cdl@mplvax.EDU (Carl Lowenstein) (03/31/89)
There seems to be a current generation of workstations and compute
servers without backplanes. DEC, Sun, perhaps others are making
high-performance boxes that can be connected to the world only through
a SCSI bus or an Ethernet.
How can one connect real-world I/O devices to these boxes, when the
device does not happen to be a disk drive, 8mm or 4mm tape, or
terminal? What about more conventional things such as 9-track
magtape, A:D converters, IEEE-488 bus, CAMAC, etc.?
At the moment, the only thing I can think of is something like a
MicroVax II connected to the Ethernet as a 'backplane server.'
If you know of other solutions to this peripheral connection problem,
please send mail with answers. I will be glad to summarize for the net.
--
carl lowenstein marine physical lab u.c. san diego
{decvax|ucbvax} !ucsd!mplvax!cdl
cdl@mplvax.ucsd.edudyer@spdcc.COM (Steve Dyer) (03/31/89)
In article <842@mplvax.EDU> cdl@mplvax.ucsd.edu.UUCP (Carl Lowenstein) writes: >How can one connect real-world I/O devices to these boxes, when the >device does not happen to be a disk drive, 8mm or 4mm tape, or >terminal? What about more conventional things such as 9-track >magtape, A:D converters, IEEE-488 bus, CAMAC, etc.? You don't. You buy the more expensive versions of their boxes which DO have a backplane. I don't think you will find all machines sold without backplanes, but for those applications which DON'T require the extra expense and complexity of a backplane, it's nice to pass on the cost savings to customers. Your comments about a "backplane server" are interesting, though. Rather than a uVAX-II, you could even use a PC/AT on ethernet. I seem to remember that folks at BBN did this for their multi-media mail even WITH Suns with backplanes. AT cards are cheap and readily available and often less expensive than equivalent VME or Multibus boards. -- Steve Dyer dyer@ursa-major.spdcc.com aka {ima,harvard,rayssd,linus,m2c}!spdcc!dyer dyer@arktouros.mit.edu
swilson@pprg.unm.edu (Scott Wilson [CHTM]) (03/31/89)
In article <2908@spdcc.SPDCC.COM> dyer@ursa-major.spdcc.COM (Steve Dyer) writes: >In article <842@mplvax.EDU> cdl@mplvax.ucsd.edu.UUCP (Carl Lowenstein) writes: >>How can one connect real-world I/O devices to these boxes, when the >>device does not happen to be a disk drive, 8mm or 4mm tape, or >>terminal? What about more conventional things such as 9-track >>magtape, A:D converters, IEEE-488 bus, CAMAC, etc.? > v-------- >You don't. You buy the more expensive versions of their boxes which DO >have a backplane. I don't think you will find all machines sold without >backplanes, but for those applications which DON'T require the extra >expense and complexity of a backplane, it's nice to pass on the cost >savings to customers. >-- >Steve Dyer >dyer@ursa-major.spdcc.com aka {ima,harvard,rayssd,linus,m2c}!spdcc!dyer >dyer@arktouros.mit.edu Actually you can buy Ethernet Crate Controllers for CAMAC off the shelf from Kinetic Systems. I know they have VMS drivers, not sure about UNIX. Since the controller is just an Ethernet device you should be able to rig up something right quick with sockets() et. al. Scott Wilson Research Assistant University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM 87131 (505)277-0780 Disclaimer: I hereby do disclaim everything that ever was, is, will be, won't be, and can't be. And if you ask me I'll deny it.
rsp@decvax.dec.com (Ricky Palmer - (603)881-0370 - ZK3-3/T74) (04/12/89)
------- Actually, from what I have seen, read, witnessed the world is "cranking out" SCSI interfaces for everything known to man/woman at a phenominal rate. I have already heard of one company that has SCSI-Ethernet and I have definitely read of several with SCSI 9-track tapes. A/D is close behind. I tend to apply a simple law of physics. As processors get faster and faster their related components will get closer and closer. You draw your own conclusions...... Ricky Palmer --- Ricky Palmer Ultrix Advanced Development --- Digital Equipment Corporation --- Nashua, New Hampshire --- ... One of the fathers of PMAX ...