clabretro posts
Early Vid: Talking with Doug Boom about Intel Express
Doug Boom reached out after my first video covering the Intel Express 510T switch and 220T hub. Doug has been working on ethernet at Intel for nearly 30 years and remembers back when the Express line was being developed. He shares a ton of great stories about the folks who were involved!Should go up...
The Serial Port's VCF East Recap
A quick VCF East recap from the folks over at The Serial Port, with a full overview of their late 90s webpage hosting and editing exhibit!Celeb sighting @3:30.
Early Vid: Owning Computer Stores in the '90s
Dad and I sat down to talk about his experience owning and operating computer stores and a PC wholesale operation from 1995 to the early 2000s.Thank you so much for all the questions everyone submitted, it really helped us form the basis of the interview. If I missed or didn't quite cover your ...
Workshop Assistant
Nicki hasn't been down here in four months while the remodel was in full swing (she would've just rolled in all the dust she could find), but I've got things cleaned up now that it's two separate rooms and she's checking out the progress.
Patreon Vid: Unboxing + Fixing that Intel 510T Module
A brief update video unboxing some of my latest pickups. We'll try to get that Intel 510T 100FX module fixed and go over a really quick basement reno update.Let me know if you like these stream-of-consciousness videos, I'm just going to title them whatever date I upload them (this is not an ...
Early Vid: Stackable '90s Intel Networking Gear
Taking a look at a hub and switch in the Intel Express 500 and 200 series line of gear from the late 1990s.I'm ahead of myself for once here, so this one will probably go live end of the week!
Early Access: The Serial Port's "The story of Archie, the first search engine."
The Serial Port and I are teaming up to experiment with some "cross-Patreon" perks. I'm not sure how it will shake out or at what Patreon tiers things will be set, but we're going to start by offering early access to each other's Patreon members. The long and short of it is you g...
Early Vid: IBM System p5 550Q Pt. 2
Finally getting a 240v receptacle installed so we can attempt to boot up the p5 550Q...... it technically runs. Video going up on the channel Friday!
Patreon Vid: eBay March 2024
Checking out some more Cisco stuff.The more I think about it the more I'm convinced the next step is replacing those I/O controller batteries.Sorry about the washed out video, didn't notice that until it was too late!
Owning Computer Stores in the '90s
Next month I'm hoping to make a video interviewing someone who owned several computer stores from 1995 to around 2005 — my Dad.Dad owned several Computer Renaissance stores, a franchise which grew fairly large in the late 90s. He had quite the operation at one point — a total of four stores ...
VXR Progress
Things have escalated 😆. Hoping to have things wrapped up and a video out tomorrow!
Cisco 7204 VXR
I think it's finally VXR time... starting to dive into this guy tonight. I'd at least like to get a T1 link between the VXR and the 7206, but I think I have enough gear to do an ATM link as well.
Patreon Vid: Port Adapters and Electrical Work
Quick overview of some of the Cisco 7200 series port adapters I've been picking up. Oh and then I ramble on and on pretending to be an electrician.
Early Vid: IBM p5 550Q
I was able to finish up a video on the System p5 550Q before heading out of town for the weekend! This should go up live on the channel tomorrow afternoon.
Patreon Vid: Feb 7 2024 Update
Let's take a look at some more stuff that just came in, and talk about video timelines.
Patreon Vid: Blowing up Some 3Com Capacitors
Taking a look at some late 90s 3Com gear (with varying degrees of success), other pickups, and a brief basement update.
Cisco 7206 from 1996
I'm 37 minutes into the next video covering this Cisco 7206 router and there is no end in sight. Might end up being my longest video yet. Hoping to get a T1 connection going between this guy and at least one other Cisco router.
Early Vid: IT Watchdogs Weather Goose
Taking a look at a server rack environment monitor from the late 2000s. We'll also get a new NIC in the Dell R720 and set up a Windows XP VM for device testing.Should go live on the channel tomorrow afternoon!
Patreon Vid: Basement Update + Some New Items
Quick update on the basement remodel happening next to the workshop, and a look at a couple new items that just came in.
Patreon Vid: eBay January 2024
My eBay haul so far this year!
Early Vid: IBM System x3650 M2 Restoration Pt 3
The final installment of the ADP IBM System x3650 M2 saga! Let's get it running on the wall.Should go live on the channel Friday afternoon!
Homelab Cable Setup
Never thought I'd play N64 on the server rack.
Patreon Vid: Workshop Tour 2024
Happy New Year! Wanted to kick things off with a full proper tour of the workshop.
Early Vid: Cisco PIX Firewalls
Managed to sneak one more video out this year. I picked up these PIX firewalls over six months ago and I'm glad I finally made the time to play around with them.We'll reset passwords, get networks setup, attempt a failover config, and even corrupt an install or two!Should go live on the chan...
Early Vid: IBM System x3650 M2 Restoration Pt 2
Taking another swing at the auto-shop IBM System x3650 M2. We'll do a ton more debugging and see if we can get anything going.Video should go up on the channel tomorrow or Thursday!
IBM x3650 M2 Revival
If I throw more IBM stuff at it will it work? No luck so far.
Patreon Vid: DL580 Gen3 Memory Board Follow-up
Adding some more memory boards to the HP ProLiant DL580 Gen3. Along the way I find out some surprising information about the "broken" board from https://youtu.be/BO976T9-_2o. We'll also get the iLO Advanced features activated.
HP ProLiant DL580 Gen3
Starting to dive into this DL580 G3. I think they came out in 2005 but this unit appears to have been built in 2006.Really impressed so far. Incredibly modular, tons of diagnostic LEDs, superb build quality.Had to buy a C19 converter cable, luckily the power supply is happy to accept 110v.
Early Vid: Trying to Fix Sun Microsystems Equipment
Some attempts at fixing a SunPCI III Pro, a Sun Ray 270, and a Sun Ray 2FS. We'll have some successes... and some failures.Video should go live on the channel tomorrow afternoon!
Cisco PIX Woes and IBM HMC Update
Taking a look at some Cisco PIX firewalls and an update on getting an IBM HMC setup for the System p5.When I'm looking at the IBM's diag panel I point at the PS2 LED but that's just the second power supply being unplugged. It does indeed complain about PCI B as well.





























