Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!hplabs!hp-pcd!hplsla!tomb
From: tomb@hplsla.HP.COM (Tom Bruhns)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: A1000 Hard Drive info wanted
Message-ID: <5160030@hplsla.HP.COM>
Date: 13 Apr 89 20:13:48 GMT
References: <3680@sdsu.UUCP>
Organization: HP Lake Stevens, WA
Lines: 54

> ...
>	I need some help.  I have an A1000 and am looking for a 60-80 Mbyte
>hard drive setup.  I have some specific questions and would appreciate any
>general advice/warnings.  First my questions:
>
>	o  Has anyone purchased the Hard Drive packages offered by Abel
>	   supply?  Any comments on quality or service and product?
>	o  Is there any way to autoboot on a cold-boot? warm-boot?
>	   (This is an _A1000_ with 1.3 KS on DISK).
>	o  Am I better off shopping for components individually or should
>	   get a package?
>	o  Here is what I need to get: SCSI drive, A1000 SCSI controller,
>	   SCSI cable, power supply, enclosure for the drive.  Is this list
>	   correct?
>	o  I have a StarBoard II.  Is the SCSI module any good?  I'm leaning
>	   towards the Supra Interface, but am worried about SOTS problems
>	   with both guys (SBII+Supra) plugged in, so may get the SCSI module.

I just hooked an ST-277N (nom. 65 megs) up to a StarDrive in a StarBoardII
on my A1000.  It seems to work reliably.  I think the diagnostics and
setup software for the StarDrive is marginal, however.  I'd really like to
see Microbotics do a better job of supporting it.  A cold boot has to be 
done from floppy, but a warm reboot can be done from a small RAD:.  Follow
the instructions in the 1.3 manual from C= for setting up a small RAD: for
use with a 2090 and you will be close.  However, you have to have a mount
dh0: in your Startup-sequence, which C= doesn't mention (apparently
because a 2090 (not 2090a) automounts the first partition ??).  Along with
that, be sure that the RAD: setup includes putting mount in the c: dir,
and that the mountlist is in devs on RAD:.  Don't use the hdmount command
or whatever it is that Microbotics supplies.  (If you go this way, for a
SASE and blank disk, I'd be happy to supply you with a copy of my boot disk)

I know a fellow who is trying to get a StarDrive working with an Adaptec
controller controlling an ST-xxx IBM-type drive; Microbotics apparently
promised him new SW some time ago and hasn't delivered yet.  He's
disappointed.  I also recall that someone on the net (Matt Dillon???)
said he had written his own drivers for a StarDrive.

In summary I'm happy with the performance, and would do it again, but the
support software -- and the software support -- is kinda marginal.
65 megs for $500 or so seems like a good deal (well, at least on an
Amiga).  (Note -- for _lots_ of other reasons, I'd not consider trading
Amy for "PC")
>
>	Any and all help is appreciated.  Thank You!
>
>-----------------------------
>John Lindwall
>johnl@tw-rnd.SanDiego.NCR.COM
>john.lindwall@tw-rnd.SanDiego.NCR.COM
>

Tom Bruhns
tomb%hplsla@hplabs.hp.com