[Info-vax] Documentation for Storageworks Drive Shelf?

[Stephen Hoffman]

On 2013-02-02 05:37:42 +0000, Lee C. said:

> Hi all - I'm looking for any documentation for a Compaq Storageworks 
> disc shelf replacement PN 123476-001. Yes, I know its ancient, but its 
> what I've got... and it was free.

Loud, slow, low-capacity, heavy, and with hard to find documentation?   
Um, yeah.  Is that really free?

> Picture of this shelf here:
> http://www.recycledgoods.com/zoom.aspx?productID=35777
> I'm trying to determine the meaning of the indicator lights on the 
> lower front right panel. Also any configuration information for using 
> with a DS20E.

Based on the presence of the 70-class DEC part on the back, that 
product was during the transitional period as Compaq acquired and then 
assimilated DEC and its brands.

Based on some searches, its probably either the 4200 or maybe 4300 series.

Based on some more searches, probably 4214R.  That's the single-bus 
rack-mount configuration, the other variantion was the 4254R split-bus 
rackmount.

If it is the 4214R, those were fairly common with ProLiant-class boxes. 
 That's also an early evolution of what became known as the "Universal" 
series disk storage enclosures.   There were two heights of disks 
within the various members of the Universal series shelves, a 1.6" 
brick on the older shelves, and a 1" configuration on the newer shelves.

> I scoured the HP website, with no luck. Even check bitsavers.org.
> 
> Thanks for any pointers to info on these shelves.

Here's what appears to be the manual for that series shelf 
<http://manx.classiccmp.org/collections/antonio/MDS-2000-01_3_of_3/Storage/SW2ZSUGA.PDF> 


IIRC, the 4200 series enclosures were not used with nor supported VMS.  
The follow-on 4314R and 4354R were the first "Universal" shelves that 
were, IIRC.

Here are the older StorageWorks shelves that are typically used with 
<OpenVMS http://labs.hoffmanlabs.com/node/54>

FWIW, Compaq part numbers were more volatile; as newer versions of a 
widget became available, they often got a wholly new part number.  
Contrast this with the DEC parts, where the core of the part numbers 
were sometimes kept around a whole lot longer, and individual 
components either got "dash revisions" or or  got manufacturing 
revisions for smaller changes.   With the Compaq part-numbering scheme, 
you can end up needing to traverse the "replace by" chain to get to the 
current part, and — for cases such as this — to traverse back to the 
product name to get to the documentation.

If you're into that, and you don't have a server room, scrounge a 
StorageWorks BA356.  Older, fairly easily swappable disks with the 
plastic bricks if you're into that, but the older series was 
particularly also quieter.  The 4200 and 4300 series had some fairly 
serious fans, and those fans could be pretty loud.  FWIW, the fans on 
that series were fairly fragile and very exposed.  I've seen some of 
those fans trashed in shipping; if anything gets knocked into the 
guard.  Easy to swap, though.  Ignore this paragraph if you have a 
server room; if you're not trying to work in proximity to this gear.


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