[mod.computers.vax] HSC50 question -- 6 or 8 disk channels

ken@HAMLET.CALTECH.EDU (02/06/86)

	All of the DIGITAL literature I can find about HSC50s says
that each disk data channel (-YA) supports 4 drives. The labels on the
chassis of the HSC50 seem to indicate that each column of 4 ports on
the back belongs to one disk data channel. The problem is that we have
two of these data channels and only six working ports. The #3 (lowest)
port on each data channel is dead, and our FE is stumped. We are
considering purchasing some more RA81s and want to know if we can
accomodate them.

	The HSC50 has the following cards:

1	L0100		REV D1	    CI PORT LINK
1	L0109		REV E2	    CI PORT BUFFER
1	L0107		REV C1	    CI PORT PROCESSOR
2	L0108-YA	REV C6/C6   DISK DATA CHANNEL	(Slot 8 and Slot 4)
1	L0106-AB	REV C1	    MEMORY
1	L0105		REV E1	    I/O CONTROLLER PROC

as it was installed by DIGITAL during November 1984. We are currently
running V250 of the microcode, but this problem did exist under V110.

	Any ideas?

	Also, does anyone know if there is a performance benefit from
balancing the load between the disk data channels?

					    Ken Adelman
					    Caltech