DEC Storageworks

[Doc Shipley]

   Sorry, hit send half-done.

   The cans are easy to open, and a bit of care will prevent damage to 
the electronics.

   The internal connectors are all Mylar ribbon cables and the IDC and 
Molex connectors are VERY tight.  This means that you'll need to use a 
putty knife or screwdriver to pry the SCSI and power connectors off the 
drive without stressing the ribbon.  The ribbon cable *will* either 
break away from the plug or just break if you pull on it.

   Having said that,, after the obligatory learning curve I did replace 
a bunch of the drives in SW cans without mishap.  ;-)


	Doc


On 2/4/18 10:56 PM, Doc Shipley via cctech wrote:
>    The Storageworks cabinets I worked with were all either LVD or SE 
> SCSI, no HVD.  All of the RZ26 and some of RZ28 and RZ29 disks that I've 
> seen were 50-pin, the rest 80-pin.  I don't recall any 68-pin 
> Storageworks drives.
> 
>    Then again, my knowledge of that whole ecosystem is VERY anectdotal 
> and limited.
> 
>    I think the answer you need is "Pop the cans open and look first."
> 
> 
>      Doc
> 
> 
> 
> On 2/4/18 10:17 PM, Douglas Taylor via cctech wrote:
>> Ben;
>>
>> Jbod.  Didn't know what it meant until today.  The computer has 4 SCSI 
>> controllers, the Storageworks is operated in a split configuration.  4 
>> drives are on a RAID controller, the other 3 are on a normal SCSI 
>> controller.
>>
>> What I was getting at with replacing the disks in the carrier was 
>> exactly what you mentioned; LVD or HVD SCSI.  I don't know what is in 
>> there.  Is it 50 pin or 68 or 80 pin.
>>
>> Doug
>>
>> On 2/4/2018 9:53 PM, Benjamin Huntsman wrote:
>>> I want to say the difference is in HVD vs LVD SCSI ...  unless you’ve 
>>> swapped out the guts yourself, I’d not mix and match...
>>>
>>> Then again it’s been forever since I monkeyed with those things and I 
>>> could be mistaken...
>>>
>>> As for opening them, I’ve cracked them open before. It’s possible, 
>>> but they were not manufactured to have their drives replaced 
>>> easily... I damaged one last time I tried... be careful.
>>>
>>> Do you have the controller too, or just the jbod?
>>>
>>> -Ben
>>>
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>>> On Feb 4, 2018, at 1:42 PM, Douglas Taylor via cctech 
>>>> <cctech at classiccmp.org> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> The alphaserver 1000a I have has a storageworks array.
>>>>
>>>> The disk carriers are green in color, I see storageworks disks for 
>>>> sale on ebay that are blue.  What is the difference? Are they 
>>>> interchangeable?
>>>>
>>>> Is it possible (or even wise) to open one of the green carriers and 
>>>> change the disk out?
>>>>
>>>> Doug
>>>>
>>
>