The Ultra 1 (A11/A12) was the first major UltraSPARC (sun4u) based computer released by Sun.
There are five variants of the Ultra 1: 140/170 and 140E/170E/200E. The E stands for "Enterprise". The differences between the "standard" and "Enterprise" versions of the Ultra 1 are:
Standard | Enterprise |
3 SBUS slots | 2 SBUS slots |
no UPA slot | 1 UPA slot (for "horizontal" Creator framebuffer) |
narrow SCSI | wide SCSI |
10baseT ethernet | 100baseTX ethernet |
History Lesson: On systems containing 200MHz or lower UltraSPARC-I processors, it is possible for a user to run a 64-bit program designed to exploit a problem that could cause the processor to stall. Since 64-bit programs cannot run on the 32-bit kernel, the 32-bit kernel is chosen as the default boot file on these systems in Solaris. The code sequence that exploits the problem is very unusual and is not likely to be generated by a compiler. Assembler code had to be specifically written to demonstrate the problem. It is highly unlikely that a legitimate handwritten assembler routine would use this code sequence. (also, this "exploit" never appeared in the wild)
Linux has had this issue worked around in the kernel for some time now, so there is no reason to run a 32bit Linux kernel on an Ultra 1 (and I'm pretty sure it won't work at all anyways).
Tested Configurations
Aurora Version | Configuration | Remarks | Reporter |
1.0, 1.92 | 142MHz UltraSPARC-I, Sun TGX video, 256MB RAM | Never really used the video (headless over serial). Worked fine for years. | Jima |
1.0, 1.92 | 142MHz UltraSPARC-I, Sun TGX video, 320MB RAM | Never really used the video (headless over serial). Worked fine for years. | Jima |
1.0, 1.92 | 167MHz UltraSPARC-I, Sun TGX video, 128MB RAM | Never really used the video (headless over serial). Worked fine for years. | Jima |
Detailed Specifications
(NOTE: These are the officially supported specifications - other hardware combinations may be possible but are not supported by Sun - see also Sun's System Handbook: [Ultra 1 Workstation Model 140/170 (A11)] and [Ultra 1 Workstation Model 140E/170E/200E (A12)])
CPU Architecture | 143, 167, or 200-MHz UltraSPARC-I |
Main Memory | Eight DSIMM slots |
Install DSIMMs in pairs (16 MB, 32 MB, 64 MB, and 128 MB DIMMs) | |
1 GB maximum | |
Memory Type | 60ns 200-pin DSIMMs, ECC |
Standard Interfaces | |
Audio | Four audio ports: headphone(out), line-in, line-out and microphone(in) using EIA standard 0.125-inch (3.5-mm) jacks |
Ethernet | One ethernet or fast ethernet (10BASE-T or 100BASE-T) twisted-pair standard connector (RJ-45), self-sensing |
Keyboard/Mouse? | One standard keyboard/mouse port (mini DIN-8) |
Parallel | One IEEE 1284 (bidirectional) parallel port (DB25) |
SBUS | Three SBUS slots, 25 MHz, Two SBUS slots on E models |
SCSI | Fast SCSI-2, Internal/External (50 pin), Fast-Wide SCSI-2 on E models Internal/External (68-pin) |
Serial | Two synchronous/asynchronous serial ports (DB25), RS-423/RS-232 |
Storage | |
Disks | Shipped with 535 MB, 1.05 GB, 2.1 GB, or 4.2 GB SCSI drives |
Floppy | One 3.5-in. 1.44-MB floppy |
CDROM | One 4X, 12X, or 32X-speed CD-ROM |
Environmentals | |
AC input | 100 - 240 VAC, 47 - 63 Hz, 3.1 - 1.5 A, 260 VA |
Input Power | 260 Watts |
Temperature | Operating: 5°C to 40°C (41°F to 104°F) |
Nonoperating: -40°C to 60°C (-40°F to 140°F) | |
Humidity | Operating: 20% to 80% relative humidity, noncondensing (at 40°C) |
Nonoperating: 95% relative humidity, noncondensing (at 40°C) | |
Altitude | Operating: 3000 m (10,000 ft) |
Nonoperating: 12,000 m (40,000 ft) | |
Max Dwells at Extremes | 16 Hours |
Vibration | Operating: 5-500 Hz, 0.1 g p-p |
Nonoperating: 5-500 Hz, 1 g p-p | |
Shock | Operating: 5 g pk, 10 msec 1/2 sine wave |
Nonoperating: 30 g pk, 11 msec 1/2 sine wave | |
Dimensions | |
Height | 10.15 cm (4.00 in.) |
Width | 41.75 cm (16.44 in.) |
Depth | 44.30 cm (16.9 in.) |
Weight | 9.55-12.5 kg (21.0-27.5 lb.) |