From: edc@openage.COM (Ed Cooley)
Newsgroups: biz.sco.general
Subject: HW questions for new ODT 2 install
Date: 6 Nov 92 13:45:58 GMT
Organization: [resent by] The SCOGEN gateway and Propagation Society
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Netters,

> I'm putting together the design for a new development machine that
> will be running SCO ODT 2 and supporting less than 8 users directly.
> I'd like to explore some new h/w configurations with this machine
> (I'll be working with it constantly and initial downtime due to
> re-config and problems is acceptable).

> I'm considering the Everex Step Cube to try out EISA and keep the
> possibility of adding MPX in the future.

> 1. Any big problems or limitations with the Cube?

We make a habit here of not disseminating negative information 
about hardware, but in this case I feel it necessary to provide 
you with an extreme warning concerning the Everex Step MP with 
customer protection in mind.  Everex has not seen fit to 
disseminate this information or notify owners of these machines 
in an effective manner.  Although the machine has been on 
manufacturing hold for some time.

Everex produced two different MP Cubes, one with an ISA bus, and 
one with an EISA bus.  The ISA model is now discontinued.  Open 
Age representatives did not have the opportunity to work with an 
ISA model, but we had an extremely difficult experience with two 
EISA models of this machine.  Let me explain further.

Today, even after the machine has been advertised for 10-12 
months in national magazines, Everex has what I would call SEVERE 
problems with the manufacturing process of the Corollary base set 
boards, which has resulted in EISA operation that we would deem 
questionable at best.  In fairness, I will point out that some 
EISA boards appear to work correctly in the machine.  
Unforunately, we were forced to try FOUR different base board 
sets (primary processor and I/O board) in each of these machines. 
Operational success of the EISA boards we were using changed with 
the wind every time we changed board sets.  

The customer has since returned these two machines and about 
$50,000 worth of other equipment on our suggestion.  Although we 
were fortunate enough to meet a very helpful local Everex rep, 
Steve Sundman, we found the Everex Advanced Systems Group to be 
ill-informed and unorganized.  They try to handle telephone 
support through ordinary channels, and there is very little 
knowledge pertaining to third-party products.  Although, they are 
eager to tell you everything "should" work.  There are NO lists 
of compatible products, and even Everex reps are not sure which 
EISA products work in this machine.  We specifically used the DPT 
PM2012B EISA SCSI caching controller, and the Racal-Datacom 
ES3210 EISA Ethernet adapter.  Since Everex wanted to OEM the DPT 
adapter they have applied significant effort towards making the 
the DPT adapter work, but after 4 base board sets manufactured 
by two different Everex subcontractors, we still were unable to 
verify proper controller operation as late as last month.  Everex 
reps we knew did not even know what the Racal ES3210 or HP 
Ethertwist/32 boards were, let alone whether or not they would 
work.  In fact the Racal board never did work properly in either 
machine.  You will find a general lack of knowledge within Everex 
as to what products are even compatible with SCO, and to which 
products are available.  This is no reflection on the individuals 
within their Advanced Systems Group or Engineering departments, 
but it does reflect badly on their dedication to SCO products and 
their ability to communicate.

Symptoms of these problems were most obvious.  The machine would 
continuously kernel PANIC and immediately halt - continuously.  
We were hard-pressed to establish a few hours of uptime with 
these boxes, let alone days or weeks.  Thankfully, the boxes 
actually did work in multi-processor mode, but they did not when 
we first received them until we.... you guessed it, swapped the 
base board set.

There will be those who will say that their Step MP Cubes operate 
fine, and we are extremely happy for them.  Our advice however is 
that if you decide to buy one of these machines, first decide 
which EISA boards you want to use.  Then, call the Advanced 
Systems Group in California and pin them to the wall to address 
compatibility on each and every board you want to add.  As 
Technical Manager here, I would even go so far as to say you 
should have the General Manager at the Advanced Systems Group 
sign a document stating the machine will work in an approved 
configuration.  We have slowly collected names and phone numbers 
of key Everex ASG individuals if you need access to this 
information. 

> 2. Which model of the Cube can take multiprocessors?

> Since this is my first experience in designing around the EISA bus,
> I'm worried about which cards will work and play well with EISA and
> SCO.

We have installed many different multi-processor machines, 
specifically Compaq, DEC, and others.  Most or all are available 
with an EISA bus, and we would suggest that you spend a little 
more money to purchase one of these machines due to the 
compatibility and performance they offer.  ODT 2.0 has a hardware 
compatibility guide listing many EISA products that will work.  
Feel free to e-mail myself or Paul FIscher if you would like 
specific compatibility information.

> 3. Which EISA SCSI cards work well with ODT 2? (yes, I've got the h/w
>    compatibility guide). Performance is not the biggest issue; I'm
>    willing to trade 20% performance for ease of installation and
>    configuration.

> The machine will be on an existing coax ethernet with other machines
> running SCO Unix 3.2.2 and DOS PC/TCP.

> 4. Which Ethernet EISA card is well supported (by vendor or SCo,
>    preferrably SCO) in ODT 2? The Racal-Interlan looks good, but if
>    SMC's card is as easy to config and install as the WD80x3 line...

Racal ES-3210, HP Ethertwist/32, and Novell NE3200.

We wish you the greatest of luck, and hope that you have a good 
experience with Everex should you decide to go that route.  Let 
us know if we can supply more information.  Let the buyer beware.

> Thanks in advance.
> -- 
> | Doug Lucy        |   I feel sorry for those people who don't drink    |
> | S&R Software Inc |      'cause when they wake up in the morning       |
> | dlucy@sandr.com  |    that's the best they're gonna feel all day.     |
> |                  |                               -Dean Martin         |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ed Cooley           12209 Bayswater Road    "An independent service and
Technical Manager   Gaithersburg, MD 20878   support provider for SCO
Open Age, Inc.      Main: 301/948-6422       products."
edc@openage.com     Fax:  301/948-9644
Newsgroups: biz.sco.general