Path: utzoo!attcan!sobeco!roe
From: roe@sobeco.UUCP (R. Peterson)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.wizards
Subject: Re: Cheaper winnies on an NCR tower
Message-ID: <312@sobeco.UUCP>
Date: 25 Jul 88 22:45:06 GMT
References: <531@prlhp1.prl.philips.co.uk>
Organization: Groupe SOBECO (Montreal Canada)
Lines: 42

From article <531@prlhp1.prl.philips.co.uk>, by ockenden@prlhp1.prl.philips.co.uk (Paul T Ockenden):
> NCR Drives : A Plea for help.
> 
> We have an NCR Tower 32/600 here. NCR being the *wonderful*
> people they are want about 4500 for a 140Mb drive. This sticks in
> my throat.
	!!!!! MINE TOO !!!!!!
> 
> First. Without going to an external cabinet, is there anyway of getting
> a bigger than 140Mb drive *INSIDE* the 32/600. 

The problem here is that the NCR implementation of ST-506 supports a
maximum of 1024 cylinders.  The Maxtor XT-1140 (this is usually what NCR
sells, at least in North America) has 918 cylinders;  their next largest
(and biggest, as far as I can tell) ST506 is the XT2190, with 1224 cyls;
using this drive would waste 200 cyls.

You can go to SCSI interface for the tower, and that permits drives as
big as 760MB internally;  however, you are going to need some programming
to make it work.  The NCR 'open philosophy' redefines the word 'open'...
...

You can replace your 46MB drive with a 140MB.  Simply back up your
entire file system, change the 46 for a 140, and re-install the
operating system from scratch.  This will format the drive for you.
You will have no trouble booting from the 140.  Make sure to set it up
for drive 0, and REMOVE THE TERMINATING RESISTOR PACK!

> Second. 4500 UK Pnds for a 140Mb drive is er... a little steep... Does
> anyone know how to install a non-NCR drive into a 32/600 

The NCR 140 megabyte is ACTUALLY a MAXTOR XT-1140.  Just buy one of these
from you nearest dealer, install it, and the tower will be absolutely 
convinced you are using a real NCR drive (read: costs 3 times as much as
it should).
> PS. These drives would have to take a hammering..... 
The MAX is very robust.

					Roe Peterson
					{attcan,utzoo!telly}!sobeco!roe
					"Alls' fair in love and
						device drivers."