From: MICHAEL.WILLETT@OFFICE.WANG.COM ("Michael Willett")
Newsgroups: comp.periphs.scsi,soc.culture.japan,ne.general,misc.invest
Subject: Re: Server Fault Tolerant H/W Sources Sought
Date: 8 Jan 93 17:20:50 GMT
Organization: Mail to News Gateway at Wang Labs

roger@unpc.QueerNet.ORG writes:

>There has been virtually no USENET interest in these
>(Storage Computer RAID 7 fault-tolerant disk array platforms)
>products, and what little there has been hasn't been positive.

It appears that he may be referring to that comment, orginally
posted on a Japan news group by a Japanese RAID vendor, that
Storage Computer's RAID 7 is really only an extension of RAID 4,
rather than being a new architecture.  Storage Computer recently
posted a lengthy technical report on these news groups, explaining
the advances of RAID 7 over the earlier RAID 4 and 5.  So far, this
posting has gone unchallenged by the Japanese RAID vendors.  (People
needing copies of the reports can call them at 603-880-3005 in Nashua,
New Hampshire or 49 69  17 21 45 at their European headquarters.)

Actually, I understand that the Storage Computer RAID 7s are doing very
well in Japan versus the made-in-Japan RAIDs.  (Storage Computer has
apparently read the B-school cases on successfully operating in
Japan, and got the retired chairman of a top Japanese electronics
firm to run their operations; the Storage Computer CEO here went to
Harvard B-School.)

Regarding USENET interest in the product, my discussions with their
executives indicate that the firm has been deluged with requests for
information from USENET readers, and that they have had to go out
and expand their telephone system to handle the incoming calls and
FAXs.  They are handling their contacts with the USENET readers on
a personal basis, rather than posting comments.  They seem to prefer
the personal contact, rather than just issuing marketing blurbs.
That's why they concentrate on real live demonstrations at computer
shows, such as next week's Novell NetWorld show in Boston where they'll
be exhibiting again.  (I'll probably be stopping by on Wednesday.)

However, the writer does have a point in that they have not
yet responded to a couple of questions that were posted.  One
was whether or not a UPS is recommended with the RAID 7.  Another
open question was about hot switching of disks.  In addition,
I believe iX magazine had a recommendation about improving the
fault-tolerant aspect of the RAID 7 by making a second wall plug
available.  I'll talk to Storage Computer at NetWorld and suggest
that they post answers to these open points.

In general, we here in New England are very proud of our electronics
manufacturing industry and think our electronics firms are second
to none, including the Japanese electronics firms.  Our firms are
concentrating on TQM just like the Japanese firms, and we expect
our Route 128/495 electronics firms to be a major contributor to
that big US export push that is starting.

(These RAIDs are not available through Wang; we resell a RAID 3 from
another leading US manufacturer that more closely matches our VS
minicomputer architecture.  BTW, stock in this firm is not yet
available as they have not gone through the IPO stage.)

Michael.Willett@OFFICE.Wang.com
Newsgroups: comp.periphs.scsi