[Info-vax] Disk drives for an AlphaServer 800

[John H. Reinhardt]

On Aug 24, 10:47 am, Tom Adams <tadams... at yahoo.com> wrote:
> On Aug 6, 3:56 pm, Tom Adams <tadams... at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Aug 6, 1:53 pm, Steven Schweda <sms.antin... at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > >tadamsmarwrote:
> > > > This AS 800 has a seagate st32171wc  2.1 GB ultra SCSI drives  (2
> > > > shadowed).
>
> > > > I wonder if I can get new bigger replacement drives?
>
> > >    2GB?  Bigger would be easier to find than not bigger.  I'd
> > > be a bit amazed if you couldn't find a "new" 36GB drive on
> > > Ebay (where I buy all my disks these days) for well under $50.
>
> > > > I can get seagate st32171wc, but I think they are all used.
>
> > >    I'm amazed that you can find any (working) 2GB disks these
> > > days.
>
> > > > This AS 800 has a hot swap cage, so all the pins have to be positioned
> > > > to match.
>
> > > > But, I guess any 80 pin ultra scsi will work?
>
> > >    That SCA connector is pretty well standardized.  I can't
> > > speak for an AlphaServer 800, but none of my hardware has
> > > rejected any Seagate drive I've stuck into it.
>
> > I got an itchy ebay finger and bought this set of 3 hard disks:
>
> >http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290336157111&ssPag...
>
> > The 800 has room for all 3 and I will put them all in the same shadow
> > set.
>
> > Hopefully, they will fit in the cages OK.- Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> I got the drives, but they were 68 pin, not 80 pin.
>
> There are adapters available on Ebay.
>
> Has anyone used a 68-80 pin scsi adapter?

You got a decent price for the set but you still got screwed since the
listing clearly says 80-pin drives.  I've seen the 68-pin drive to 80-
pin host adapters and I don't see how they can work, especially in an
AS 800's drive bays (I have 2 800's myself).  If I were you I'd try to
get a refund or a return since the listing was clearly in error.  If
you can look for listings where the drive model number is given.  I
usually look for Seagate drives.  Their model numbers for 80-pin
devices end in LC or LCV (larger caches).  Do NOT go for a LW - that's
the 68-pin device.  If checking Seagate numbers also look for ones
starting with ST3 - they are the 1" half or third height drives.
Model numbers starting with ST1 are the half height 1.6" drives and
they are too tall.

  John H. Reinhardt