jbatson@socrates.bbn.com (02/08/88)
I'm trying to add a SCSI disk to a Tower 32, but I'm NOT buying it through NCR - like most other computer vendors, they want much too much for disks when bought through them. However, I'm in need of some assistance on this. NCR has been pretty poor in supplying ANY information I've needed (some modest exception to be made for Greg Noel, ncr-sd!greg, who has at least made an effort once or twice). My general opinion of NCR in the "open systems" area is very low - I've worked on Towers since the first generation (Tower 1632), and although their marketing brochures have always touted that they use "industry standard interfaces so you can expand using any components you'd like" (e.g. the "open system" approach), they generally drop you like a hot potato once you start asking the necessary questions. It was three years after the original release of the Tower before they had any documentation on device drivers for the Tower (and to be sure, they had some unusual kernel functions you needed to know about). Having worked on numerous other systems in those years, you can consider this an educated flame about NCR. LTTB. Has anybody out there put non-NCR SCSI disks on a 32? If so, tell me by E-mail who you are, and I'll drop you a note with some specific questions (in an effort to keep net traffic down). Jay Batson Butterfly MACH Support UUCP: ...!harvard!bbn.com!jbatson 617-873-4119 DOMAIN: jbatson@bbn.com "Parallel processing can be fun!"
rogers@ofc.UUCP (rogers) (02/09/88)
In article <20591@bbn.COM> jbatson@socrates.bbn.com () writes: >I'm trying to add a SCSI disk to a Tower 32, but I'm NOT buying it >through NCR - like most other computer vendors, they want much too much >for disks when bought through them. > >However, I'm in need of some assistance on this. NCR has been pretty >poor in supplying ANY information I've needed (some modest exception to >be made for Greg Noel, ncr-sd!greg, who has at least made an effort >once or twice). Who have you asked? You have to wave greenbacks if you talk to salesmen. > My general opinion of NCR in the "open systems" area >is very low - I've worked on Towers since the first generation (Tower >1632), and although their marketing brochures have always touted that >they use "industry standard interfaces so you can expand using any >components you'd like" (e.g. the "open system" approach), they >generally drop you like a hot potato once you start asking the >necessary questions. What does lack of answers have to do with open systems? I can understand being miffed if you can't get the answers, but I find it hard to translate that into a flame on open systems. NCR has helped many customers adapt the TOWER 32 to their particular environments through direct consultation. Yeah, we might lack some documentation you consider helpful. Something wrong with your phone? > It was three years after the original release of >the Tower before they had any documentation on device drivers for the >Tower (and to be sure, they had some unusual kernel functions you >needed to know about). This did not stop anybody else. Again, something wrong with your phone? > Having worked on numerous other systems in >those years, you can consider this an educated flame about NCR. LTTB. No such thing as an educated flame. That's a conflict of terms, sort of like *army intelligence*.:-) >Has anybody out there put non-NCR SCSI disks on a 32? If so, tell me >by E-mail who you are, and I'll drop you a note with some specific >questions (in an effort to keep net traffic down). Mr. Batman, er, Batson, the problem you have run into is fundamental to capitalism. Successful business enterprises don't have people sitting around waiting for opportunities. They keep people busy. Therefore, the choice to redirect their resources to assist people such as yourself boils down to how lucrative the financials are. In other words, can we solve a problem for you that, BTW, makes us a great deal of money? Drop the note...no promises made.:-) ____________ _____________________________________________________ | | U U | > > > > > > > > ...!rutgers! | U U | ^ ^ v | U Wildcats U K K | ^ ^ ...!gatech!mcnc!< < uvaarpa! | U U K K | ^ ^ v v | U U K K | ^ ...!sri-unix!hplabs!< < ece-csc! | U U KK | ^ v v | UUUUUU K K | ...!sdcsvax!ucsdhub!hp-sdd!ncr-sd!ncrcae!ofc!rogers | K K |-----------------------------------------------------| --------- K K | OR JUST TRY hl.rogers@ncrcae.Columbia.NCR.COM | HL Rogers |_____________________________________________________| "If you don't have time to do it right the first time, when will you ever find time to do it over." - from a wise sage. Go Big Blue!