Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!comp.vuw.ac.nz!gp.co.nz!zl2tnm!don
From: don@zl2tnm.gp.co.nz (Don Stokes)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.dec
Subject: Re: Second RD54 in MVII
Message-ID: <4182u1w163w@zl2tnm.gp.co.nz>
Date: 31 Dec 90 08:42:45 GMT
References: <1990Dec30.091947.928@spcvxb.spc.edu>
Organization: The Time Machine Room
Lines: 28

terry@spcvxb.spc.edu (Terry Kennedy, Operations Mgr.) writes:

>   I've found that either running an external power supply cable for the
> second drive, or extending the second drive's data cables out to an ex-
> ternal box, works just fine. Of course, to have a "supported" configur-
> ation with two full-height drives, DEC wants you to have an RQDXE exten-
> der card and a RD5x-DA external mounting box. However, as we're a self-
> maintenance shop, support issues are of little concern to us.

One of our local field servoids described to me a configuation involving
a BA23  (don't remember offhand if it was a pdp11 or MicroVAX II) with
a TK50, two full-height drives and RX50s, the TK50 and second hard disk
living in a cannibilised Rainbow chassis.  I think FS were actually
supporting this too (mind you, our Field Service crowd will support
anything if pay them enough)

>   Lastly, even with just a single full-height drive, you may have a prob-
> lem, since there was an FCO to the BA23 (and BA123) wiring harnesses. The
> older ones tended to burn up and cause very nasty failures. The correct
> harness has white connectors and individual wires. If your harness has 
> yellow connectors, or the cable is webbed ribbon style, contact your Field
> Service provider to get the FCO installed.

Free too, at least mine was (I installed it myself, mind).
 
Don Stokes, ZL2TNM  /  /                             don@zl2tnm.gp.co.nz (home)
Systems Programmer /GP/ GP PRINT LIMITED  Wellington,       don@gp.co.nz (work)
__________________/  / ----------------   New_Zealand__________________________