CompuServe Thread

#GVP Hard Card

11 messages in this thread
#3938From: Lloyd W. Dull IIIJul 31, 1988 8:27 PM
It helps a lot. I was under the impression that there were some "problems" using the SCSI side of the A2090 – maybe that was just in the FORMATTING, and only with certain drives? Your test times under the FFS certainly SOUND acceptable to me! That # you quoted sounds faster than some I've heard for ST-506 type drives also running under the FFS. I thought I'd heard that the SCSI side was slower, but it is good to hear evidence that I'm wrong.
#3953From: Bob RakoskyJul 31, 1988 9:27 PM
My timings with the FFS showed that the ST506 drive showed about a five-fold increase from the OFS (old file system) while the SCSI drive showed closer to a 10-fold increase. This was on the peaks for reading raw data. The other diskperf tests weren't quite so skewed, but I suspect that's because my ST506 drive is faster seeking than my SCSI drive. Low-level formatting was originally a problem for SCSI drives on the 2090, but I believe that that's been resolved with the latest driver (which is avalable here in the Data Libraries). ..Bob
#3961From: Lloyd W. Dull IIIJul 31, 1988 10:28 PM
Bob, More and more good information! I like it! Now if only the "official" version of 1.3 will come out! I have the latest version of the driver, but was reluctant to try a SCSI drive because of the previous problems. With the fixed driver and decent speeds the SCSI drives are showing, I'll have to look into getting a good 3.5" one to sit beside my floppy. Recommendations anybody? How about for a "plug-and-play" external (Mac type) drive? Lloyd
#4071From: Kurt LorentzenAug 1, 1988 8:37 PM
How does one become a "developer" so that he/she can start using these FFS on our Amiga's? I'm getting sick of listening to people talk about the faster disk speeds. 1.3 Workbench and the FFS words should not be allowed to be spoken untill it is ready for the rest of us mortals. As Paul Harvey would say, Thank you…..and good day.
#4093From: Lloyd W. Dull IIIAug 1, 1988 9:31 PM
Kurt, I wish I had it too! But *I'm* going to wait until the "official" version come out. Oh well.
#4133From: Black Belt SystemsAug 2, 1988 2:18 AM
Kurt – set pressure release switch, wrap securely, and mail your complaint to the (so-called) software development group at CBM in Penna. Be sure to mention to them that's it's impossible (currently) to use an OS once the user expires of old age, and wouldn't they please be kind enough to release the product before the current generation of users have all willed their machines to their great grnadchildren? <only grinning slightly, and with ironic twist in lips> –Ben–
#4003From: John DraperAug 1, 1988 12:45 AM
Bob, More important to speed is the controller itself. Many of the drives with integral controllers are buffered, or use tricks that a separate controller just can't manage. -larry
#4051From: Bob RakoskyAug 1, 1988 6:41 PM
Larry, Agreed as long as one is referring to speed in terms of data transfer rates, which is why my Rodime does well in the diskperf tests for read with a 32K buffer (it has an integral SCSI controller). Other speeds are more dependent on seek times, etc., such as the diskperf directory create/delete tests, on which my ST506 Miniscribe did much better than the Rodime, primarily (I'm guessing) cause it's much faster seeking than the Rodime.
#4203From: jack radiganAug 2, 1988 9:13 PM
Well I finally got my Wedge today! Also ended up getting DTC-5150, it's a bit old and had no documentation, guess they found it laying around on one of the return shelves or something. Anyway, I've got the drive formatted and loaded up with some things. Still just giving it a workout for the most part. It sure is nice to finally have a hard drive for this thing… Now if only I had FFS <grin> Those fellows at RIS really need to brush up the docs though… Had to call about the fmt.parms settings, didn't agree with the file on the disk and the docs, nor did the version of fmt agree version for the docs. Quite disturbing for those first timers, no major problems though. Let you know more as I play with it.
#4240From: John DraperAug 2, 1988 11:17 PM
Glad you're all set up anyway. Sounds like the same docs I last saw. I passed on a lot of info in hopes that they would correct the problem areas, but I guess they haven't done so yet. What version of Fmt are you using? (latest is 2.15) Please feel free to ask any questions about Fmt or the driver itself. (and the DTC 5150 for that matter).
#4350From: jack radiganAug 3, 1988 8:11 PM
Yes, 2.15 here. The docs quote 2.02, drastic difference… Don't worry, I'd throw questions at you anyways! <grin>