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Booted up in 1993, this server still runs – but not for much longer (2017)

193 points · 110 comments · doener

  1. nineteen999 · · focus · HN ↗
    We use to run Stratus VOS on Continuum series hardware at a lottery/poker machine company I worked at in the mid 2000's. It handled the jackpot system which decided which of 13,500 poker machines in our state would jackpot at any given time.

    A reliable beast - never failed once in the entire time I worked there. Based on PA-RISC if I recall correctly.

    1. zorked · · focus · HN ↗
      The poker machines are connected? Why wouldn't they just jackpot locally and indepdendently?
      1. rafaelvasco · · focus · HN ↗
        Can't have several machines "jackpotting" at the same time or similar time. The prizing algorithm is very strict.
        1. andyjohnson0 · · focus · HN ↗
          Is this widely known? Presumably the jackpots are sufficiently geographically distributed so that a player who observes one wouldn't be incentivised to pause playing?
          1. wildzzz · · focus · HN ↗
            These are probably the kind of machines you sometimes see in gas stations and bars, there's only a few of them in any location at most so there's never too many players nearby to be dissuaded from playing. Plus, a jackpot isn't the only way to win money.
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