[Info-vax] Hobbyist DS10/DS15 fastest storage option

[Rich Jordan]

On Wednesday, August 29, 2018 at 12:27:02 PM UTC-5, Dave Froble wrote:
> On 8/29/2018 12:20 PM, Rich Jordan wrote:
> > I may be gifted a retiring DS10, and maybe a DS15 in the next couple of months.  Both of them are 2GB RAM with a single KZPCA and a 73GB internal disk.  I have a compatible graphics card and GbE ethernet card; either would upgrade my home hobby setup currently on a PWS-600au and a DS10-L.  I also have a KZPEA and some random 10K and 15K SCA connector U3 disks that can be adapted with suitable cables and external housing.  My recollection is that U160 is as good as it gets on Alpha without moving to fiber channel, and I don't want an MSA at home.
> >
> > Has anything newer/faster become available for local storage on Alpha?  Maybe even something only supported by VSI VMS (if they get around to a hobbyist version or low cost home license)?
> >
> > Has anyone successfully run an SSD using a SATA/IDE converter on a DS10 with VMS?
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > Rich
> >
> 
> I'm slightly curious about your questions.
> 
> One of my systems is a VAXstation 4000 Model 90A, which has 2 disks, one 
> or two GB RZ26 / RZ28 disks.  Never had a problem with performance. 
> Yeah, all I do is software development, which is mostly using EDT, and 
> the compiler and linker.
> 
> What do you plan at home that requires that much storage, and faster 
> performance?
> 
> Just wondering what I'm missing out on ....

Phillip
     I actually have an enclosure with four IBM 73GB 10KRPM 2.5" drives connected to the DS10-L KZPEA now.  Quieter and much smaller than an SBB based (or Compaq Universal) based setup, though by no means silent.  I made it from a full-height DLT drive case, a small PC power supply, and a 4-bay IBM server drive cage option; it works great and was cheap.  I used to have a BA364 SBB tower with 36GB drives in it and it was rather loud, and it sucked a fair amount more power than this little box.

     Its just I've spent a couple weeks dealing with an MSA1000 based Alpha DS10 cluster and it is noticeably faster than my DS10-L; a DS15, if that happens, will be a huge jump in power for my home network (and I can finally use that PowerStorm 300 card and the DEGXA that have been sitting in the box forever) so getting a boost in storage performance seems like a good thing.  And not having to get an Integrity box at home seems even better.