Robin BradshawJan 27, 2024
A fantastic job opportunity here, a German train company are looking for a Windows 3.11 Administrator https://www.gulp.de/gulp2/g/projekte/agentur/C00929028
Randstad

Show threadStuart Longland (VK4MSL)Jan 28, 2024

@en4rab Maybe someone could port their display application to #NetBSD or something…

Thinking about this, they don't mention machine specs, but Windows 3.11 required at least an 80386 and 4MiB RAM. Preferably 8MiB if you wanted networking.

3.1 could run on a 80286 and less RAM. 3.0 could run on an 8088 with 640kiB.

Linux dropped support for the 80386 in release 3.8, and the 80486 will soon join it if it hasn't done so already.

NetBSD seems to need a 486 or above since at least v2.

So a lot depends on what CPU is in use and how much RAM it has.

Hardware replacement is looking more prudent than trying to save what's there.

Show threadssg
@stuartl @en4rab …and that wouldn’t be updated anyway. Its not what its running its the fact that there is no one willing to pay to test updates of OT software upgrades unless it is for new functionality that make/saves you money.
Jan 28, 2024 at 8:11amWeb
Show threadStuart Longland (VK4MSL)Jan 28, 2024

@ssg @en4rab Moving to something you can buy replacements for and hire people who know how to code for it, seems like "new functionality that make/saves you money" to me.

What they have there, is so damn old, only #retrocomputing enthusiasts and mid-aged computer users would have the foggiest clue how to administer these things.

Dealing with IRQ and I/O base addresses… manipulating CONFIG.SYS/AUTOEXEC.BAT/WIN.INI system files… dealing with the realities of something that does not understand TCP/IP out-of-the-box… co-operative multitasking… MS-DOS' laughably poor security model…

I like keeping old kit from becoming e-waste too, but there comes a point where a piece of hardware's retirement has well and truly come!

Using a 20+ year old computer for production work loads is very unwise, but maybe doable if it can at least run a relatively current OS.

I definitely wouldn't use a 33+ year old OS stack. That is asking for trouble.

I speak as someone who actually did help a rail company replace ancient SCO boxes with something newer.

Show threadssgJan 28, 2024
@stuartl @en4rab well the ot equipment that i familiar with, forest machinery, you don’t administer it. You just restore a image, usally by the manufactory, so there is no extra cost because it is old.
Show threadssgJan 28, 2024
@stuartl @en4rab but forestmacinery usally doesnt survive to long. Not for commercial use at least because of the wear and tear. But I have seen NEW machines with already unsupported OS’s.
Show threadStuart Longland (VK4MSL)Jan 28, 2024

@ssg @en4rab

Then they don't need to hire a Windows 3.11 "administrator" that's "remote". In that case, they need a basic hardware tech onsite with knowledge of how to operate Norton Ghost.

This ad actually suggests someone will be writing the "high-quality display software". They'll get a lot more hits if the OS and hardware is semi-recent and not approaching middle-age itself.

Machines of this vintage, you're possibly dealing with the odd dried out capacitor, a battery leak, rickety HDD seizing up and floppy-drives galore. Ohh and forget niceties like USB.

Tell 'im he's dreamin'! This can't be done remotely… and isn't even viable.