info-vax@ucbvax.ARPA (05/15/85)
From: SYSTEM%CRNLNS.BITNET@WISCVM.ARPA cc:info-vax@sri-kl.ARPA, mark@maryland.ARPA (tove??) >Subject: IDTC for vax ra81's? > >DEC has a new beast called an Integrated Disk Tape Controller (or maybe >its Tape Disk?), which sits on the SBI and includes a UDA50 analog for >talking to RA81's. It costs $18,000 but I think this includes the >UDA50 cost and the tape controller cost. This gets around the previous >major disadvantage of the RA81: eating a unibus, and being limited to >unibus speeds. So I basically like and am thinking about ordering one >on our 8600. Can anyone shed any more rumors on this new little >animal? Thanks. > -mark The basic 8600 package comes with one SBI and a UBA and an expansion box intended for terminal and communications interfaces (DMZ32, DEUNA, etc). It also has dedicated backplane space in the CPU cabinet for a 2nd SBI interface with an associated UBA and enough unibus slots for a UDA50 plus a unibus tape controller (normally for a TU81 MSCP tape drive). The IDTC consists of those circuit boards. There is nothing special about any of the interfaces: the UBA is the same type used on a 780, as are the UDA50 and tape controllers. Selden Ball Cornell University, LNS NYNEX: (607) 256-4882 Wilson Synchrotron Lab BITNET: SYSTEM@CRNLNS Dryden Road ARPA: SYSTEM%CRNLNS.BITNET@WISCVM.ARPA Ithaca, NY 14853