Xref: utzoo comp.sys.amiga:46742 comp.sys.amiga.tech:9105 Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!cs.utexas.edu!uwm.edu!lll-winken!arisia!sgi!shinobu!odin!odin.corp.sgi.com!portuesi From: portuesi@tweezers.esd.sgi.com (Michael Portuesi) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga,comp.sys.amiga.tech Subject: Re: Microbotics Starboard Stardrive Message-ID: Date: 3 Jan 90 10:56:36 GMT References: <11325@thorin.cs.unc.edu> Sender: news@odin.SGI.COM Reply-To: portuesi@sgi.com (Michael Portuesi) Distribution: usa Organization: Silicon Graphics, Inc., Mtn. View, CA Lines: 75 In-reply-to: cullip@unc.cs.unc.edu's message of 3 Jan 90 15:11:14 GMT >>>>> On 3 Jan 90 15:11:14 GMT, cullip@unc.cs.unc.edu (Timothy Cullip) said: timothy> Can anyone out there give me some information on the Microbotics timothy> Starboard Stardrive SCSI module (the board that plugs into the Starboard)? Do you have anything specific in mind? Here's the lowdown on the StarDrive, from one owner's point of view: * inexpensive * non-DMA, still pretty fast nonetheless, certainly enough to be acceptable (I got diskperf reads of 190K/sec on a 32K buffer using a 68010) * has built-in battery backed clock. Not compatible with the Commodore clocks on the 500/2000, though Microbotics supplies programs to adjust the clock and set the system time. * very solid software driver -- I have never had problems with it. * mediocre to poor support software (disk formatter, etc). * exceptionally poor documentation. They probably still haven't revised the support software and docs for the Fast FileSystem, though I'm not sure. You have to know the relevant parameters (#cylinders, etc) for your drive. Best bet is to contact the drive manufacturer. * has a Mac-style 25-pin SCSI plug -- any Macintosh-compatible SCSI disk will do, or if you are adventurous you can build a 25-50 pin SCSI cable for your Rodime drive. It comes with no cable. I have instructions for building the 25-50 pin cable at home. They were sent to me by several kind members of comp.sys.amiga. Unfortunately, they exist only in hardcopy and not in electronic form, so it will take me a little while to type them back in. timothy> now I am looking for a CHEAP controller (needs not be fast) so timothy> I figure the Stardrive is the best route since I already have the Starboard. If you want cheap and you already have the Starboard, the StarDrive is definitely the way to go. timothy> Is the documentation adequate? Like I said above, the documentation is horrible, but I managed to get mine set up with the bevy of information I culled off the net. timothy> How about a mount list - or whatever the StarDrive expects? You can (and should) use a standard mountlist entry with the StarDrive. Microbotics supplies this bogus "DHMount" program that supposedly mounts the drive for you, but 1) it's non-standard, 2) it doesn't support all of the keywords that a mountlist entry can use, 3) you won't be able to use the Fast FileSystem. Naturally, the documentation doesn't describe how to make a Mountlist entry for the StarDrive. I can supply you with my Mountlist entries if you like -- that way, you can just plug in the parameters for your Rodime drive. timothy> Any info would be appriciated. Hope this helps. If you need more detalied info, feel free to send me email. --M -- __ \/ Michael Portuesi Silicon Graphics Computer Systems, Inc. portuesi@SGI.COM Entry Systems Division -- Engineering