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Old 04-05-2003, 10:22 PM   #1
scottpioso
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Compaq SCSI Drive Array


Hello,

This question is not directly related to Linux perse, however, I was wondering if someone could help me. I recently acquired an older Compaq SCSI Drive array that supports those hot swappable drives that come in the cartridges. I figured out a way to remove the drives so I could replace the drives themselves and save the cartridges.

The drives as they are right now are only 4.3 GB which is rather small by today's standards. They are Fast-Wide SCSI 2. You probably can find any number of these drives on EBAY if you decide to look.

My question is this, does anyone know if I can replace the drives themselves with any other type of SCSI-2 drive and will it fit into these cartridges so I can use it with my array? The interfaces are in the back of each drive. I believe they are 68 Pin connectors and are mounted on the back of the drives. Honestly, the only way for you to see what I'm talking about is for me to email the photos that I scanned. If someone can help me, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks a lot to whomever replies!!

Scott
 
Old 04-08-2003, 01:48 PM   #2
finegan
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Theoretically they should swap out with any other 68-pin FW scsi-2 drives, there were plenty of those made at 9.1 Gb, I think you're going to have to pay mad cash to get them in 18.2, cross-connectors are probably out of the question, and the array controller is going to auto-partition them down to 4.3 and ignore the rest unless you make them all 9.1 and muck with the controller, but it shouldn't be hard, I keep getting offers for cheap 9.1 stacks from this place I bought a sparc off of a year ago...

The butt end of the drive is pretty standard accross the board, the big deal is the height, half, full, or double?

Cheers,

Finegan
 
Old 04-08-2003, 02:16 PM   #3
scottpioso
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The butt end of the drive is pretty standard accross the board, the big deal is the height, half, full, or double?

What do you mean by half, full, or double?

Are you saying that any FW Scsi-2 drive should work? The drives that are in there currently have a female port and I cannot describe it unless I could send you the pics of them.
 
Old 04-08-2003, 03:43 PM   #4
finegan
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Hmm... post a link if you want to, the 68-pin female port is standard, the height of the drive being the least of its three dimensions, like all IDE drives pretty much are half-height, about 3/4 of an inch, laptop drives are typically quarter-height... most scsi drives are full height, about an inch and a 1/4 tall (I'm really guess at these dimensions from memory, but you get the idea.) Some scsi drives with beaucoup platters are double height, they would take up 2 3+1/2 bays in a normal PC case. All of those slots in a full tower PC case are usually made for 1/2 height actually, but some are full height which is why so many drive bays have headroom after you mount multiple drives.

Cheers,

Finegan
 
Old 04-08-2003, 03:47 PM   #5
scottpioso
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Well, there is a problem posting a link as the pictures are on my computer! How could I upload the pics here?
 
Old 04-08-2003, 07:25 PM   #6
finegan
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http://www.clockwatching.net/~fin/pe...p/sideview.jpg
http://www.clockwatching.net/~fin/pe...p/sidecart.jpg
http://www.clockwatching.net/~fin/pe...icrap/cart.jpg
http://www.clockwatching.net/~fin/pe...p/rearview.jpg


I figured it would be easiest to post these public just in case anyone thinks I'm on crack.

No matter what the front of the cartridge says, that butt end connector is 80-pin SCA-2 compliant SCSI, that power and data are over the same connector right? So that's the only connector end I found like that which will support hot-plugging, I knew I was on crack there for a while...

http://www.comsol.net.au/scsi_conn.asp

Most Seagate Cheetah's as long as they're 80-pin SCA-2, almost all the Quantum Atlases from II-V, and the IBM Ultrastars goodness... 9.1Gb all the way through about 36.4, I think the Ultra-320 drives aren't backwards compatible enough, so that's not too much of a limitation. Check pricewatch vs. the manufacturer's page per drive to make certain the thing is short enough to fit in the cartridge.

Cheers,

Finegan
 
Old 04-08-2003, 10:30 PM   #7
scottpioso
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Thanks, bud. Hey, can I ask, where do you live? I sense by your use of language you live in the UK, correct?
 
Old 04-08-2003, 10:42 PM   #8
finegan
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That's the third time! No, no, not at all, although we do have one mod from the midlands and his tendencies to call me a "git" and a "prat" have invaded my vocabulary. I'm in Atlanta Georgia, home of coca-cola, Georgia Tech, and for the most part: crappy coffee.

Cheers,

Finegan
 
Old 04-08-2003, 10:56 PM   #9
scottpioso
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You're hilarious! Anyway, wanted to say thanks for helping. Now that I know the proper drive to get, this should make this tons easier. I can't believe how cheap these drives are either!! F----ing HP wanted to sell me 4.3's for over $600 a piece!!! I said, no way!!!

And by the way, I live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I thought Coke was headquarted here. I guess I was wrong.

Last edited by scottpioso; 04-08-2003 at 10:57 PM.
 
  


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