🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1992Dec29.212620.19060@blaze.cs.jhu.edu>, bogstad@blaze.cs.jhu.edu (Bill Bogstad) writes:
>
>	I've got a couple of RA81s which used to be used on a now defunct
>VAX 8530 which I would like to use.  I've been digging through the manuals
>for our 5400 and it appears that I can probably attach these drives; but I
>will need a KDA50 controller to do so.  Can somebody tell me if this is
>correct and if there is anything else that I need to worry about (the rev of
>the KDA50 for example)?

There probably is some minimum rev required for the KDA50, but I don't
the information to find out what it is.  You'll want to prefer a
KDA50-SE/SG.  This is a reasonably modern variety of the KDA50 that
includes a distribution panel/cover well suited to the Q-bus based
DECsystems.  The most useful feature of it is that the panel has
the connecters for the four SDI disks that the KDA50 supports.  The
connecters are also angled down so it actually possible to fit four
flat SDI cables into the box.  The -SE/SG version should be modern
enough that you should have to worry about rev levels.

As reference, I have a KDA50 in a DECsystem 5500 that is:

	M7164 - Rev J4
	M7165 - Rev B14

The KDA50 is a two board set, but using -SE/SG distribution panel
uses up three Q-bus slots.
  
>I appear to have a 5400 model 210QS with an
>additional expansion chasis with one RF style disk if that matters.

I'm not familiar with the model, so make sure that you have three
Q-bus slots free.

>Will I have any problems with the MSCP implemented by the KDA50
>controller versus that used by the DSSI/RF disk combination?.

I hope not.  It's the same disk driver, with different underlying
drivers for the different controllers.

>Can I put a KDA50 in a 210QS package?

See my previous non-answer about models...

>What should I pay for a used KDA50?

No more than $6,825.  That's our list price for a new one.
>
>				Thanks,
>				Bill Bogstad
>				bogstad@cs.jhu.edu
--
Alan Rollow				alan@nabeth.cxo.dec.com