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· Hardware
#Hard Disk Interfaces
7 messages in this thread
Does anyone here on CIS know the differences between the various hard disk
interfaces. It seems there are about three common ones. They are SASI, SCSI
and ST412/506. I've managed to acquire a 38MB drive that uses the ST412/506
interface. Unfortunately, the only COMMERCIAL HD controllers available for
the Amiga is SASI(Tecmar) and SCSI(MicroForge).
Drat, isn't that always the way??? Everything but the one I need!!!! Come
to think of it I think that I heard a RUMOR the other day that Micro-Forge
had gone out of business. That means I only have one choice(Tecmar). I've
called them twice but nobody there seems to have any idea what I'm talking
about. I mean, the question is simple. Is SASI and ST412/506 compatible,
and if not is there any way to make them so, with reasonable effort??? Any
help from you HDWE guys will be appreciated.
I just received brochures, etc. from Ameristar Technologies in Hauppauge NY
that includes an ST506 controller. Since others might be interested, I'll
post the other products and prices in this message so please don't delete
it.
AC100 Expansion Chassis. 5 slots, 135 watt power supply, auto config,
room for 2 full or 4 half-height drives. $699
AD100 Hard Disk Controller. Handles 4 drives, ST506 type drives. $300
AM100 2 Megabyte Memory. Auto config, on-card vlsi refersh $899
Ethernet Controller. Comes with NFS software and TCP/IP. $699
Ethernet Controller (stand alone side mount) $749
As to availability of these things: they said that the Ethernet card and
software are available and shipping now (side mount version). The hard
disk controller is supposedly ready early oct although the guy didn't sound
real sure of that. The expansion box is supposed to be ready by 1 october
as is the 2 mb memory card…the guy seemed to think they might actually be
a little earlier than that. Forgot to mention…the expansion box sits
underneath the amiga…so no footprint hassles. They also have a wire wrap
board, and an extender card for $49 each. They can be reached at:
Ameristar Technologies Inc. P.O. Box 415 Hauppauge, NY 11788
Sorry, I don't have the phone number handy…look in the back of the latest
Amiga World. Rick Schaeffer
I just received brochures, etc. from Ameristar Technologies in Hauppauge NY
that includes an ST506 controller. Since others might be interested, I'll
post the other products and prices in this message so please don't delete
it.
AC100 Expansion Chassis. 5 slots, 135 watt power supply, auto config,
room for 2 full or 4 half-height drives. $699
AD100 Hard Disk Controller. Handles 4 drives, ST506 type drives. $300
AM100 2 Megabyte Memory. Auto config, on-card vlsi refersh $899
Ethernet Controller. Comes with NFS software and TCP/IP. $699
Ethernet Controller (stand alone side mount) $749
As to availability of these things: they said that the Ethernet card and
software are available and shipping now (side mount version). The hard
disk controller is supposedly ready early oct although the guy didn't sound
real sure of that. The expansion box is supposed to be ready by 1 october
as is the 2 mb memory card…the guy seemed to think they might actually be
a little earlier than that. Forgot to mention…the expansion box sits
underneath the amiga…so no footprint hassles. They also have a wire wrap
board, and an extender card for $49 each. They can be reached at:
Ameristar Technologies Inc. P.O. Box 415 Hauppauge, NY 11788
Sorry, I don't have the phone number handy…look in the back of the latest
Amiga World. Rick Schaeffer
This won't be any help to you, but I thought I'd note that SASI is the
original form of SCSI, a slightly incompatible subset of the current SCSI
standard. Dunno how incompatible they really are… Also, MicroForge was
definitely in business when I called them a week ago: their number is
(404) 688-9464. – Bela
This won't be any help to you, but I thought I'd note that SASI is the
original form of SCSI, a slightly incompatible subset of the current SCSI
standard. Dunno how incompatible they really are… Also, MicroForge was
definitely in business when I called them a week ago: their number is
(404) 688-9464. – Bela
SCSI is the latest incarnation of an interface that began as SASI, and is
now undergoing ANSI standardization. It supports high level control of
peripherals, thus expecting some intelligence of same. There's even SCSI+,
which supports communication between co-processors and other peers, acting
much like a network.
ST506, on the other hand, still controls the steppers from the host end!
Which is my way of saying that it's dated. You could construct a SCSI
peripeheral that controlled a '506, but not vice-versa. I think Ameristar
Technologies has a '506 controller for the Amiga, but it may still be in
the vapor phase. regards, jgn
SCSI is the latest incarnation of an interface that began as SASI, and is
now undergoing ANSI standardization. It supports high level control of
peripherals, thus expecting some intelligence of same. There's even SCSI+,
which supports communication between co-processors and other peers, acting
much like a network.
ST506, on the other hand, still controls the steppers from the host end!
Which is my way of saying that it's dated. You could construct a SCSI
peripeheral that controlled a '506, but not vice-versa. I think Ameristar
Technologies has a '506 controller for the Amiga, but it may still be in
the vapor phase. regards, jgn