tyler@gen1.UUCP (Tyler IVANCO) (01/13/88)
I would like to thank those who responded to my request for
information regarding hardware configurations (hard drives etc.) that
are known to work with SCO-XENIX 386. I invite others to send me their
current 386 Xenix hardware configuration along with any comments so that
I may be able to keep a log of workable units. I personally am interested
in:
1) Hard drive/controllers (e.g. ESDI WD1005 / CDC Wren XXX),
2) Tape drives, both reel and streamers,
3) LANs, hardware and software (e.g. ethernet with TCP/IP),
4) Graphics hardware,
5) Other bus cards such as IEEE 488 (GPIB) controllers.
6) System boards and clock speed (e.g. Tandy 4000, 16Mhz, 1Mbyte)
Please send your configuration to:
"Phone: (416)736-2100 x7765 Tyler Ivanco
Institute for Space and Terrestrial Sciences - Solar/Terrestrial Physics Lab
BITNET: fs300022@yusol UUCP: ...uunet!mnetor!yunexus!gen1!tyler
yfcs0027@yorkvm1 ...utzoo!/ "
complete, if possible, with the model number/version number of your
particular configuration. Here is the summary:
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
System HD HD Cont Tape Tape Cont Other
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dell 386,6 MB 150mb esdi wangtek/PC36 tape Chase A16
Serial
micnet
----
Compaq 386 Emerald esdi Emerald 9 track reel
315M/150M
----
PC Designs ST4096 ST-506
GV386 ST251
3MB, 1-32bit
2-16bit
----
Compaq 386/20 130M 40M Tape
5MB
----
Wyse 3216 Micropolis WD ST-506 Archive Tape Drive
1304 41MB
ST4026
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A few general comments were also passed on, particularly these
from SCO:
"In general, if you have a supported controller, any hard disk that
works with it works with Xenix (the main exception is that >1024
cylinders is not supported for an ST506 drive). We use the Wren II
in many systems internally, as well as other winchesters. We are
using ESDI drives for new systems because of much better price
performance ratios."
and
"As to ESDI drive support under SCO XENIX, there are 3 ways to go.
1. Any controller that is WD1010 register compatible, but can drive
ESDI drives (like the one that comes with the Compaq) works. Many
of these controllers do conversions from the ESDI/RLL 34 sectors/trk
to 17 sec/trk. Our system can work with whatever sect/trk is in
the CMOS, or manually entered at install time.
2. Option 1. still leaves you stuck with no DMA and the ST506 disk
size limitation. You also probably cant get 1:1 interleaving.
We have a special version of XENIX 386 which installs onto
an SMS/OMTI 8620 or 8627 direct AT-ESDI controller. We have
a configurable option to run it in DMA, PIO, or Optimized
PIO mode. It is the fastest controller we know of (besides
cacheing controllers) for AT's today. And, you get full 1:1
interleaving and can run really huge drives. This version
of XENIX also still supports std. disk controllers.
3. IBM PS/2. The large disk options are ESDI and there is a really
nice controller in these boxes, for which SCO XENIX for the PS/2
has a special driver. "
Again, I would like to thank those who responded and ask others
to do the same. If there is sufficient new information I will repost an
updated summary.
I remain:
Phone: (416)736-2100 x7765 Tyler Ivanco
Institute for Space and Terrestrial Sciences - Solar/Terrestrial Physics Lab
BITNET: fs300022@yusol UUCP: ...uunet!mnetor!yunexus!gen1!tyler
yfcs0027@yorkvm1 ...utzoo!/