thad@cup.portal.com (Thad P Floryan) (12/02/90)
lenny@icus.ICUS.COM (Lenny Tropiano) in <1329@icus.ICUS.COM> writes: In article <1990Nov16.063841.26139@cbnews.att.com>, res@cbnews.att.com (Robert E. Stampfli) writes: > > I gather that so far no one makes a SCSI adapter for the 3b1. If > > this correct? If not, what is the source? > > For fear of coming off as the world's biggest pessimist, I'll going to express my comments nevertheless. Remember, ... I was a bit disappointed with IDT's inability to bring their product to market, especially after I tried to put them in touch with a group working for PacBell (N.Calif) interested in the 3B1 and with 4 people who are EXPERTS writing UNIX device drivers. Sigh. HOWEVER: at this past week's Silicon Valley AT&T UNIX User's Group meeting, we were treated to the announcement of a WORKING prototype "new" disk drive controller project for the 3B1. From my notes: the project fits on a 4-layer daughterboard which in turn plugs into the present WD2010/WD1010 socket the daughterboard is controlled by an MC68HC11 chip programmed to emulate the signals of the WD2010/WD1010 as far as the UNIXPC is concerned the actual disk controller is the WD42C22A supporting RLL and ESDI. four (4) hard drives WORK on the system, using a technique called "disk striping". I.e. due to present limitations in the number of of HDs supported by UNIXPC software, the "trick" is to tell it that each pair of physical HDs is really one large logical HD ... with 34 or 57 sectors per track vs. MFM's usual 17 sectors per track. Using RLL and/or ESDI, this "trick" ups considerably the max possible HD capacity of the system in addition to (potentially) providing extremely fast disk I/O (esp. with the RAM cache) there is a possibility of also SCSI support. And also Ethernet capability on the card. the card itself contains some 64Kbytes RAM cache with intelligent (due to the 68HC11) track management. Noting that the WD42C22A costs $65 and the data separation chip costs $35, what with the additional parts (PCB, RAM, "glue" chips, pins, wires, etc.), software and docs, the ESTIMATED cost is $400 as of November 28, 1990. THERE IS AS YET NO PLANS FOR GOING INTO PRODUCTION. The information above is the extent of my knowledge on the project, but I do know the person involved. As I stated, the announcement was made to our Users' Group as a "Work In Progress" report, and it might not come to fruition, so don't hold your breath. I'll post additional information, one way or the other, as it becomes available. As I keep telling people, there is still considerable life in the 3B1, and I expect mine to be still operating 'til at least 2000 A.D. The 3B1/UNIXPC is worth acquiring even now just for the VoicePower card, esp. if you look at what DOESN'T exist for other computers. And at today's prices, you tell me where you'll find a more-affordable UNIX box for (at least) home use. Sure, I'm getting a "modern" SVR4 box with (at least) a 68030, but I have NO intention of abandoning my 3B1 and Miniframe systems, especially since they outperform A/UX 2.0 running on a Mac II (mostly due to brain-damaged system architecture in the Macs, but, what the hey! :-) Thad Floryan [ thad@cup.portal.com (OR) ..!sun!portal!cup.portal.com!thad ]
ryan@berlin-gw.diag.stratus.com (Dan Guilderson) (12/04/90)
In article <36444@cup.portal.com> thad@cup.portal.com (Thad P Floryan) writes:
As I keep telling people, there is still considerable life in the 3B1, and
I expect mine to be still operating 'til at least 2000 A.D.
Won't the unix-pc die after 1999? :-)
When I powered up my system, it prompted me for the date and time and
only allowed a year between 84-99!! Time is quickly running out!
--
Dan Guilderson ryan@berlin-gw.diag.stratus.com
Stratus Computer, Inc., Marlboro, MA, USA #include <stddisclaimer.h>thad@cup.portal.com (Thad P Floryan) (12/04/90)
ryan@berlin-gw.diag.stratus.com (Dan Guilderson) in <RYAN.90Dec3111953@berlin-gw.diag.stratus.com> writes: >In article <36444@cup.portal.com> thad@cup.portal.com (Thad P Floryan) writes: > > As I keep telling people, there is still considerable life in the 3B1, and > I expect mine to be still operating 'til at least 2000 A.D. > >Won't the unix-pc die after 1999? :-) > >When I powered up my system, it prompted me for the date and time and >only allowed a year between 84-99!! Time is quickly running out! Naw! The menu choices for year in the UA menus is simply an ASCII file for which additional values can be edited-in. The "internal" UNIX date&time can go out way beyond 2000 A.D. Already, in 1990, I'm seeing UNIX systems whose "date" program permits the specification of a 4-digit year; this will be ALL that's required to re-invent for the 3B1 sometime during the next 10 years. If you'll note (by typing date) , the present ctime() already produces a 4-digit year, so there's no problem there. Thad Floryan [ thad@cup.portal.com (OR) ..!sun!portal!cup.portal.com!thad ]