From: crowell@diode.enet.dec.com (My name is...)
Subject: RE: VAX4000/100 info/questions
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1992 21:07:16 GMT


>   From: dfilip@colornet.UUCP
>   Newsgroups: comp.sys.dec,comp.os.vms
>   Summary: Need some questions answered on 4000/100 devices
>   Date: 28 Jul 92 01:59:22 GMT
>
>   We had a bunch of 4200's on back order, and our sales-weenie is trying to
>   convince us to buy 4100's instead. Can someone please confirm :
>
>	   - Does the 4000-100 support BOTH SCSI and DSSI ?

   Yes, we have a 53C94 Sync. SCSI port on board as well as
   a fast SHAC based DSSI bus.

>	   - If DSSI support is included, then how many devices are
>	     suppored with the base configuration (i.e., does it support
>	     two (2) strings (14 devices) like the 4500's, or only one (1)
>	     string (7 devices)

   It is a single DSSI bus like the model 200.  It supports 7 DSSI disks
   and it's host adapter makes the 8'th device.   Internally to the
   box the top 3 slots are DSSI, the other devices are external.
   The bottom shelf is wired for SCSI to support RRD42 (CD-ROM),
   TZ30 (TK50 compatible scsi tape), or TLZ06 (RDAT tape).

   If you form a dual-host DSSI cluster you can have three drives
   in each system box tied together with the BC21M-09 DSSI cable.
   That is 6 DSSI drives with the two host-adapters.

>	   - Is the TF85 supported ? or just SCSI tape ?

   The TF85 is supported in an external enclosure.  THere's no
   room in the system enclosure (BA42B) for full height drives.

>	   - How many drive bays are included ? (if DSSI, how many RF72/73's)

    Only supports the 3" DSSI drives. These currently include RF31T (381MB)
    and RF35 (852MB).  You can add the full 7 DSSI drives external in the 
    R400X enclosure. THis supports RF73 & RF72, etc.

>	   - What is the minimum (yet unreleased) version of VMS required
>	     (I have heard both 5.5-2 and 5.5-3)

    Supported in V5.5-2 or VMS.

>   I believe the answer to the first question is 'yes, both are supported',
>   however I find this a bit odd. I want to make sure we are NOT going to get
>   stuck with SCSI (read NOT-DSSI) disks.

    The VAX4000-100 supports both DSSI and SCSI.  The MicroVAX3100-90
    has the same CPU power (24 VUPS) but is SCSI only.

>   Our sales-weenie is going to get me some information, but currently I have
>   only seen high-level slides. I am interested in getting the 'right' answers
>   ASAP so that if there are any potential configuration problems, I can bring
>   them to light before our managing partner signs the deal.


    It's worth noting that the Q-bus is totally external. It allows
    you to connect the small system box (BA42B) to an external
    Q-bus expander.  It's main goal is to allow you to upgrade
    a MicroVAX3500/3600/3800/3900 using this product with-out
    throwing out your q-bus options or storage.  We only
    support a single q-bus expansion enclosure at this time.

--------------------------------

Summary of the VAX4000-100
--------------------------


VAX4000-100     CPU:			NVAX [14ns]
 (KA52)		Virtual I Cache		2KB (I)   Direct Map, Virt [14ns]
  #Cheetah-Q	Primary cache:		8KB (I&D) 2-way set assoc  [14ns]
		Backup cache  (3/4)   128KB (I&D) Dir map, Write-back [42ns]
		Translation buffer:	96 Entry fully associtive
                Memory data path:       64 bits (ECC)


SCSI:		Sync bus, 53C94 based, Write-buffer for performance
DSSI:		Single bus based on the high performance SHAC chip
Ethernet:	Thick and thin wire NI, Based on the SGEC chip
Memory:		16,32,64,80,128 MB Using DEC SIMMS
		ECC protection, single bit correct, double detect
		72Bit wide, Interleafed
Q-bus:		External box only, based on the CQBIC chip
Async ports:	4 Async ports, 3xDECconnect, 1xModem
Async Option:	DHW42 option, Can be either 8xmodem or 16xdata leads only
Sync Option:	DSW42 option, two lines.
Performance:	24 VUPS, ~31 SPECs
Storage:	1-3 DSSI disks, RF31T or RF35 (381MB or 852MB) top shelf
		2 SCSI devices on the bottom shelf, RRD42 (CD-ROM), TZ30
		(TK50 compatible tape), TLZ06 (RDAT compressed).

		Notes: No TurboChannel support as previously mentioned.

Newsgroups: comp.sys.dec