Personal Workstation

Summary

This machine was purchased from University Presbyterian Church, where it had been used by Shelia Hornsby as a bookkeeping machine. I had payments for it deducted from my paycheck when I was working there as an administrative assistant.

Naming

I have a theory that this generation was originally named davinci, but I'm not anywhere near sure about that. When I moved into the Martinez household, it definitely had an artist name (just as Poseidon (Original) was originally named picasso). At the time, I also had a machine named mozart, so consistency in naming was nowhere near in place when I bought this machine.

Hesperos (G1)

Hesperos G1
Hesperos G1/G2 (Right)
Hardware
Vendor:	DFI
CPU:	AMD 486DX4@100MHz
RAM:	8MB
Software
OS:	Solaris
Collection Data
Acquired:	2000
From:	JDR Microdevices
Relinquished:	2000
Relinquished to:	Hesperos G2
Catalog Data
Location:	Martinez Household
Usage Info
Role:	Oracle 7 Database Server

Summary

The first-gen Hesperos was built from the bones of the DFI 486. I had recently installed Solaris 7 for x86 on the DFI, and it proved unusably slow. My first step was to order a full-tower AT case from JDR Microdevices, and move the bones of the DFI into it. This provided no performance gains, for obvious reasons.

Unique to this machine was a QIC-80 tape drive that was intended to connect to the floppy drive controller. As I had both 3.5" and 5.25" floppy drives in the machine, I never actually connected the tape drive, which ended up being there more for appearances than anything else.

The G1 machine was a short-lived part of the Hesperos story, and gave way to Hesperos (G2) as soon as funding was available for procuring upgraded components.

Hesperos (G2)

Hesperos G2
Hesperos G1/G2 (Right)
Hardware
Vendor:	JDR Microdevices
CPU:	Pentium MMX@233MHz
RAM:	32MB
Software
OS:	Solaris 7/8
Collection Data
Acquired:	2000
From:	JDR Microdevices
Relinquished:	2000
Relinquished to:	Hesperos G3
Catalog Data
Location:	Martinez Household
Usage Info
Role:	Oracle 7 Database Server

Summary

In this incarnation, the machine was vested with an ATi Rage IIc video card, an 8GB HDD, and 32MB of RAM, and shortly upgraded from Solaris 7 to Solaris 8. I was never able to get the network card to work, as Solaris 8 wanted nothing to do with ISA NICs. This gave way to Hesperos G3.

Hesperos (G3)

Hesperos G3
Hesperos G1/G2 (Right)
Hardware
Vendor:	JDR Microdevices
CPU:	Pentium MMX@233MHz
RAM:	32MB
Software
OS:	Windows NT Server 4.0
Collection Data
Acquired:	2000
From:	JDR Microdevices
Relinquished:	2001
Relinquished to:	Hesperos G4
Catalog Data
Location:	Martinez Household
Usage Info
Role:	Windows PDC/SQL Server

This incarnation of the machine ran Windows NT Server 4 (from BackOffice 4.5), as Joel Martinez acquired the installation media (along with copies of Microsoft Macro Assembler 6.11 and FrontPage Server Extensions) from the IT manager at Sendero Capital Management, his then-current workplace.

At the end of the G2 era, I moved out of the Martinez household. This machine went back to my mother's home and was wiped/reinstalled, giving away to Hesperos (G4).

Hesperos (G4)

Hesperos G4
Hesperos G4 (Right)
Hardware
Vendor:	JDR Microdevices
CPU:	Pentium MMX@233MHz
RAM:	32MB
Software
OS:	Caldera OpenLinux 2.3
Collection Data
Acquired:	2001
From:	JDR Microdevices
Relinquished:	2001
Relinquished to:	Hesperos G4
Catalog Data
Location:	Durango Ct
Usage Info
Role:	Linux Development

Summary

This generation of the machine was used to develop the C18POLL MODBUS polling app under Caldera OpenLinux 2.3, for Elephant Butte Irrigation District on a contract with Megahertz Computer Consulting. The roots of my "programming" playlist (including Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, the OST of Ah! My Goddess, and many others) were formed under XMMS on this machine.

Caldera OpenLinux 2.3

Once that contract was over, OpenLinux was disposed of. Joel Martinez, Jonathon Moon and I were also gearing up to begin our adventures in digital multitrack audio recording. This, in turn, gave birth to Hesperos (G5).

Hesperos (G5)

Hesperos G5
Hesperos G4 (Right)
Hardware
Vendor:	JDR Microdevices
CPU:	Pentium MMX@233MHz
RAM:	32MB
Software
OS:	Windows 98 RTM
Collection Data
Acquired:	2001
From:	JDR Microdevices
Relinquished:	2003
Relinquished to:	Landfill
Catalog Data
Location:	Durango Ct
Usage Info
Role:	Digital Multitrack Recording

Summary

In this generation, Windows 98 RTM was installed on the machine, along with Cakewalk Pro Audio 9 (eventually upgraded to Sonar).

Historical Summary

This section is included from my old home page, The VAX Pirate's Lair, and as such is not to be considered accurate or up-to-date.

This machine is enormous. Not currently functional, as it is missing a hard drive, floppy drive, CD-ROM and memory. This is one of those massive full-tower monstrosities with 6 external 5.25" drive bays that only supports AT/Baby AT motherboards. It originally ran Solaris 7 for Intel. I plan to rebuild it as a Windows domain controller once I get the needed components.

Historical Specifications

• Intel Pentium 233 MMX
• 5.25" 1.2MB floppy drive
• Internal QIC-80 tape backup unit