Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!pyrdc!netsys!ames!amelia!jeffrey From: jeffrey@amelia.nas.nasa.gov (Glenda L. Jeffrey) Newsgroups: comp.sys.dec Subject: Re: external rd53 in uVax 2000 Summary: Rip & Stuff Message-ID: <1025@amelia.nas.nasa.gov> Date: 21 Sep 88 00:33:15 GMT References: <2123@stpstn.UUCP> Reply-To: jeffrey@amelia.nas.nasa.gov (Glenda L. Jeffrey) Organization: NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA Lines: 33 In article <2123@stpstn.UUCP> aad@stpstn.UUCP (Anthony A. Datri) writes: > >I've got an external RD53 here (ie., a box with a power supply and >an overprice disk in it), and I'd like to hang it off a hitherto >diskless Microvax 2000. Do I have to buy one of the "adapter boxes" >from DEC to give me the connector, or can I sneak the cable off >the internal controller out of the box, or should I just rip >the drive out of the external box and jam it into the uv2000? Based on our experience, you should rip it out & jam it in. We originally had VAXstation II/RC, which is a uVAX II with an RD53 and thermoplastic glue in part of the backplane to fill up slots (one of DEC's brilliant marketing schemes). In any case, we expanded the RC by buying another backplane for it and a Fujitsu SuperEagle, etc. We left the RD53 in as system disk (don't laugh). Some time later, we got a diskless VAXstation 2000 and another Eagle. We stuck the Eagle in the RC and pulled the RD53 out & stuffed it into the VAXstation 2000. It has worked like a charm ever since. As you may know, the 2000 already has its own ST506 controller on the motherboard, so all the necessary hardward/connectors are there. I was really surprised not to run into any DEC gotcha's on this one... It just slipped right in. Don't know what you should do with the Leprechaun box... use it as a pencil holder? As far as I know, the only time you need an adaptor box is if you already have a disk in the 2000 and wish to add another one (or a TK50). Happy jamming... - Glenda gdwtch jeffrey@amelia.nas.nasa.gov