Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uunet!tiamat!bahamut!jim
From: jim@bahamut.fsc.com (James O'Connor)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.xenix
Subject: Re: RLL formats & SCO Xenix
Message-ID: <272@bahamut.fsc.com>
Date: 2 Feb 90 15:23:14 GMT
References: <26483@cup.portal.com>
Distribution: usa
Organization: Filtration Sciences - Chattanooga,TN
Lines: 29

In article <26483@cup.portal.com>, Anthony_Mak_Fiorentino@cup.portal.com writes:
> I asked for an upgrade of hard disk from some 65MB to 110MB on my last purcha
> of an 386 computer; only to find out when I looked closely that
> the hard disk was formatted up to 110 with an RLL controller. I should think
> ....
> look at whether I paid for anything new at all. My other concern is what 
> effect RLL can have on running SCO Xenix. The literature refers to some 
> legal use of some RLL disks by Xenix.  Should I return it for another type

We have two machines running SCO Xenix using RLL controllers.  Both machines
have Western Digitial WD1006V-SR2 controllers, which are 1:1 interleave, track
buffered, RLL format controllers.  One system has a Seagate 4096 80MB drive
formatted out to ~110MB (space report by fdisk), and the other system has
one Micropolis 1335 72MB drive and one Miniscribe something-or-other 72MB
drive, both formatting out to ~105MB of useable space.

One system has been running for over a year, and the other for 2 months,
without a single disk drive related problem on either.  As far as Xenix is
concerned, the WD1006V-SR2 looks like any other ST-506 controller.  Despite
the bad press it seems to have received lately, I think there are several
people (my self included) who would recommend the WD1006V-SR2.  So, if you
don't have one, you may want to ask your vendor to supply one for you.  I have
no directo experience with other RLL controllers, but have been told the
WD1006 is the best of the bunch.  (Karl Denniger, would you agree?)

------------- 
James B. O'Connor			Work:	jim@tiamat.fsc.com
Data Processing Manager  		Play:   jim@bahamut.fsc.com
Ahlstrom Filtration, Inc.		UUCP:	uunet!tiamat!jim