devil@TECHUNIX.BITNET (Gil Tene) (07/06/90)
The following is a summary of a small survey I ran on comp.sys.sun and
comp.periphs.scsi. I asked about 660MB disk and 150MB tape configurations
for Sparcstations.
At first run, I asked people who had experience with configurations and
dealers for data. I later posted a request for data from anyone, including
dealers. I have tried to follow up any e-mail leads to dealers that people
gave me, some with success, some not.
In general, it seems like there is a good market out there for disk/tape
configs for Suns. Prices vary greatly, and mail order places can often
offer prices 50% lower than those found in retail computer places. I have
covered e-mailable dealers only, which tend to be mail order places.
Warranty methods are something to watch, and it is always best to be
covered by the manufact. own warraty, since this keeps you covered even if
the dealer disappears.
I have summerized my contacts below, and I tried to do a "fair" job of it.
I have tried to contact every e-mail lead I was given (e-mail only). I
have summerized contacts which were not checked as well, seperately. I am
not connected with any of the vendors or dealers in any way. I have done
this survey for my own interests, having ordered a Sparcstation SLC, and
trying to decide on the best tape/disk config for it... I have summerized
contacts about 660MB disk and 150 MB tapes **ONLY**, contacts about other
sizes of disks and tapes are excluded.
I wish to thank all the people who responded (a total of 34 mail replies).
I will not include names, as most messages have been cross-checked and
summerized. I hope this summary will help all of you who are looking for
similar devices.
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Disks: (660MB, or close)
660MB disks seem to offer the best MB/$ ratio compared with both 300MB and
1.2GB disks. The 1.2GB disks seem to have just entered the market, and
some have adaptation problems when brought to Suns. Most dealers supply
the disks formatted, but reformatting a drive requires format.dat entries.
You should make sure such an entry is available with the disk, or you may
get stuck. Witness the questions about "format.dat" entries for disks on
the net...
Most of the replys I got were about Fuji and HP disks. Sun seems to be
using Wern VI disks (not sure). I have exact dealer prices only on the HP
and Fujis, only estimated prices on the Werns
HP :
HP 97548S 660MB (formatted) SCSI drive.
Seek : track-to-track: 3.5 ms, average: 16.5 ms, Max: 32 ms.
Transfer speed : Async 1.5 Mb/s, Sync 4.0 Mb/s.
150,000 Hr. MTBF, 5 year warranty (5-6 day replacement).
Lowest price : $2200 bare drive.
Next Lowest price : $2421 bare drive.
List : $2950
Fujitsu :
Fujitsu M2263SA 669MB (formatted) SCSI drives.
Seek : track-to-track: 4 ms, average: 16 ms, Max: 30 ms.
Transfer speed : Async 1.75 Mb/s, Sync 4.0 Mb/s.
200,000 Hr. MTBF, 5 year warranty (24 Hr. replacement).
Lowest price : $2112 bare drive.
Next Lowest price : $2188 bare drive.
Werns :
Wern VI (660MB) with enclosure+power :
660MB, don't know avg. acc. time or MTBF. Come with
1 year warranty, optional 5 year warranty.
Lowest estimated : $2800
Next lowest estimated : $3000
Hitachi :
Hitachi DK515C-78. unknown details, estimated price $2000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tapes :
Pretty much everyone I talked with is going with the
Archive Viper 2150S (150MB) SCSI QIC tape. It seems to be
what Sun uses too. Estimated price for bare drive : ~$700.
Used drives can to be found at half the price...
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%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Contact summary :
Dealers with actual prices (e-mail contacts) :
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fuji 660MB w/5 year warranty (bare) $2188
same in shoebox $2490
same + Archive viper 2150S
in 1.5Ht enclusure $3276
HP 660MB w/5 year warraty 150000Hr MTBF (bare) $2421
same in shoebox $2723
same + Archive viper 2150S
in 1.5Ht enclusure $3509
contact :
Peter H. Berens Apunix Computer Services
Internet: apunix!phb@ucsd.edu 9330 Carmel Mountain Road, Suite C
UUCP: ...!uunet!ucsd!apunix!phb San Diego, CA 92129
1-800-8-APUNIX (619) 484-0074
The APUNIX configurations are "plug-and-play" for the enclosed disks. (I
think they do burn-in tests too, but not sure.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HP 660MB w/5 year warraty 150000Hr MTBF (bare) $2200
contact :
Michael R. (Mike) Wayne
TMC & Associates
3959 Kings Point Rd.
Troy, MI 48083
wayne@teemc.tmc.mi.org
TMC's HP drive prices seem to be the lowest I have found. TMC also sells
some enclosures and tape units. You have to do some tinkering and assembly
yourself, this is how they get the prices so low. (HP warranty is backed by
HP).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Side-by-side enclosure containing
Fuji 669MB + Archive viper 2150S $3495
(5 year warr on the Fuji, 1 year on the Viper)
System is modeled after sparcstation style:
little purple feet, sparcstation lines...
Contact :
Ken Schmitt Acropolis Systems, Inc.
voice-mail: (408) 946-6947 fax: (408) 946-8715.
e-mail: uunet!acrop!sales
All subsystems are formatted and tested prior to shipment and include SCSI
cables.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contacts that have not been verified, but seem interesting : ("quotes" are
out of customer e-mail that I got...)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
~$5,500 for 2 Fujis + power supply and box
SSI , St. Louis.
phone number : +1 314 256-3740, ask for Joe Parato.
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Parity Systems, Campbell, CA.
"sell disks, tapes, and memory for Suns."
parity%parity.uucp@coherent.com
(I have not received an e-mail answer from them).
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Werns...
Coperico, Inc.
3440 De La Cruz Blvd.
Santa Clara, CA 95054
408-496-6768, Fax: 408-496-6770 Attn: Gerry Fergusen
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Werns...
National Peripherals, Inc.
1111 Pasquinelli Drive, Suite 400
Westmont, IL 60559-1272
708-325-4151 Attn: Richard Spring
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"Wren V ~$2800 tax and everything."
CITA tech in Philadelphia, (215) 965-3552
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Happy Shopping,
Gil.
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| Gil Tene "Some days it just doesn't pay |
| devil@techunix.technion.ac.il to go to sleep in the morning." |
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