From: oneil@dynamic2.arc.nasa.gov.arc.nasa.gov (Don O'neil)
Subject: RE: SCSI
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 92 14:00:37 PST
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In Message-ID: <Xs16VB2w165w@ersys.edmonton.ab.ca>
Andrew Webster Writes:

>I have a Myarc disk controller card with a quad eprom for 80 track 
>drives. With the addition of your SCSI controller card, will I have to 
>remove my Myarc disk controller (FDC)?? Or will I be able to use them 
>both side by side??

YES you will be able to use the SCSI card with ANY other disk controller card in the system, INCLUDING the HFDC. The MAXIMUIM possible configuration would be a Myarc HFDC, A (TI, CC, Myarc) FDC, and 2 SCSI Cards in one system. We give you
the most flexability possible. It's great for users who own a FDC and just want
to add a HD, or allready have the HFDC and want to get a STABLE larger HD and 
transfer all their stuff over without using floppies.

>Will I be able to access a CD Rom with clip art on it via an
>existing program like YAPP or TI Artist?

YES providing the program(s) can read the file format. IE, YAPP can read GIF's
so you will be able to put in a CD-ROM with GIF's and read them directly into
YAPP. Same goes with MAC FLIX, etc...

>Will the SCSI card be 100% compatible with all the other cards in my 
>system. I have a horizon 3000, a triple teck, Myarc disk controller, 32k 
>on 16bit bus mod. ti rs232. Is it an addressed card like the others in my 
>system.

The SCSI card and ALL WHT cards are intended to be used in ANY system, we will
guarantee functionality will all configurations except those listed in the 
manual. For the SCSI, there are no limitations on hardware compatibilty. It
will work just fine in your system. HOWEVER, since you have 32k internal to    
your console, if you buy a 4a Memex, you will not be able to use it to it's 
fullest cpability, but you will still be able to use most of it's functions..
Ram Disk, Print Spooler, RAMBO, just not the Full C, or Fortran compilers or
programs written for them. 4a Memex is best used when it is the only memory
card in the system, but it can co-exist with ANY other memory card.

>Will it be able to access the new 4a/memex as a device if one so 
>wished to use the 4a/memex as a solid state HD?

4a Memex will be recognozed to the system as the equivilant of a HRD, but not
battery backed, when you set up portions of it for RAM disk. The DM that comes
with the SCSI, will utilize the memory if it's there for disk cacheing. It will
siginificantly improve UniManagers speed and functionality. 

>I read a lot about SCSI 2 and so on. What version of HD will the 
>new SCSI controller work with? If I want to buy a SCSI hard drive do I 
>have to watch that it is SCSI 1 or 2 or what.??? 

SCSI 2 is a further implementation of SCSI to include message based commands to
make interfacing easier, it also encompasses "WIDE SCSI" wich is a 16 or 32 bit
version of the SCSI Bus. IT does require that all SCSI 2 devices also support
SCSI 1 commands and wiring, so you may use SCSI 2 drives on a SCSI 1 system, 
but not necessarily the other way around. It is best advized that you buy only
SCSI 1 devices, mainly because they are less expensive, but a SCSI 2 device willnot hurt you.

>Detail a guide that I can go by to buy the proper SCSI HD for my up 
>and comming SCSI TI controller.

We will be publishing a list of tested and supported SCSI devices for the WHT
SCSI card soon. We have an agreement with several drive wholesalers to test
our device with their drives. However, just about any SCSI device will work
(provided it is a TRUE SCSI implementation, some older drives are not) with our
card, but it is clearly documented in the manual that you should send in any  
new drive that you wish to use to us and we will check it out for you, other
wise you will void your warrenty. We do  not wish to have users destroy their
SCSI cards because of faulty drives, let us do it for you.

>ps... I thought SCSI was a standard set by the ANSI people. Why is there 
>newer versions like 2 and 3???

As in any standard, they are constantly revised and improved. Ansi is trying to
make SCSI a better standard and that is why you see newver versions of the spec. 
Don.

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