From: "Ethan Dicks" <ethan.dicks at gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, December 19, 2011 10:01 PM
To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts"
<cctalk at classiccmp.org>
Subject: Re: rl02 disks for cheap on ebay
On Mon, Dec 19, 2011 at 3:25 PM, Al Kossow <aek at
bitsavers.org> wrote:
On 12/19/11 11:46 AM, jim s wrote:
I though these were either 2311 or 2315 IBM type
technology, but one
could
use the embedded technology
They are actually IBM 5440 physical packaging, first used on System/3.
The cylinder positioning uses an embedded servo, on track is hard
sectored.
Interesting. I'm not surprised to learn the form factor came from an
IBM drive, but I'm now wondering how many other drives used the same
physical pack types and if they were all embedded servo or if any
could be formatted in the field (i.e. - if one has a degaussed pack,
_can_ it be re-used anywhere).
I don't have it anymore, but 20-ish years ago, someone gave me a drive
set that I _think_ was Plessy-badged, with one fixed platter and one
RL02-type top-loading pack. If I'm right in remembering it took an
IBM 5440-style pack, I think I'm also right in remembering that you
could *not* put a DEC RL01 or RL02 pack inside and expect it to work -
you had to use packs formatted for that drive. I don't think there
was a risk of damage, just a lack of successful functionality.
-ethan
I have an 11/05 which has a Perkin-Elmer drive just like the one you
describe.
In the bottom is a fixed (non-removable platter) and in the top you can load
an
"RL-style" cartridge. This is from memory, the system is in the old house
...
The DG Nova3 that I have has also such a similar drive. I have "RL-style"
cartridges for it, so I could check the hub if there is interest.
So, it seems more manufactures used this concept and style disk. How the
interchangeability is ...? I don't know.
- Henk.
PS. RL01 cartridges are not brown, but grey. RL02 are as you said blue.