BIGVAX::

Bigvax is the (physically) larger of the two VMS VAXen. Bigvax's size is partly due to it being a Qbus machine, with modules plugging into backplanes in its two BA23 chassis units, and partly due to its somewhat elderly peripherals.

In the main cabinet, starting at the top, we have:

A VT220 terminal as the system console.
The primary BA23 cabinet, containing the MicroVAX 3600 (KA650) CPU, 32 MB of ECC memory, a VCB01 graphics adapter (not connected to anything), EDSI disk controller, ethernet card, floppy controllers and an 8-port serial multiplexor. In the open drive bay is an RX50 5.25" floppy drive.
The expansion BA23 cabinet, containing tape drive controllers and another 8-port serial card. An TK50 cartridge tape drive occupies a drive bay in this chassis.
An RX02 8" double density floppy disk drive.
A TS05 9-track 1600 bpi magnetic tape drive.

To the right of the main cabinet are:

A TK70 tape drive in a DECmate IIIplus chassis. The rest of the DECmate was fully recycled: the keyboard was used to replace one that had failed ona VT220, the disk drives (RX33 and RD31) used on PCs, the monitor I had attached to an external power supply to run off a DEC GIGI (VK100) terminal, and the logic cards and some internal hardware were sent overseas to Charles Lasner to convert a DECmate III to a IIIplus for his PDP-8 collection.
An external tower containing three full-height 5.25" ESDI disk drives. The tower has four bays, but is lacking the skid plate (which also has the power and interface cabling) for the fourth bay.

The system runs VMS, and ran constantly until replaced by the current Toyvax (Bigvax was the former Toyvax), but is kept around in case its peripherals are needed.