[HECnet] SCSI2SD for our vintage HECnet systems?

[Dave Wade]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-hecnet at Update.UU.SE <owner-hecnet at Update.UU.SE> On Behalf
> Of John H. Reinhardt
> Sent: 14 November 2019 00:31
> To: hecnet at Update.UU.SE
> Subject: Re: [HECnet] SCSI2SD for our vintage HECnet systems?
> 
> On 11/13/2019 1:46 PM, Jason Brady wrote:
> > Hello All,
> >
> > In the interest of keeping our HECnet systems up and running, has anyone had
> experience with replacing hard drives with a SCSI2SD device?
> >
> > This is for an AlphaStation 400 4/233 with 2Gb RZ28E and M drives (Seagate
> ST32430N and Quantum), 50-pin connector. Also a DEC 3000 M400 with an
> RZ26 1Gb drive.
> >
> > Are the SCSI2SD units fully compatible and reliable?
> >
> > Can you recommend a particular model/brand that works well with our
> vintage DEC systems?

I have one of the older ones (v5 I think) in a VaxStation 3100 Model 30 because it allows me to define a 1GB disk which the model 30 needs to boot from
Its running the 7.3 from the Hobbyist program and I have had no problems with it.  I also have one on an IBM Microchannel server.
I did have some issues here and had to tweak some timings to get it to work. However, I don't think it was the all the fault of the SCSI2SD. 
I had some other disks in a RAID array on a separate controller (which I wanted to back up). Once I put some modern disks in that things settled down
And it all works fine.

Dave


> >
> > If this has been addressed previously, appreciate a pointer to the discussion.
> >
> > Thank you,
> > Jason
> 
> I've had mixed success, but I think it's just me.  I have a MicroVAX 3100 M95
> (OpenVMS V7.3) that I tried both a V5.1 and V6.02 SCSI2SD card in and didn't
> have much luck.  Small amounts of I/O process okay - I could INIT a set of drives
> and look at the empty disk, but do a COPY of more than a few files and it would
> go into Mount Verification and eventually the SCSI bus locked up and the
> system would hang for a long time.  Usually I got out by pressing the interrupt
> button on the back of the machine.  It may well be a SCSI controller problem or
> something on the bus, but I haven't worked much to diagnose it yet.  I've
> conversed with others that have had no problems with MicroVAXen and V7.3 so
> I'm sure it's something in particular to my system. I keep meaning to order a
> V6.1 card but haven't tried yet.
> 
> My discussion on VCF.org DEC Forum:
> 
> <http://www.vcfed.org/forum/showthread.php?66437-More-SCSI2D(-V6)-and-
> OpenVMS-Questions>
> 
> You may have problems with a VMS V6.0 system, but 6.1 might be patched to
> allow it:
> 
> <http://www.vcfed.org/forum/showthread.php?66311-SCSI2SD-and-VMS-6-0>
> 
> <https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/comp.os.vms/RAaUpP_XXEw/zKLFo0
> SArjEJ>
> 
> 
> On the other hand, I have a AlphaServer DS10 (OpenVMS V8.4) that works
> terrifically with either the V5.1 or V6.02 SCSI2SD cards.
> 
> 
> Other VCF Forum threads discussing SCSI2HD:
> 
> <http://www.vcfed.org/forum/showthread.php?69667-SCSI2SD-on-a-MicroVAX-
> 3100>
> 
> <http://www.vcfed.org/forum/showthread.php?62077-Any-DEC-RSTS-E-experts-
> out-there>
> 
> <http://www.vcfed.org/forum/showthread.php?66074-SCSI-to-SD-
> Instructions&highlight=scsi2sd>
> 
> <http://www.vcfed.org/forum/showthread.php?52011-Running-RT11-on-11-03-
> with-Emulex-UC07-and-SCSI2SD>
> 
> --
> John H. Reinhardt