26 Jun
2006
26 Jun
'06
5:21 p.m.
Tony Duell wrote:
In my case it's the RML fileserver that's the real priority as no OS or setup
media's known for that one - things like the ACW, Torch XXX machines etc. I do
at least have media for - but I'd still like to archive the drives in "as
found" condition as they're ex-employee systems and so may have something
interesting on there that I've overlooked.
But why anyone
would want to set up something with an ST-412 interface on
the far end at this late date is beyond me.
The obvious reason is that you have a classic computer that uses one of
these boards with an ST412-interfaced hard disk hung off it [1] and you
want to make an image of that disk on an more modern system.
[1] Many machines in the UK did this. Just looking around me, there's the
Acorn Cambridge Workstation, the PERQ 3a (AGW3300), the Torch XXX and Torch QaudX.
Mine use SCSI drives luckily (although I gather it's more common for them to
have ST506 drives and abridge board). I've only ever seen bridge boards on the
XXX, though.
It's a shame someone with the necessary electronics smarts can't whip up a
ST506/412 ==> something (USB, parallel, PCI card, Ethernet, whatever) gadget
that can access a drive at the raw signal level, then do the decoding in
software to 'emulate' a particular ST506/412 disk controller. It's been talked
about enough darn times on here :-) There are commercial devices to do it,
but they're serious $$$...
I bet there are a few people on here who could handle the hardware, and a few
again that have the right software skills. I'm surprised there isn't more
desire to get on and do it to be honest, given that a lot of us are clued-up
about the importance of archiving other forms of media.
cheers
Jules