darren@ethos.UUCP (02/12/87)
I recently posted a request for information on RLL controllers. What follows
is a summary of the responses mailed to me (minus the headers and footers).
Thanks to all of you who responded. I am not listing responses sent through
the net because if you were interrested, you probably read them anyway (and
besides, I forgot to save them).
Several people were concerned about the compatability of RLL controlers and
drives. The following is an excerpt from the Febuary '87 issue of Computer
Shopper. Hope it helps. Good luck!
========== Page 135 - "RLL controllers" Computer Shopper 2/87 ================
Some of the drives sucessfully tested by Scientific Micro Systems
CDC 9415-36 OTARI 514
CMI 3212 QUANTUM 540
3426
6426 RODIME 352
6440
SEAGATE ST213
CYNTHIA 570 ST225
ST412/212
DMA/RICOH ST4026
ST4038
LAPINE 3522
SHUGART 712
MAXTOR XT1140
TULIN 240
MICROSCIENCS HH321
VERTEX V170
MINISCRIBE 3012/3212
3425
Some of the drives successfully tested by Adaptec
Seagate ST-238 Priam(Vertex) V150
V170
Rodime R0352
R0202E Syquest SQ319
R0203E SQ357
R0204E
Tulin TL226
Tandon TM502 TL326
TM755 TL240
TL340
Microscience HH-325
Toshiba MK56FA
Miniscribe 3425
Micro Storage MS212
NEC 3126
5126 Lapine TITAN
Mitsubishi MR522 Okidata OD526
OD549
=============== end of clipping ==============================================
------------ Responses follow:
I am using the ompti controller in my AT&T PC6300. I have a half height
(originally 10 meg, now 16) hard disk and a hard card (originally 20meg, now
32) connected to the ompti controller giving me a total of 48 meg.
I have only used it with MSDOS (it works with no problems for m) so I can't
help you with your MINIX question.
Vern Bradner ihnp4!killer!vxb
------------
In article <1083@ethos.UUCP> you write:
>
>I just read about the RLL (Run Length Limited) controlers in the
>Febuary issue of Computer Shoper. It seems almost too good to be
>true. Has anyone tried these controlers that could report on their
>performance/compatibility? And the big question, will it work with
>MINIX?
I bought an Adaptec 2,7 RLL disk controller and a Miniscribe 20 meg
hard disk from CompuAdd in Texas (where else). I installed it in an
IBM PC (a PC-2). It works great. I got approximately 31 megabytes from
the 20 meg drive. It's a bit louder than other drives, but it still is
great. It cost less than $100 more than the average 20 meg drive. My
only problem is finding a supplier who will sell me a RLL compatible drive
without the RLL controller. I could really use another 30 megs.
If you find a supplier willing to sell disk drives separately, let me know!
Thanks
Chuck Conway, St. Joseph's University
{bpa|burdvax|princeton|allegra}!sjuvax!cc743805 cc743805@sjuvax.UUCP
------------
I am currently using the Adaptec RLL controller with a Seagate
ST238 drive (resulting in a 30-meg capacity) on my BBS. It's been up
24 hours a day for about 6 months now; so far so good. I did have
one scare where errors seemed to appear. Don't know what was wrong,
but a low-level reformat cured the problem, and it hasn't resurfaced.
I know that some people have success, and some failure, running this
controller with the ST225 20-meg drives to get 30 meg.
David Dyer-Bennet
Usenet: ...viper!ddb
------------
I have been using RLL controllers on PCs and ATs since ADAPTEC
introduced the units. I have had great success with them. However
be forewarned about the following.
1> Your drive must be RLL certified. If it is not you
WILL!!!!! lose your data after a while.
2> Currentyl MICROPORT UNIX does not support RLL, but
I've heard that they will.
3> XENIX V supposedly supports the RLL controllers, but
I'm still waiting to get the new drivers.
4> DOS works with no problem.
5> The controller cards respond to different commands
than the standard controller (XT or AT type) controllers.
6> Seagate drives except for the ST238 are NOT RLL certified
Tulin models TL226, TL240, TL326 and TL340 are
ceritified. Lapine makes 30 meg certified drives.
7> ERLL (enhance RLL) is just around the corner and will
work with most plated media drives and RLL certified
drives. That means that high end drives can gain
about 80 to 100% increase in capacity. The draw
back is that ERLL controllers are about $500-$600.
Tom Giacchi
ihnp4!tarpon!tom -or- allegra!tarpon!tom
------------ end of responses
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