DEC RK07 drive interface specs wanted

From: Paul Koning <pkoning_at_equallogic.com>
Date: Tue May 18 08:45:01 2004

>>>>> "Tony" == Tony Duell <ard_at_p850ug1.demon.co.uk> writes:

>> [%] I don't usually like to use phrases like "field circus" (or
>> "salesdroid" or similar denigratory mutations), but in this case

 Tony> I don't know why you avoid such terms. They are sadly all too
 Tony> appropriate.

Like many stereotypes, they have some basis in reality. Not
necessarily a large basis, though.

I remember our first PDP11 field service tech (circa 1973), a
gentleman named Jim Newport. His skills were amazing.

As was usual in those days, he'd repair broken electronics by
replacing the offending IC. But that's not all...

We had an RC64 drive that was acting up. He hadn't ever worked on one
but he volunteered to give it a try. Spread out the schematics,
poked around, diagnosed the problem as a bad motor bearing. Rather
than hit us for a new motor from DEC (the system wasn't under
contract) he took it to Appleton Electric Motor company, where they
replaced the bearing, and it was good as new.

Then we had an RF64 drive that had a "clock track error". No kidding
-- the platter wasn't spinning. He took it apart, discovered that a
head had crashed and melted, sticking to the platter. So he ordered a
pile of parts (this one *was* under contract). Replaced all the
heads, aligned them, replaced the platter, reformatted the drive, and
put it all back together. Worked like a champ ever since.

So remember there are techs like that out there, just as there are
clueless ones.

         paul
Received on Tue May 18 2004 - 08:45:01 BST