---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Florida SunFlash 2.1-Gbyte DIFFERENTIAL SCSI DISK OPTIONS SunFLASH Vol 46 #x November 1992 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ************************************************************************** * * * - New 2.1-Gbyte 5.25" Fast Differential SCSI-2 disk drives offer * * 62% more capacity than Sun's 1.3-GB SCSI-2 and IPI drives, and * * higher performance as well. * * * * - New Differential SCSI Tray for Data Center systems houses up * * to 12.6-GB of capacity on a single SBus slot, resulting in * * support for over 100-GB disk capacity on the SPARCserver 690MP. * * * * - New Differential SCSI Expansion Pedestal increases the storage * * capacity of SPARCserver 630MP and 670MP deskside systems and the * * SPARCserver 10 to over 41-Gbytes. * * * ************************************************************************** Sun server customers now have more growth capacity than ever before. And that capacity is available at surprisingly low cost. Sun expands its disk storage product line to include the latest generation high capacity, high performance, high quality SCSI disk technology. Two new packages, designed around Sun's newest disk drive, are now available: o New Differential SCSI Tray for Data Center systems can accommodate from 2 to 6 of the new 2.1-Gbyte (formatted capacity) drives. The tray provides nearly 2.5 times more storage capacity than Sun's IPI tray at half the cost per megabyte, all from a single SBus slot. o Upgraded versions of the popular SCSI Expansion Pedestal incorporate the new 2.1-Gbyte disk drives. The Pedestals now offer nearly 17-Gbytes of disk storage, plus 5-Gbyte 8mm Tape backup and CD-ROM in a convenient, small footprint deskside pedestal. The new 2.1-Gbyte Fast Differential SCSI-2 drive provides 62% more capacity than previous generation 5.25-inch drives. Performance benchmarks indicate up to a 10% I/O performance improvement as well, depending on the application. Interface to host systems is via the new DSBE/S SBus card. As usual, these new disk products are priced dramatically lower than comparable products from other system vendors. o No major system competitor can match Sun's aggressive disk storage price/performance. Sun also offers better value than third party vendors. o All these new products are backed by a level of engineering commitment no third party can match. Sun's 2.1-GB disk products offer superior quality, reliability, and performance, yet are priced competitively with third parties. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- FEATURES BENEFITS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.1-Gbyte drive --------------- 62% more capacity than previous Enables larger server configurations high-end disk drives Over 40% better price/Mbyte than Makes large databases and file 1.3-GB IPI disk, and over 25% better systems more cost-effective price/Mbyte than 1.3-GB SCSI disk Fast (10 MB/sec) SCSI-2 More I/O throughput per SBus slot 3.8 - 5.0 MB/sec internal data rate Up to 25% better sequential I/O throughput than 1.3-GB drives 11.5 msec average seek Faster random data access than many 5.5 msec average rotational latency 2+ Gbyte drives Differential SCSI-2 (DSCSI) Enables large server configurations supports 25-meter SCSI buses and more configuration flexibility Advanced drive controller and Better I/O performance than third Sun-optimized firmware party drives SCSI-2 Tagged Queueing Better multi-drive, multi-process (with Solaris 2.1 later this performance for I/O intensive calendar year) applications Differential SCSI Drive Tray for Data Center Cabinets ----------------------------------------------------- First SCSI disk packaging for Sun data Brings the price/performance center systems benefits of the latest SCSI-2 technology to the data center Up to 12.6-Gbytes per tray Very high storage density in a compact package and more connectivity per SBus slot Two to 6 drives per tray, with easy Flexible growth mounting of additional drives Tray may be attached to 1 or 2 SCSI Configuration flexibility for tuning busses performance and connectivity according to application needs Front-accessible SCSI ID switches Easier installation and maintenance and status indicators High quality construction featuring High reliability for less down rugged mounting, auto-ranging heavy time duty power supply, and efficient cooling fans SCSI Expansion Pedestal ----------------------- Up to 16.8-GB disk, plus 5-GB Convenient, easy to use 8mm tape and CD-ROM in a single packaging increases capacity pedestal of deskside and desktop servers by 50% Custom configurable factory Order exactly the pedestal built pedestals you need Support for mixing of new 2.1-GB Protects investment in current disk drives with 1.3-GB drives packaging and peripherals in a single pedestal High quality construction featuring High reliability for less down rugged mounting, auto-ranging heavy time duty power supply, and efficient cooling fans SBus Fast Differential SCSI-2/Buffered Ethernet (DSBE/S) Card ------------------------------------------------------------- Fast Differential SCSI-2 Host Adapter Connectivity to highest performance SCSI disk drives Twisted pair Ethernet controller can High performance networking transmit and receive at full Ethernet media rates, and includes 128-KB local cache buffer Single width, dual function SBus card Conserves SBus slots Lower price than most system vendors' More cost-effective connectivity single function SCSI-2 cards HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS ---------------------------------- The DSBE/S card and the 2.1GB DSCSI drives require Solaris 1.1 Version A (SunOS 4.1.3) or higher. The 2.1GB Differential SCSI Data Center Trays are supported on the SPARCserver 690MP in both the system and expansion cabinets. The 2.1GB disks in the SCSI Expansion Pedestal are supported on the SPARCsystem 10, SPARCsystem 630MP, and SPARCsystem 670MP. Unlike the 1.3GB SCSI Expansion Pedestal, these options are not supported on the SPARCsystem 2. Q: What is "Differential SCSI"? A: The ANSI/ISO SCSI standard defines two types of electrical interfaces: single ended and differential. Single ended is the type of SCSI Sun has offered for quite some time. It uses a 50-pin high density connector. Differential SCSI is a superior electrical interface which uses different external cables and connectors. Sun's differential SCSI-2 (or DSCSI for short) uses a slightly larger, industry standard, 68-pin external connector. The benefit of differential SCSI is that it allows total cable length of a SCSI bus to be up to 25 meters (82 feet), whereas single ended SCSI is limited to 6 meters (19.7 feet). For large servers such as the SPARCserver 690MP, the bus length advantage of differential SCSI is a significant benefit. In fact, one of the reasons why SCSI disks have never before been offered on Sun data center systems is that differential SCSI has not been widely available. Q: How much DSCSI capacity is supported on the 690MP? A: Under Solaris 1.1 Version A, 50.4-GB. As many as 4 DSBE/S cards and 4 Data Center Trays are supported. The trays may be mounted in either the System or Expansion Cabinets. The 690MP System Cabinet can accommodate up to 2 DSCSI Trays. Q: Are the DSBE/S and 2.1GB DSCSI Data Center Trays supported on the SBus Expansion Subsystems Board (SES/B) for the 690MP? A: Yes. Note that there is some performance penalty for the indirect SBus connection. The degree of performance loss is usually small, but varies depending on the application and I/O load. Q: How many SCSI Expansion Pedestals are supported on the 670MP, 630MP, and SPARCserver 10? A: Up to 16 2.1GB disks and 4 DSBE/S cards are supported on the SS10, 630MP, and 670MP. That's 2 fully loaded Pedestals. Q: Why aren't the DSBE/S and 2.1GB DSCSI drives supported on the SPARCsystem 2? A: Because the DSBE/S card will not fit properly in the SPARCsystem 2 chassis. The opening in the back panel of the SS2 is not large enough. Q: Can customers add 2.1GB drives to existing 1.3GB SCSI Expansion Pedestals? Yes. A SCSI Expansion Pedestal may house one single ended SCSI disk tray with 1.3-GB SCSI disks and one differential disk tray with 2.1-GB DSCSI disks. So customers who have existing Pedestals with one 1.3-GB disk tray and want to add a differential SCSI tray (X763A) may do so. However, mixing of a 1.3-GB tray and a 2.1-GB tray in a pedestal is not allowed for any factory built configurations. Because of the differences between single ended and differential SCSI cabling, the 2.1-GB drives and the 1.3-GB drives trays cannot be mixed in a single tray. Q: Are the DSBE/S and the Differential SCSI Expansion Pedestal supported on the SBus Expansion Subsystems (SES/C and SES/B)? A: No. They have not been fully tested and qualified on the SES/C or SES/B. U.S. PRICING AND ORDERING INFORMATION ------------------------------------- Options for the 690MP System and Expansion Cabinets: Order List Disc. Same Day Description Number Price Cat. Service ============================================================================= 2 x 2.1GB Differential SCSI Disks 573A *# $11,700 B $50 with Tray 4 x 2.1GB Differential SCSI Disks 574A *# $20,000 B $100 with Tray 6 x 2.1GB Differential SCSI Disks 576A *# $27,800 B $150 with Tray 2.1GB Differential SCSI Expansion Disk X575A $4,400 B $25 SBus Fast Differential SCSI-2 / 1052A * $1,095 A $20 Buffered Ethernet Card (DSBE/S) 12-meter Differential SCSI Expansion X979A $265 N/D N/C Cable * Add "X" before the order number to order as a standalone option for existing systems. # Append "R4" to the order number for factory installation in the system cabinet. Append "R5" to the order number for factory installation in the expansion cabinet. When ordering a tray for factory installation in either a system or expansion cabinet, append "V3" to the order number for 230V operation and "V4" for 240V operation. X-option trays for field installation should not be ordered with the "V3" or "V4" options. SCSI Expansion Pedestal Options: Order List Disc. Same Day Description Number Price Cat. Service ============================================================================= 2 x 2.1GB Differential SCSI Disks in SCSI X762A * $13,300 B $50 Expansion Pedestal (1 Disk Tray) 4 x 2.1GB Differential SCSI Disks in SCSI X764A $24,500 B $165 Expansion Pedestal with 5GB 8mm Tape Backup Drive (2 Disk Trays) 2 x 2.1GB Differential SCSI Disks with X763A * $9,200 B $50 Tray for SCSI Expansion Pedestal 2.1GB Differential SCSI Expansion Disk X575A * $4,400 B $25 SBus Fast Differential SCSI-2 / X1052A $1,095 A $20 Buffered Ethernet Card (DSBE/S) * These options are available in custom factory built configurations. See General Configuration Guidelines in price book. Note: 2.1GB Differential SCSI Expansion Pedestal options are supported on the SPARCsystem 10, SPARCsystem 630MP, and SPARCsystem 670MP. They ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ For information send mail to info-sunflash@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. Subscription requests should be sent to sunflash-request@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. Archives are on solar.nova.edu, paris.cs.miami.edu, uunet.uu.net, src.doc.ic.ac.uk and ftp.adelaide.edu.au All prices, availability, and other statements relating to Sun or third party products are valid in the U.S. only. Please contact your local Sales Representative for details of pricing and product availability in your region. Descriptions of, or references to products or publications within SunFlash does not imply an endorsement of that product or publication by Sun Microsystems. John McLaughlin, SunFlash editor, flash@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. (305) 776-7770. are not supported on the SPARCsystem 2. TRACE: To: sunflash@suntri Errors-to: owner-sunflash@suntri.east.sun.com