SCSI replacements (was Re: Data General computer)

5 Dec 2011

...
 David Riley wrote: 
...
  On Dec 4, 2011,
at 2:50 PM, Peter Coghlan wrote: 
 The setup works but it's not ideal. The
biggest problem is when I swap the
CF card, the combination sulks until I power both adapters off and on again
together. I vaguely recall that a more expensive ACARD adapter (or possibly
IDE to CF adapter - I forget which) may have offered the ability to hotswap
the card.
 I think you'll find that problem with most IDE<->CF adaptors; if
they're using
CF's native IDE mode, the card is as hotswappable as a regular disk (i.e. not
at all, and you risk frying something).  I suppose someone might make an IDE<->CF
bridge that uses the card's regular memory mode, but I would imagine it's unusual
simply because an IDE mode adaptor can be done completely passively. 
My son did some extensive R&D for an IDE<->CF adapter for
systems used for a bowling ally.  Initially, they would not boot
the operating system, so something special was required.

All of the hardware, including the CF card, was under $ 50
in small lots of about 10.  The cost would probably be much
less in larger lots.

As for SCSI drives, I purchased some RZ28D-E drives (just
a Seagate ST32550N drives - or 2 GB) over ten years ago.
I have not needed to use then lately since I am using 1 TB
SATA drives these days.  But I would be very surprised
if more than 10% of them were not working.

Likewise, I have a few Sony SMO S-501 drives which use
295 MB media (actually doubled sided media - but only one
side of the media can be used at any time) with a large number
of the media.  They are rather slow compared to everything
new these days, but 10 years ago they were still my primary
backup for both the PDP-11 and the PC.

Jerome Fine

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SCSI replacements (was Re: Data General computer)