[clug] OT: Opening Sun computers

[Carlo Hamalainen]

Hi,

Apparently it's nontrivial to open a Sun case:


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Dr. David Kirkby <david.kirkby at onetel.net>
Date: Thu, Sep 24, 2009 at 10:35 AM
Subject: [sage-devel] Something funny (must read) - opening Sun computers.
To: sage-devel at googlegroups.com



As you are aware, I am trying to improve Sage on Solaris. My progress
has been stunted recently as three of my Sun computers were destroyed by
lightning, including the fastest one I own. The damage is currently
subject to an insurance claim, which I believe is almost resolved.

Soon I should have some new Solaris hardware (both SPARC and x86). One
of the x86 machines will be a quad core Xeon 3.33 GHz, so hopefully
building Sage wont be too painful on Solaris x86.

I know Sun computers are complex bits of kit, using components like
resistors and even integrated circuits, but I thought removing the
covers from them was pretty dam simple. All one needs is a Phillips
screwdriver, and a little bit of common sense. Failing that, the service
manuals are online at docs.sun.com.

As part of the insurance claim, a couple of the Suns were returned to a
 company called iVal, that deals with computer insurance claims.

(The machines had to be later returned to me, as iVal were unable to
test Sun computers - despite I'd told them in advance what they were.
The insurers agreed to pay a local company I found to test them instead.)

I thought I'd amuse you with a few photos of how the covers were removed
from two of the Sun computers returned to me.

Here is how to open a Sun Ultra 60:

First break off the corner of the cover:
http://sage.math.washington.edu/home/kirkby/Computer-experts-in-action/Broken-corner-of-Sun-Ultra-60.jpg

Since that obviously does not allow the cover to be removed, smash off
the part where the screwdriver should have been inserted:

http://sage.math.washington.edu/home/kirkby/Computer-experts-in-action/ultra-60-broken-centre.jpg

Here's a close up of that bit, which they kindly wrapped up in bubble
wrap for me. I guess the bubble wrap gave it protection in transit!

http://sage.math.washington.edu/home/kirkby/Computer-experts-in-action/broken-bracket-from-Sun-Ultra-60-case.jpg

At that point, all it needed was the cover to be slid back, but these
computer experts decided it was easier to break off the 4 little catches
on the cover. This would allow them to pull the cover out sideways, not
backwards as it was designed to be removed. I did not notice the absence
immediately, so don't have any photos of that.

On another machine, they managed to remove the cover, but had some
difficulty in fitting it back, so shipped it back to me with the cover
in place on one side, but not on the other.

http://sage.math.washington.edu/home/kirkby/Computer-experts-in-action/netra-t1-Lid-misplaced-and-scratched.jpg

The third Sun computer destroyed by the lightning, (a Sun Blade 2000)
was too heavy to ship - I refused to wrap it up, so after some argument,
the insurers agreed for that to be inspected in my home. So it never
suffered the same fate as the other two machines.

The computer company have given me a *very* frustrating time, and my
insurers agreed to compensate me £200 (around $325) for the messing
around I received. This £200 was not for the damage, only the messing
around - the machines was written off anyway.

I thought I'd amuse you a little, and hopefully my progress on Solaris
will improve somewhat in the near future, when I get the hardware replaced.


Dave

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