dean@coplex.UUCP (Dean Brooks) (07/16/90)
As I have not seen anything regarding this mentioned on the USENET
lately, I thought I would tell what I have found out after talking with
GVP.
Apparently GVP has done a complete rewrite of the firmware and the
installation software for all of their SCSI drive controllers. This
includes the SCSI/RAM boards as well.
From what I gather, the new revision includes completely new
installation software, a new device driver and a new ROM set for the
controller. The overall effect is (from what I'm told) an overall
transfer speed increase (how much, I dont know), more
powerful and easier to use software and greater flexibility.
The new installation software is now apparantly intuition based and is
supposed to allow a very quick setup (including a supposedly very-fast
setup for Bridgeboard owners). The device driver supposedly has been
completely rewritten and should allow a noticeable speed increase. In
addition, the GVPprepHD and low-level format utilities have been
reworked as well.
As far as the ROM replacement goes, many of the GVP owners will only
have to remove the specified socketed ROMS and replace them with the
new set. But, from what Im told, some of the newer boards (i.e. the
GVP SCSI A2000+8RAM, etc.) will have to remove two ROMS and replace them
with a single ROM. This is about as much as I could get out of the
GVP techie.
Apparantely this whole upgrade will be availble as a package deal and
should be shipping very soon. I know GVP is already taking orders. The
techie I spoke to wasn't sure about the price but he mentioned somewhere
between the $35.00 to $50.00 price range.
Does anyone else have any more information regarding speed increases
or availablity? All of the above information I got from a tech person
at GVP, so I can't guarantee everything, but most of it should be
correct. If you want more info, contact your favorite GVP techie
directly. They are very friendly and seem to be willing to talk.
--
dean@coplex.UUCP Dean A. Brooks
Copper Electronics, Inc.
Louisville, Ky
UUCP: !uunet!coplex!dean