In the recent wave of really cheap c8000 workstations I have bought 
myself a nice 2nd hand c8000 in which I want to put in my HP FireGL 
X3-256 (it's the original HP AB668A card). However, as with many second 
hand items, I lack the software CD that came with the FireGL card and 
which contains the drivers necessary to run this card under HP-UX 11i v1.

Does anyone know where to find the drivers for the FireGL X3 for HP-UX?

Benjamin

https://h20392.www2.hp.com/portal/swdepot/displayProductsList.do?category=GGI

HP-UX 11.11 Graphics Technical Computing Environment

you need this, to add full graphic support. Pay attention in case you 
installed some patch before adding this, because in my case it refused to 
install... and after a lot of asking around, I just forced it.

Welcome to the "group" of c8000 new owners... got one 2 to 3 weeks ago, from 
Germany. Unfortunately just a T2 card inside, and no audio (looks like it's 
easier to win lotto, than to find the audio card ... at least at a 
reasonable price).

ftp://support.thewrittenword.com/dists/9.0/src/
Here you can find a lot of fixed src packages that should allow also to add 
the latest (or near it) kde and gnome, if you've the patience of compiling 
it all.

Alessandro

"Benjamin Gawert" <bgawert@gmx.de> ha scritto nel messaggio 
news:8o1a3eFcsmU1@mid.individual.net...
> In the recent wave of really cheap c8000 workstations I have bought myself 
> a nice 2nd hand c8000 in which I want to put in my HP FireGL X3-256 (it's 
> the original HP AB668A card). However, as with many second hand items, I 
> lack the software CD that came with the FireGL card and which contains the 
> drivers necessary to run this card under HP-UX 11i v1.
>
> Does anyone know where to find the drivers for the FireGL X3 for HP-UX?
>
> Benjamin 

Mazzini Alessandro <mazzinia$$$$@tin.it> wrote:

> Welcome to the "group" of c8000 new owners... got one 2 to 3 weeks ago, from
> Germany.

I'd like to join the club, but I'm not sure whether to buy a 900 MHz
Single-CPU machine or a much more expensive 1,1 GHz one. My J6750
already has got a dual 875 MHz CPU configuration so I don't expect
massive performance gains from the 900 MHz machine, despite its bigger
L2 cache.

Does anyone know whether I can buy two (identical) C8000, pull a CPU
from one and put it in the other? Very often the heatsinks are
asymmetrical so I'm cautiously.

Regards
G�tz
-- 
http://www.knubbelmac.de/

I've got mine from ebay , ITSCO. Supposedly think someone took 2 of the ones 
they had (one without a hd) to do exactly what you're suggesting. They 
should have all 900mhz 32mb L2 PA8800 cpus in the C8000 on auction.
The cpu modules in the C8000 are all identical as form etc... so it's just a 
question of getting the correct tool to unlock the socket, and follow the 
manual.
But there's a but, at least imho... unless the 2nd machine is dirty cheap 
compared to the first, isn't better to have 2 working C8000 instead of a 
stripped down one ?

As for the question (900Mhz vs 1.1).... the real point is what you will pay 
for one, and for the other, and if the 1.1Ghz is a PA8800 or a PA8900

PS

Has anyone tried to compile and run Bochs successfully on a PA box ?


"Goetz Hoffart" <usenet@hoffart.de> ha scritto nel messaggio 
news:1jud59y.1h1e7scolkeymN%usenet@hoffart.de...
> Mazzini Alessandro <mazzinia$$$$@tin.it> wrote:
>
>> Welcome to the "group" of c8000 new owners... got one 2 to 3 weeks ago, 
>> from
>> Germany.
>
> I'd like to join the club, but I'm not sure whether to buy a 900 MHz
> Single-CPU machine or a much more expensive 1,1 GHz one. My J6750
> already has got a dual 875 MHz CPU configuration so I don't expect
> massive performance gains from the 900 MHz machine, despite its bigger
> L2 cache.
>
> Does anyone know whether I can buy two (identical) C8000, pull a CPU
> from one and put it in the other? Very often the heatsinks are
> asymmetrical so I'm cautiously.
>
> Regards
> G�tz
> -- 
> http://www.knubbelmac.de/ 

Goetz Hoffart <usenet@hoffart.de> wrote:
>
> I'd like to join the club, but I'm not sure whether to buy a 900 MHz
> Single-CPU machine or a much more expensive 1,1 GHz one. My J6750
> already has got a dual 875 MHz CPU configuration so I don't expect
> massive performance gains from the 900 MHz machine, despite its bigger
> L2 cache.

as always, do what your budget allows you. However, the 900MHz
model is so insanely cheap that I would recommend that.
The C8000 is certainly more silent than your J class.
 
> Does anyone know whether I can buy two (identical) C8000, pull a CPU
> from one and put it in the other? Very often the heatsinks are
> asymmetrical so I'm cautiously.

yes, that's possible. This is another reason why the 900MHz
model is so great. The machines are so cheap that you can
easily build quad core systems.

Dennis

-- 
Don't suffer from insanity...
Enjoy every minute of it.

Dennis Grevenstein <dennis.grevenstein@gmail.com> wrote:

> as always, do what your budget allows you. However, the 900MHz
> model is so insanely cheap that I would recommend that.

I just got two 1 GHz one for 85�/each. That's fair. But these are
missing RAM + graphics. Are the "PC" versions of the Fire-series working
or are these HP branded special ones? In that case I'll buy another 900
machine and strip the graphics and run it headless.

> The C8000 is certainly more silent than your J class.

That's what I'm hoping ... good to hear.

> yes, that's possible. This is another reason why the 900MHz
> model is so great. The machines are so cheap that you can
> easily build quad core systems.

Doing that with the 1000 MHz version now. make -j4, I'm coming :-)

Regards
G�tz
-- 
http://www.knubbelmac.de/

It's better if you put inside one of the HP ati parts. Supposedly the bios 
on the videocards is different from the stock one... it's smaller to create 
less issues, or something like that (check the HP support forum, has been 
discussed there).
I suppose that a normal card could be flashed, if someone gets his hands on 
the firmware. And nothing prevents to try a normal one (if you have it 
without paying before) and see what happens...

PS

finding some extra hds to put inside seems an issue... taking a spare 
workstation with a 73gb costs proportionally less than just taking a disk. 
weird things...




"Goetz Hoffart" <usenet@hoffart.de> ha scritto nel messaggio 
news:1juh20r.16s6w2w18d99b9N%usenet@hoffart.de...
> Dennis Grevenstein <dennis.grevenstein@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> as always, do what your budget allows you. However, the 900MHz
>> model is so insanely cheap that I would recommend that.
>
> I just got two 1 GHz one for 85�/each. That's fair. But these are
> missing RAM + graphics. Are the "PC" versions of the Fire-series working
> or are these HP branded special ones? In that case I'll buy another 900
> machine and strip the graphics and run it headless.
>
>> The C8000 is certainly more silent than your J class.
>
> That's what I'm hoping ... good to hear.
>
>> yes, that's possible. This is another reason why the 900MHz
>> model is so great. The machines are so cheap that you can
>> easily build quad core systems.
>
> Doing that with the 1000 MHz version now. make -j4, I'm coming :-)
>
> Regards
> G�tz
> -- 
> http://www.knubbelmac.de/ 

Goetz Hoffart <usenet@hoffart.de> wrote:
>
> I just got two 1 GHz one for 85�/each. That's fair. But these are
> missing RAM + graphics. Are the "PC" versions of the Fire-series working
> or are these HP branded special ones? In that case I'll buy another 900
> machine and strip the graphics and run it headless.

The graphics cards are said to be different. They need firmware
tweaks to make them work in PA-RISC machines.
I have a spare FireGL T2 if you need one. The fan on the card
needs to be replaced, but the card itself works.
 
> Doing that with the 1000 MHz version now. make -j4, I'm coming :-)

That's the coolest thing about the C8000 and if you can use all
the cores, this box may be the fastest HP-UX workstation.
The Itanium boxes max out at 2*1.5GHz.
 
BTW:
today my Macbook died just two months after the Applecare warranty
expired. Now my C8000 could almost be the fastest machine I have.
I'll have to go back to a G4 mini for a while. I wish I had the
CPU power and memory of the C8000 there.

Dennis

-- 
"It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us
[...] that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not
perish from the earth."

Dennis Grevenstein <dennis.grevenstein@gmail.com> wrote:

> The graphics cards are said to be different. They need firmware
> tweaks to make them work in PA-RISC machines.

Thanks, then no need to peek around eBay for that.

> > Doing that with the 1000 MHz version now. make -j4, I'm coming :-)
> 
> That's the coolest thing about the C8000 and if you can use all
> the cores, this box may be the fastest HP-UX workstation.
> The Itanium boxes max out at 2*1.5GHz.

But the Itanium technology is more advanc ... ouch!

> I'll have to go back to a G4 mini for a while. I wish I had the
> CPU power and memory of the C8000 there.

My regrets!

Gr��e
G�tz
-- 
http://www.knubbelmac.de/

Goetz Hoffart wrote:

> Does anyone know whether I can buy two (identical) C8000, pull a CPU
> from one and put it in the other? Very often the heatsinks are
> asymmetrical so I'm cautiously.

Hi G�tz,

this should work, if the CPU's are absolutely identical. I tried this a
few months ago but I failed. Both CPU's seemed to be identical, both
were PA8800 @ 900MHz. I did even buy the two special tools that are
required to mount the processor. But with both CPU's installed in one
system, the bootrom meant, that the CPU's aren't compatible. IIRC it was
the cache size, that was different. So if you buy two C8000 with the
same CPU model number and the same frequency, it's not guaranteed, that
both CPU's work in one machine.

Lothar
-- 
Lothar Paltins                                        lptmp01@arcor.de

Actually I think that the issue is more basic

the 900mhz version of the PA8800 without L2 cache is limited to 2 ways...
the other 900mhz (with 32mb L2 cache) and all the 1Ghz , 1.1Ghz are 4 ways, 
so they allow for 2 cpu

No idea about the PA8900 1Ghz without L2 cache, instead

"Lothar Paltins" <lptmp01@arcor.de> ha scritto nel messaggio 
news:4d247609$0$6991$9b4e6d93@newsspool4.arcor-online.net...
> Goetz Hoffart wrote:
>
>> Does anyone know whether I can buy two (identical) C8000, pull a CPU
>> from one and put it in the other? Very often the heatsinks are
>> asymmetrical so I'm cautiously.
>
> Hi G�tz,
>
> this should work, if the CPU's are absolutely identical. I tried this a
> few months ago but I failed. Both CPU's seemed to be identical, both
> were PA8800 @ 900MHz. I did even buy the two special tools that are
> required to mount the processor. But with both CPU's installed in one
> system, the bootrom meant, that the CPU's aren't compatible. IIRC it was
> the cache size, that was different. So if you buy two C8000 with the
> same CPU model number and the same frequency, it's not guaranteed, that
> both CPU's work in one machine.
>
> Lothar
> -- 
> Lothar Paltins                                        lptmp01@arcor.de 

Mazzini Alessandro wrote:

> the 900mhz version of the PA8800 without L2 cache is limited to 2 ways...
> the other 900mhz (with 32mb L2 cache) and all the 1Ghz , 1.1Ghz are 4
> ways, so they allow for 2 cpu

The problem was, that one of the CPU modules does have a "Shared I/D
Cache" of 32MB while the other doesn't. Both modules must be identical,
but I don't know, whether two none-L2 modules would work or not.

I found no detailed information about the PA8800 CPU's. The HP
"Worldwide QuickSpecs" website for the C8000 mentions only the newer
CPU's:

  # Up to two HP PA-8900 dual core processor modules (2-way standard; 4-way optional)
    * 2 or 4-way 1.0 GHz PA-8900 with 3.0 MB L1 cache (1.5MB per core)
    * 2 or 4-way 1.0 GHz PA-8900 with 3.0 MB L1 cache (1.5 MB per core) and 64 MB shared L2 cache
    * 2 or 4-way 1.1 GHz PA-8900 with 3.0 MB L1 cache (1.5 MB per core) and 64 MB L2 cache

It seems, that both CPU's with or without L2 cache can be used 2 or
4-way. But later, in the "Configure-to-order Options" section, only the
modules with L2-Cache are mentioned as a second processor. So it's not
clear, whether two modules without L2-cache will not work together or
whether it was only a marketing decision to sell only L2 modules as a
second processor.

But that's all not so important for me. The C8000 is only the final
addition to my small "HP workstation museum". It doesn't really matter,
whether it's off with 2 or 4 processor cores. ;-)

Lothar
-- 
Lothar Paltins                                        lptmp01@arcor.de

:) you've not dug deep enough (google)

HP c8000 Workstation specifications

Operating systems options: HP-UX 11i Version 1 TCOE (Technical Computing 
Operating Environment)

HP-UX 11i Version 1 MTOE (Minimal Technical Operating Environment)

Processor(s): 1-2 PA-8800 or PA-8900 dual-core processor modules:

.. 2-way 900 MHz PA-8800 with 3 MB L1 cache

.. 2 or 4-way 900 MHz PA-8800 with 3 MB L1 cache and 32 MB L2 cache

.. 2 or 4-way 1 GHz PA-8800 with 3 MB L1 cache and 32 MB L2 cache

.. 2 or 4-way 1.1 GHz PA-8900 with 3 MB L1 cache and 64 MB L2 cache

Max. of processors: 4 (using two 2-way PA-8800 or PA-8900 processor modules; 
2-way standard, 4-way optional)



"Lothar Paltins" <lptmp01@arcor.de> ha scritto nel messaggio 
news:4d25dd3e$0$6767$9b4e6d93@newsspool3.arcor-online.net...
> Mazzini Alessandro wrote:
>
>> the 900mhz version of the PA8800 without L2 cache is limited to 2 ways...
>> the other 900mhz (with 32mb L2 cache) and all the 1Ghz , 1.1Ghz are 4
>> ways, so they allow for 2 cpu
>
> The problem was, that one of the CPU modules does have a "Shared I/D
> Cache" of 32MB while the other doesn't. Both modules must be identical,
> but I don't know, whether two none-L2 modules would work or not.
>
> I found no detailed information about the PA8800 CPU's. The HP
> "Worldwide QuickSpecs" website for the C8000 mentions only the newer
> CPU's:
>
>  # Up to two HP PA-8900 dual core processor modules (2-way standard; 4-way 
> optional)
>    * 2 or 4-way 1.0 GHz PA-8900 with 3.0 MB L1 cache (1.5MB per core)
>    * 2 or 4-way 1.0 GHz PA-8900 with 3.0 MB L1 cache (1.5 MB per core) and 
> 64 MB shared L2 cache
>    * 2 or 4-way 1.1 GHz PA-8900 with 3.0 MB L1 cache (1.5 MB per core) and 
> 64 MB L2 cache
>
> It seems, that both CPU's with or without L2 cache can be used 2 or
> 4-way. But later, in the "Configure-to-order Options" section, only the
> modules with L2-Cache are mentioned as a second processor. So it's not
> clear, whether two modules without L2-cache will not work together or
> whether it was only a marketing decision to sell only L2 modules as a
> second processor.
>
> But that's all not so important for me. The C8000 is only the final
> addition to my small "HP workstation museum". It doesn't really matter,
> whether it's off with 2 or 4 processor cores. ;-)
>
> Lothar
> -- 
> Lothar Paltins                                        lptmp01@arcor.de 

Mazzini Alessandro wrote:

> :) you've not dug deep enough (google)

As I've said, there's contradictory information in several documents or
web pages. The HP page I've mentioned includes a "2 or 4-way 1.0 GHz
PA-8900" without L2 cache.

Lothar
-- 
Lothar Paltins                                        lptmp01@arcor.de

In article <4d25dd3e$0$6767$9b4e6d93@newsspool3.arcor-online.net>, Lothar
Paltins <lptmp01@arcor.de> writes:

> 
> But that's all not so important for me. The C8000 is only the final
> addition to my small "HP workstation museum". 

yep. A true collector would want to own the first as well as the
last of its breed :-)
BTW, which box would qualify as "the first HP 9000"?
Some series 400 or would the definition include the 200/300 series
as well? 


> It doesn't really matter,
> whether it's off with 2 or 4 processor cores. ;-)
> 

What kind of hobbyist software would make use of 4 cores?

Michael Kraemer wrote:

> BTW, which box would qualify as "the first HP 9000"?
> Some series 400 or would the definition include the 200/300 series
> as well?

Of course, even the 9836, 9826 and 9816 desktop computers were relabeled
9000/236, /226 and /216. But the first HP-UX workstation was the
9000/500 with HP's Focus processor. AFAIK the first 68k based workstation
running HP-UX was the 9820 aka 9000/220. Unfortunately, I don't own one
of these early systems (only an even older 9825 desktop computer). My
first HP-UX workstation is a 9000/382 with HP-UX 8.

> What kind of hobbyist software would make use of 4 cores?

SETI@home, painting fractal images, ... ?

Lothar
-- 
Lothar Paltins                                        lptmp01@arcor.de

Hello dear c8000 fellows!
Is any technitian there who has some experience with failing c8000s?
I got oppressive "System Firmware Hang" according to diagnostic LEDs
on
rear panel.

Things that i already tried as well (and sorry for my english):
(not in right order, i've tried some of steps dozen of times):
1) Removed all the periphery (PCI cards, video card, HDDs);
2) Attached to serial port and used "COM Port Toolkit" software
to try send some values and sequences, but no replies from machine.
Settings were set following manual
(BCM led on the board blinks which means the BCM itself works);
3) Removed and swapped processors, swapped VRMs, tried to boot machine
with only 1 processor installed;
4) Checked the voltage of "CMOS" battery without and under the load,
removed it and installed back;
5) Removed additional memory, saved only two sticks;
6) Installed video card again, attached to it, attached USB keyboard,
same symptoms.

Can somebody suggest something else before i'll put this board into
trash
bin and try to get a new one?
Maybe someone knows the placement of firmware eeprom? Can he dump
raw contents from his chip?
Since there are many of c8000 geeks there, maybe any know any of
HP engineers/technitians?
Maybe some of you or they know some "magic" sequences or steps
which can be done before i will call this board a "brick" totally.

Thanks for any help!

Hello,

probably I'll not be of help but

http://h30499.www3.hp.com/t5/Workstations-Itanium-Based/C8000-workstation-with-System-Firmware-Hang-Error/td-p/828431

this seems similar to your problem. You said you reseated the power modules 
so... have you tried to check if the power supply is working correctly ?


"Held Bier" <lausgans@gmail.com> ha scritto nel messaggio 
news:5f5ab8c3-3756-4a73-8bcd-b7298235f6f2@f30g2000yqa.googlegroups.com...
> Hello dear c8000 fellows!
> Is any technitian there who has some experience with failing c8000s?
> I got oppressive "System Firmware Hang" according to diagnostic LEDs
> on
> rear panel.
>
> Things that i already tried as well (and sorry for my english):
> (not in right order, i've tried some of steps dozen of times):
> 1) Removed all the periphery (PCI cards, video card, HDDs);
> 2) Attached to serial port and used "COM Port Toolkit" software
> to try send some values and sequences, but no replies from machine.
> Settings were set following manual
> (BCM led on the board blinks which means the BCM itself works);
> 3) Removed and swapped processors, swapped VRMs, tried to boot machine
> with only 1 processor installed;
> 4) Checked the voltage of "CMOS" battery without and under the load,
> removed it and installed back;
> 5) Removed additional memory, saved only two sticks;
> 6) Installed video card again, attached to it, attached USB keyboard,
> same symptoms.
>
> Can somebody suggest something else before i'll put this board into
> trash
> bin and try to get a new one?
> Maybe someone knows the placement of firmware eeprom? Can he dump
> raw contents from his chip?
> Since there are many of c8000 geeks there, maybe any know any of
> HP engineers/technitians?
> Maybe some of you or they know some "magic" sequences or steps
> which can be done before i will call this board a "brick" totally.
>
> Thanks for any help! 

Hello! I fixed the problem. Sorry that i bothered you and others.
Seems that CPUs contacts got oxidized, so everything started
to work after few replugs.

On 12 =D1=8F=D0=BD=D0=B2, 18:25, "Mazzini Alessandro" <mazzinia$...@tin.it>=
 wrote:
> Hello,
>
> probably I'll not be of help but
>
> http://h30499.www3.hp.com/t5/Workstations-Itanium-Based/C8000-worksta...
>
> this seems similar to your problem. You said you reseated the power modul=
es
> so... have you tried to check if the power supply is working correctly ?
>
> "Held Bier" <lausg...@gmail.com> ha scritto nel messaggionews:5f5ab8c3-37=
56-4a73-8bcd-b7298235f6f2@f30g2000yqa.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > Hello dear c8000 fellows!
> > Is any technitian there who has some experience with failing c8000s?
> > I got oppressive "System Firmware Hang" according to diagnostic LEDs
> > on
> > rear panel.
>
> > Things that i already tried as well (and sorry for my english):
> > (not in right order, i've tried some of steps dozen of times):
> > 1) Removed all the periphery (PCI cards, video card, HDDs);
> > 2) Attached to serial port and used "COM Port Toolkit" software
> > to try send some values and sequences, but no replies from machine.
> > Settings were set following manual
> > (BCM led on the board blinks which means the BCM itself works);
> > 3) Removed and swapped processors, swapped VRMs, tried to boot machine
> > with only 1 processor installed;
> > 4) Checked the voltage of "CMOS" battery without and under the load,
> > removed it and installed back;
> > 5) Removed additional memory, saved only two sticks;
> > 6) Installed video card again, attached to it, attached USB keyboard,
> > same symptoms.
>
> > Can somebody suggest something else before i'll put this board into
> > trash
> > bin and try to get a new one?
> > Maybe someone knows the placement of firmware eeprom? Can he dump
> > raw contents from his chip?
> > Since there are many of c8000 geeks there, maybe any know any of
> > HP engineers/technitians?
> > Maybe some of you or they know some "magic" sequences or steps
> > which can be done before i will call this board a "brick" totally.
>
> > Thanks for any help!

On 12/30/2010 12:51 PM, Mazzini Alessandro wrote:

> ftp://support.thewrittenword.com/dists/9.0/src/
> Here you can find a lot of fixed src packages that should allow also to add
> the latest (or near it) kde and gnome, if you've the patience of compiling
> it all.

Be prepared to engage in pitched battle getting any of that stuff to build 
cleanly.  It almost, kinda, sorta works until it doesn't and you pull hair out 
tracking down incorrect paths, missing headers, etc, etc.  I spent the better 
part of a week building KDE from an earlier release.  Good news is that I 
finally got there.  Bad news is that it's unstable and about 30% of the 
desktop features (mostly admin-related) are inoperative.

It would be terrific if someone in the community with time and patience could 
do publicly available binary builds from those sources.  Sort of like Centos 
does from the RedHat Enterprise Linux sources.  Unfortunately, I'm possessed 
of neither time nor patience lately...

you too ?

I've finished compiling all kde 3.5.10 , and the result is not working 
correctly ( compiled gnome, and that one works flawlessly. compiled xfce , 
same , works perfectly). It's a week I'm going in circles trying to see if 
it can somehow work, adding paths, changing shlib paths etc.. to no avail.

It keeps trying to load .la files when running kde apps, and saying "symbol 
not found"... kde as a whole, if launched, goes on until the splashscreen 
arrives to kwin.. then the issues start. No background , plus
kwin fails (run manually it says that something is corrupt), so there's no 
window manager... no way to give focus to a terminal to launch another 
manager. kio- files are not working, so part of the extras do not open (some 
applets on the taskbar) or some modules do not load (part of the helpfile 
doesn't load.. the admin section doesn't show the options) etc... so I guess 
we both have the same issue.
Suppose you had to patch the sb-db.xml file, too, to add the shlib and a 
couple more paths, and fix some files on the fly ?

Alessandro

"Steven Hirsch" <snhirsch@gmail.com> ha scritto nel messaggio 
news:aYudndNjde5R4KTQnZ2dnUVZ_rGdnZ2d@giganews.com...
> On 12/30/2010 12:51 PM, Mazzini Alessandro wrote:
>
>> ftp://support.thewrittenword.com/dists/9.0/src/
>> Here you can find a lot of fixed src packages that should allow also to 
>> add
>> the latest (or near it) kde and gnome, if you've the patience of 
>> compiling
>> it all.
>
> Be prepared to engage in pitched battle getting any of that stuff to build 
> cleanly.  It almost, kinda, sorta works until it doesn't and you pull hair 
> out tracking down incorrect paths, missing headers, etc, etc.  I spent the 
> better part of a week building KDE from an earlier release.  Good news is 
> that I finally got there.  Bad news is that it's unstable and about 30% of 
> the desktop features (mostly admin-related) are inoperative.
>
> It would be terrific if someone in the community with time and patience 
> could do publicly available binary builds from those sources.  Sort of 
> like Centos does from the RedHat Enterprise Linux sources.  Unfortunately, 
> I'm possessed of neither time nor patience lately...
>
>