browne@savax.UUCP (01/30/87)
I've been working on installing a set of the Fujitsu Super Eagle disks, with an Emulex controller, on a 780 (running VMS). They ran fine for a while, then one started having timing errors on track 1, and hard errors on track 7. We copied all the data from that disk to a spare, and now the entire platter #6 on the spare has gone out. We tried to backup that disk to another spare (these are all the super eagles). There was much error messaging and gnashing of teeth, and when all was said and done, we had 0 free blocks, where the old disk had over 65,000 free. So, what I'm wondering, is that since 2 out of 5 super eagles shipped to us, as of November, 1986 have gone bad, do I have more to look forward to? I've seen the articles others have submitted here, about their problems - are there still people out there having trouble with dying Super eagles? The folks out there that have had them replaced, are the replacements still running OK out there, or have you had more problems? We'd like to know, so we can figure out whether we should try to exchange these for the regular eagles, and just say to hell with the larger capacity. You can mail to me at ...decvax!savax!browne, or call me at (603) 885-1082. I'll call you back, if you're worried about the toll charges. Thanks much! Duff Browne
sherouse@godot.UUCP (02/04/87)
As previously reported in this forum our two SI9761 drives both blew out - one at 4 months and the other at ~9 months. For both the failure mode was as has been widely reported - a practically geometric increase in bad block count over a few days, appearing to afflict only recently written blocks. The fix was to replace the HDAs. We subscribed to the myth that we were seeing a fault in some early rev of the drives. This weekend the myth and one of our *replacement* HDAs failed. This HDA was replaced less than a month ago. Our replacement is en route from California. This makes three in less than a year. For what it's worth the first HDA was replaced about 6 months ago and has given no trouble since. It was one of the first that SI experienced this failure problem with. I offer these facts without editorial comment. When the big eagles work, we love them - especially in combination with SI's cache controller. Stay tuned for more thrilling updates. - George <decvax!mcnc!godot!sherouse>
bjb@mitisft.UUCP (02/05/87)
We had similar problems with our Eagle-XP drives. After the first two both failed, I put them on an UPS (with power conditioner). I haven't had a problem with them in the last 9 months. Bruce Beare
lacasse@randvax.UUCP (02/06/87)
In article <493@savax.UUCP> browne@savax.UUCP (Duff Browne) writes: >I've been working on installing a set of the Fujitsu Super Eagle disks... >I'm wondering, is that since 2 out of 5 super eagles shipped to us, as >of November, 1986 have gone bad, do I have more to look forward to? >...The folks out there that have had them replaced, are the replacements still >running OK out there, or have you had more problems? I installed Rand's first super eagle last August. It died. Fujitsu repaired it (which took 3 months). The new one has worked fine ever since. Your mileage may vary. Hint: it is supposed to be better to get an HDA sub-assembly with revision of D4 or higher. Mark LaCasse qantel!hplabs!sdcrdcf!randvax!lacasse c/o The Rand Corporation cbosgd!ihnp4!sdcrdcf!randvax!lacasse 1700 Main Street decvax!randvax!lacasse Santa Monica, CA 90406 213/393-0411 ext. 7420 lacasse@Rand-Unix
mra@fathom.UUCP (02/16/87)
In article <735@godot.UUCP>, sherouse@godot.UUCP (George W. Sherouse) writes: > > As previously reported in this forum our two SI9761 drives both blew > out - one at 4 months and the other at ~9 months. For both the > failure mode was as has been widely reported - a practically geometric > increase in bad block count over a few days, appearing to afflict only > recently written blocks. The fix was to replace the HDAs. We > subscribed to the myth that we were seeing a fault in some early rev > of the drives. > > This weekend the myth and one of our *replacement* HDAs failed. This > HDA was replaced less than a month ago. Our replacement is en route > from California. This makes three in less than a year. > Both SI and Emulex recently submitted quotes on a 4-drive system for two microVAX's using Super-Eagles. Two weeks ago, both companies pulled their quotes and removed the Super Eagles from the quotes. SI hinted that it would no longer sell Super Eagles in the near future; Emulex quoted a high mucky-muck memo that told sales reps not to offer Super Eagles. SI suggested using their new 9744, an 8inch drive with Eagle capacity (also made by Fujitsu) and higher transfer rates; Emulex suggested staying with the Eagles...
mangler@cit-vax.UUCP (02/22/87)
In article <268@fathom.UUCP>, mra@fathom.UUCP (Mark R. Abbott) writes: > SI suggested using their new 9744, an 8inch drive with Eagle capacity I assume this is the Fujitsu 2344. I called Fujitsu, and they said the drive is still in beta test, they couldn't even send me a spec sheet. Don Speck speck@vlsi.caltech.edu {seismo,rutgers,ames}!cit-vax!speck
mra@fathom.UUCP (03/03/87)
In article <1849@cit-vax.Caltech.Edu>, mangler@cit-vax.Caltech.Edu (System Mangler) writes: > In article <268@fathom.UUCP>, mra@fathom.UUCP (Mark R. Abbott) writes: > > SI suggested using their new 9744, an 8inch drive with Eagle capacity > > I assume this is the Fujitsu 2344. I called Fujitsu, and they said the > drive is still in beta test, they couldn't even send me a spec sheet. > > Don Speck speck@vlsi.caltech.edu {seismo,rutgers,ames}!cit-vax!speck Yes, these are the Fujitsu 2344's. SI seemed to be willing to pass out info. Capacity is the same as the 2351 (Eagle) but seek time is faster (altho latency is worse - slower motor). They are still in beta test, but SI plans to start shipping in April time frame. I don't know how to calibrate this but Emulex rep was very skeptical. His claim is that Super Eagles now are having defective media problems (original problem was HDA contaminating heads he claimed). Since the Super Eagle and the 2344 both use thin film technology, he thinks the same problem will crop up in 2344. Could be a bit of sour grapes towards SI.
lrj@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu (Lewis R. Jansen) (03/06/87)
In article <269@fathom.UUCP> mra@fathom.UUCP (Mark R. Abbott) writes: >[... long discussion of bad Super Eagles ...] >heads he claimed). Since the Super Eagle and the 2344 both use thin film >technology, he thinks the same problem will crop up in 2344. Could be >a bit of sour grapes towards SI. The story i hear from Secure Data (another marketting company) is thus: The problems with the Super Eagles is due to the head interlock not doing its job well enough. Seems that Fuji uses a magnetic lock on the SEs, which wasn't strong enough to hold in particularly bad shipping conditions. The heads would pop off the landing zone, do a dance on the platters, and pop back. The symptoms were an increasing number of bad blocks showing up everywhere. When a new HDA is shipped to replace the bad one, it gets an even worse treatment as it's all alone in its box; none of the mountings to take any of the shock. So the problem is suddenly on the new HDA too. In any case, this was supposedly only the problem in something like 2% of the disks. Has anyone here had problems with Super Eagles that were NOT purchased from SI? Fuji has supposedly fixed this problem, and it shouldn't happen again. In addition, the 2344s are supposed to be physically almost identical to the 2333s, except there are 27 R/W heads, and fewer cylinders. Please note that the above information was obtained from a source who certainly has (a) an interest in selling us disks, and (b) an interest in NOT selling us bum disks, as we're buying an extra four years worth of service contract in the purchase price (we're getting 1 year free). I also have no connection with Secure Data except as a happy customer (we bought a pair of 2333s a little while back). -- -- Lewis R. Jansen, LASSP Systems Grunt lrj@lasspvax.tn.cornell.edu ...!cornell!lasspvax!lrj The above opinions are for sale or rent. Inquire within.