8 Nov
1997
8 Nov
'97
6:54 a.m.
Hi Daniel:
Attached is the QD21 manual in a gzipped tar archive format. If you need
ASCII I'll resend it.
Kevin
At 10:52 AM 97/11/08 -0600, you wrote:
On Sat, 8 Nov 1997, Kevin McQuiggin wrote:
> Yep, you need one. You can use a standard PC cable and ignore the twisted
> connector, or simply cut and resolder the twisted portion. This works
for me.
I already have a straight-through.
Here's the plan. Get the drive specs from the IBM web site (this will be
tough, their sites are, in my experience, very hard to navigate), and grab
a copy of the QD21 manual that explains each of the required parameters.
There are copies available online, I can email it to you if necessary.
Email would be good, I've tried looking for the manual but had no luck
finding it.
Boot your machine to the chevron prompt, then
start up the QD21 firmware.
Hopefully you'll have the "newer" menu driven version, if not then
you'll
have to set up some tables in memory as described in the manual.
I do have the menus. I can get that far.
The QD21 has a "read disk parameters from
device" setting, I'd try that
first to see if it works for your drive. I've have mixed success with
non-DEC drives on this one. If it works then you're away to the races, just
format from the QD21 menus and then INIT DUxx from VMS or whatever's on
your VAX.
VAX? The QD21 is in a PDP-11/23+.
If not then you'll have to enter a bunch of parameters from the drive
specs, plus some that you can calculate from the specs as stated in the
manual.
OK
The drive select jumper on the drive must
generally be set to "drive select
2". If you're getting no response this may be the problem. The cable must
not be of the twisted variety. Make sure your cable polarity is right, etc.
etc.
I have had success with IBM ESDI drives and the QD21, just keep fiddling
and you'll get it going!
That's the usual plan...
I hope this helps,
If you really have the manual, it will!