Product Name Equivalence

Sun Fire 880 Product Notes

The official released name for this system is Sun Fire™ V880. Any reference to Sun Fire 880 on the product, in the system documentation, or in software refers to the Sun Fire V880. Both names can be considered equivalent and are interchangeable.

Document Revision History

This section provides a summarized revision history of these Product Notes, listed according to the document revision number and release date. All the updates made in previous revisions are incorporated into the latest revision; that is, any updates made in the -13 revision will carry forward through any subsequent revisions. The first published version of this document is 806-6598-12, September 2001.

Revisions Made in 806-6598-15, December 2001

■Updated the list of “Required And Recommended Software Patches” on page 3

■Added “Supported Sun Rack for the Sun Fire 880” on page 12

■Added “Sun Fire 880 Server Rackmounting Caution Reminder” on page 12

■Added “Correction to Displaying POST Results” on page 18

■Added “Correction to the diag-trigger Setting for Enabling ASR” on page 18

■Added “Correct Usage of the ifconfig Command for PCI Hot-Plug” on page 18

■Added “Correction to the Attachment Point IDs for DR Procedures” on page 19

■Added “PCI Hot-plug insert message is wrong for slots 7 and 8 (BugID 4546219)” on page 26

■Added “PCI attachment points should be generic (BugID 4388625)” on page 26

■Added “Status LED may not shut off after PCI hot-plug (BugID 4403481)” on page 27

880 specifications

The Sun Microsystems 880 is a prominent series of workstations and servers that played a significant role in the computing landscape during the late 1980s and early 1990s. It was known for its innovative technologies and robust performance, making it a favored choice for both developers and enterprises. The 880 series was powered by the SPARC (Scalable Processor ARChitecture) architecture developed by Sun, which provided enhanced speed and efficiency.

One of the standout features of the Sun 880 was its multiprocessing capability, allowing multiple processors to work simultaneously. This capability ensured high performance for demanding tasks, making it ideal for applications in scientific research, graphics, and large databases. The architecture supported a wide range of operating systems, with SunOS being the most notable, providing a stable and powerful environment for users.

The Sun 880 also incorporated advanced memory management features, including support for virtual memory, which allowed for more effective use of system resources. Users could run multiple applications simultaneously without compromising system performance. The system architecture was designed to handle large amounts of RAM, which was essential for memory-intensive applications, further enhancing its suitability for professional use.

Another characteristic of the Sun 880 series was its modular design, which allowed for easy upgrades and maintenance. This modular approach meant that users could customize their systems according to their specific needs, whether that involved adding more memory, upgrading processors, or incorporating additional storage solutions. The high flexibility made it appealing to businesses that required tailored solutions.

In terms of connectivity, the Sun 880 featured a variety of ports and interfaces, enabling integration with various peripheral devices. This made it possible to connect printers, scanners, and other essential tools, facilitating seamless operation in office environments.

The Sun 880's impressive combination of processing power, expandability, and superior memory management made it a cornerstone in the evolution of workstations and servers during its time. As technology progressed, the Sun 880 helped pave the way for subsequent generations of computing systems, leaving a lasting legacy in the realm of high-performance computing. The architecture and design principles laid down by the Sun 880 continue to influence modern computing technologies today.