[HECnet] Can we hook this up to a VAX or something?

[G ran hling]

On the original question...

Please see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_of_8-inch_floppy_formats

I'd say that this drive "can" be hooked to for example a VAX, even though it would be more easy to use a PDP-11.

When the interface gets ready and a driver software is written, this would enable reading of IBM-diskettes with their data/code ;-)

I'd doubt that DEC-diskettes (RX01 or RX02) could be used, but that might be me being just a little to negative...

One important question might be if this type of drive uses soft or hard sectors. (Soft means one index hole per revolution, hard means one per sector, ie often like 16/rev. IBM often used the latter in their consoles for 370 etc.

But I can't really remember if this is actually taken care of by the drive or by the controller - I'd guess controller actually. That means this drive might be successfully interfaced using for example an RXV21. One issue might be that DEC is stated to use 77 tracks, the IBM says "usable tracks 74" - question is how many tracks the stepper motor actually has accessible by other mechanics - possibly, this might be more of a media concern.

Myself, If access to an 8" floppy for DEC-equipment is wanted, I'd go for either true RX02 (though the drive is quite bulky), or a true 3:d party driver, like BASF, possibly Fujitsu etc. Myself, I've got a couple of double drives 8" 1/2-height (about 1 1/2") neatly packed side by side in an 19" 1he unit that used to be connected to a micro-vax.

In my opinion, IBM hardware is often "odd", big blue was big enough not to care for industrial standards, and is therefore at the best my second choice...

Happy computing, anyway!
/G  ran

On 2011-08-23 19:08, Sampsa Laine wrote:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-IBM-6360-8-Disk-Drive-Displaywriter-/110732734202?pt=UK_VintageComputing_RL&hash=item19c82f6efa#ht_861wt_1145