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From: young@dynamo.ecn.purdue.edu (Mike Young)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.dec,comp.misc
Subject: controller/drive choices: your opinion, please...
Keywords: PDP-11 ESDI SMD Maxtor Emulex Dilog Seagate Imprimis Unibus
Message-ID: <1990Sep6.200853.24039@ecn.purdue.edu>
Date: 6 Sep 90 20:08:53 GMT
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	I am preparing to purchase a controller and drive for an 11/44,
running RSX-11M+ V4.0 as a more-or-less dedicated electron-beam lithography
control system. I have settled on ESDI and 5.25" technologies over SMD and 8";
indications are that price/performance is better (but comments on this
choice are welcome, too!). The drive will probably be in the 150-300 MB range,
though we'll probably want to add drives later - maybe even larger drives.  I
know of two current drive manufacturers that market these things: Maxtor, and
Seagate/Imprimis. (Are there others?)

	Your opinions are hereby solicited on the following topics:

	> drive reliability/MTBF
	> drive repairability (cost? turnaround?)
	> drive/controller quirks
	> price and/or delivery experience

	For controllers, I have looked at the Dilog DU686, and the 
Emulex UD23. Both are single quad-height boards that claim 100% MSCP imple-
mentation.  This is crucial for our application, as I will be relying on the
stock Digital DU: driver for all operations. Your comments are solicited on
the following topics:

	> controller/drive (see above) idiosyncrasies
	> goodness of MSCP (UDA50) emulation
	> reliability and/or product support, in or out of warranty
	> price/delivery experience
	> upper-bound limitations (size/number of drives, etc.)
	> performance in a heavily-loaded Unibus environment

	Mucho thanks to and and all respondents, in advance. You may mail
comments (address below); I will summarize and post if sufficient interest
is indicated...


    |  Mike Young KA9HZE		|	young@ecn.purdue.edu	|
    |  Purdue University EE Dept.	|	...!pur-ee!young	|
    |  W. Lafayette, IN  47907 		|				|
    _____________________________________________________________________
--
    |  Mike Young KA9HZE		|	young@ecn.purdue.edu	|
    |  Purdue University EE Dept.	|	...!pur-ee!young	|
    |  W. Lafayette, IN  47907 		|				|
    _____________________________________________________________________