jca@pnet01.cts.com (John C. Archambeau) (02/23/90)
Where can I get the specs on this hard drive interface? I am considering
buying an ALR PowerFlex and putting a Conner CP-3104 (3.5", 104 Mb, IDE) drive
off of it. What I'm wondering is how different is an IDE interface in terms
of software compatability from an ST412/506 drive? I know SCO Xenix 386 will
run after the PowerFlex has the 386SX card put in it since all ALR machines
are certified by SCO, so that's no problem. But what if I'm tinkering with
something like Minix? Do I need to rewrite the hard disk driver? If so,
where do I get the specs for the IDE interface?
Also, can anybody please give me the specs on the IDE interface such as data
transfer rate? Is it better or just as good as ST412/506?
// JCA
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*/ries@venice.SEDD.TRW.COM (Marc Ries) (02/24/90)
In article <1625@crash.cts.com> jca@pnet01.cts.com (John C. Archambeau) writes:
->Where can I get the specs on this hard drive interface? I am considering
->buying an ALR PowerFlex and putting a Conner CP-3104 (3.5", 104 Mb, IDE) drive
->off of it. What I'm wondering is how different is an IDE interface in terms
->of software compatability from an ST412/506 drive? I know SCO Xenix 386 will
->run after the PowerFlex has the 386SX card put in it since all ALR machines
->are certified by SCO, so that's no problem. But what if I'm tinkering with
->something like Minix? Do I need to rewrite the hard disk driver? If so,
->where do I get the specs for the IDE interface?
->
->Also, can anybody please give me the specs on the IDE interface such as data
->transfer rate? Is it better or just as good as ST412/506?
->
As someone just pointed out, this issue of Computer Shopper is devoted
to Hard Drives. If I remember it correctly, the article mentioned that
IDE used RLL logic, but the smarts are in the hard-disk itself and the
connector interface is a 40-pin type, usually on the AT/XT motherboard
(although they said you can purchase a bus IDE "adaptor" if you want IDE
and there are no motherboard connectors).
I have a PowerFlex and ALR has said they specifically support the Conner
CP-3104 (since the 40Mb disk as standard equipment is also a Conner).
Supposidly, the only thing you have to do is dip-switch the units to
indicate master and slave relationships.
I suggest just calling up ALR -- they seem to have very knowledgable
techsupport and sales support.
BTW: They best price I have seen so far (after going 1/2 through Computer
shopper) is from from an outfit in CO. -- they have the bare CP-3104
for $620.
--
Marc Ries
ries@venice.sedd.trw.com (ARPA)
somewhere!trwind!venice!ries (UUCP)
#include <std.disclaimer>jca@pnet01.cts.com (John C. Archambeau) (02/26/90)
ries@venice.SEDD.TRW.COM (Marc Ries) writes: > I have a PowerFlex and ALR has said they specifically support the Conner > CP-3104 (since the 40Mb disk as standard equipment is also a Conner). > Supposidly, the only thing you have to do is dip-switch the units to > indicate master and slave relationships. The few ALR PowerFlex's I have opened up have had the Western Digital 40 Mb 3.5" hard drive with the IDE interface. I don't know whether ALR puts either the Conner or the WD drive in, but the few that I have seen have had the WD. It wouldn't surprise me if the Conner and WD are the same drive with respect to physical parameters (i.e. 977 cyls, 5 hds, 17 secs/track (WD's parameters)). > I suggest just calling up ALR -- they seem to have very knowledgable > techsupport and sales support. They do, I have called them up on putting drives they don't can with their machines in. I told our sales manager not to put anything in an ALR 386/220 but what they certify. Turned out that a DTC ESDI controller didn't play nice with the 386/220 and they said (after she called them and a day after I said it wouldn't work) not to use anything but a WD ESDI controller in it, especially for a NetWare server. > BTW: They best price I have seen so far (after going 1/2 through Computer > shopper) is from from an outfit in CO. -- they have the bare CP-3104 > for $620. I can do better...heh, I get them at cost since we're an ALR dealer. I just wanted some input from people who have used them. They are nice machines and have a neatly laid out motherboard, but the bottom line with respect to Minix is this... Will Minix's at_wini.c driver work with the PowerFlex's embedded IDE controller? If not, how much of a change has to be done or does an ide_wini.c have to be written? That's the bottom line which respect to Minix compatability. Seems a waste not to use the IDE since I have seen some data sheets on the Conner IDE drives, they don't perform that bad, and are right up there with ESDI (at least the CP-3104 is). // JCA /* **--------------------------------------------------------------------------* ** Flames : /dev/null | My opinions are exactly that, ** ARPANET : crash!pnet01!jca@nosc.mil | mine. Bill Gates couldn't buy ** INTERNET: jca@pnet01.cts.com | it, but he could rent it. :) ** UUCP : {nosc ucsd hplabs!hd-sdd}!crash!pnet01!jca **--------------------------------------------------------------------------* */