[Coco] [Color Computer] [coco} IBM SCSI hard disk question..

[George's Coco Address]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Frank Pittel" <fwp at deepthought.com>
To: "CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts" <coco at maltedmedia.com>
Sent: Saturday, June 10, 2006 3:42 PM
Subject: Re: [Coco] [Color Computer] [coco} IBM SCSI hard disk question..


> On Sat, Jun 10, 2006 at 01:45:28PM -0500, George's Coco Address wrote:
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "George Ramsower" <yahoo at dvdplayersonly.com>
>>
>>
>> >A few years ago, I obtained a drive cabinet with three IBM DNES-309170
>> >E182115T drives in it. P/N 25L1910
>> >
>> >Since these drives are considerably newer(NOV-99),  than the current
>> >drives
>> >I'm using, I'm curious if they can be used on a Ken-Ton interface.
>> >They have the tiny, 68 pin connector for data exchange vs. the larger 50
>> >pin connector I'm used to.
>> >They are 9gig drives.
>> >
>> >If they can be used, how would I go about doing this using OS-9 L2? My
>> >system is almost totally stock OS-9 L2.
>> >
>> >George
>>
>>
>> Today, I did some research and found there are adapters to convert the 68
>> pin to the older 50 pin connectors. What I've found is that the newer
>> drives will "retro" to the older scheme to accommodate older systems. 
>> They
>> are used a lot on older Mac systems and some PC stuff.
>>
>> Still, before I invest in one of these adapters ($15-$25), I would like 
>> to
>> know if it will work with OS-9 LII and the KenTon interface.
>
> While I don't know how big of a drive os9 can access the scsi standard has 
> been
> around for a long time and is in my experience well followed.
>
> Frank

This too, is the way I understand it. However, I don't know how well the 
driver in OS-9 does this. I would think it is okay.

 These drives which I have are a mystery as to whether or not they even 
work. The cabling inside the cabinet they were in are the 50 pin variety and 
the drives were not connected to anything except the cabinet. I expect they 
don't work, but I wouldn't know until I determine how to effectively 
interface them to OS-9 L2 and try to format and use them.
 Once I learn exactly how to do this first stage, then I can discover if 
they are actually useable.