young@dynamo.ecn.purdue.edu (Mike Young) (09/07/90)
I am preparing to purchase a controller and drive for an 11/44, running RSX-11M+ V4.0 as a more-or-less dedicated electron-beam lithography control system. I have settled on ESDI and 5.25" technologies over SMD and 8"; indications are that price/performance is better (but comments on this choice are welcome, too!). The drive will probably be in the 150-300 MB range, though we'll probably want to add drives later - maybe even larger drives. I know of two current drive manufacturers that market these things: Maxtor, and Seagate/Imprimis. (Are there others?) Your opinions are hereby solicited on the following topics: > drive reliability/MTBF > drive repairability (cost? turnaround?) > drive/controller quirks > price and/or delivery experience For controllers, I have looked at the Dilog DU686, and the Emulex UD23. Both are single quad-height boards that claim 100% MSCP imple- mentation. This is crucial for our application, as I will be relying on the stock Digital DU: driver for all operations. Your comments are solicited on the following topics: > controller/drive (see above) idiosyncrasies > goodness of MSCP (UDA50) emulation > reliability and/or product support, in or out of warranty > price/delivery experience > upper-bound limitations (size/number of drives, etc.) > performance in a heavily-loaded Unibus environment Mucho thanks to and and all respondents, in advance. You may mail comments (address below); I will summarize and post if sufficient interest is indicated... | Mike Young KA9HZE | young@ecn.purdue.edu | | Purdue University EE Dept. | ...!pur-ee!young | | W. Lafayette, IN 47907 | | _____________________________________________________________________ -- | Mike Young KA9HZE | young@ecn.purdue.edu | | Purdue University EE Dept. | ...!pur-ee!young | | W. Lafayette, IN 47907 | | _____________________________________________________________________