RE: iSeries Disk Drives - Generic?

We just completed swapping out 30 non-IBM microcode drives for used AS/400
specific IBM drives, because of dependability problems. The replaced drives
were IBM branded drives, but had third party microcode. For dependability, I
would recommend the Rochester approved drives. 

Check the used equipment dealers. We paid less than $250/drive for 17 GB
drives, and now we're back under IBM maintenance if we do have drive
problems.

If you search the AS/400 System Builders Handbook, you may see a reference
to a CIF (Customer Installable Feature) to replace 4GB drives with larger
capacity drives. We're considering doing that upgrade to a Model 170 to use
it as a test box.


Steven Morrison
Beacon Insurance
940-720-4672 

-----Original Message-----
From: CWilt@xxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:CWilt@xxxxxxxxxxxx] 
Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2004 1:12 PM
To: midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: iSeries Disk Drives - Generic?

Not gonna work.

First problem, iSeries drives are low-level formatted at 520(?) bytes a
sector vs. the normal 512(?).  While you can get utilities to reformat the
520s to 512s, I don't know of any going the other way.

Second problem, iSeries drives do include something  "extra".  I think it's
mostly differences in the micro-code.  

Charles


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bill [mailto:billzbubb@xxxxxxxxxx]
> Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2004 12:45 PM
> To: Midrange List
> Subject: iSeries Disk Drives - Generic?
> 
> 
> I've had a thought that I'm sure won't have a good answer, but I've 
> got to ask it:
> 
> Is there something special about the SCSI drives that IBM puts into 
> the iSeries.  Specifically, my 730 has the large cages that surround 
> the drive.
> The drives seem to be 80 pin hot-plug drives.
> 
> I've played with the idea of taking a cage apart (I have many spare 
> 4GB
> arrays) and putting a larger drive in.  Has anyone attempted anything 
> like this?
> 
> Bill
> 
> 
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