ESDI disk controller summary.

[Rich Brennan]

  This is a summary of the info I've received on ESDI controllers.

  The WD1007 controller and the Adaptec 2322 both control ESDI drives.
I now know (from sad, expensive experience) that the WD1007 (and WD1005)
will only work with HARD SECTORED ESDI drives. The WD1007 is 1:1
interleaved, and the WD1005 is 3:1. The WD controllers can map the
"n" head and 34 sectors per track to something that the typical clone
BIOS can handle: "n*2" heads, and 17 sectors per track.

 The Adaptec 2322 will work with both hard and soft sectored drives.
Standard Xenix will work fine; the ESDI version is NOT needed. I
don't know what kind of interleaving is supported.

  The SMS/OMTI 862x family support either ESDI or 412 MFM/RLL drives
the (8620 supports ESDI and MFM, 8627 supports ESDI and RLL). They
support 1:1 interleave and will support soft or hard sectored drives.

  I guess it goes without saying (then why am I saying it?) that you
must make sure your controller will talk to the drive you have in
mind. Ask the sales person. Unfortunately, I didn't, and I now have
a soft sectored Maxtor EXT-4175 which I cannot use because all my
controllers are hard sectored controllers. Idiot.

  Thanks to all those who sent mail. I won't list anyone because I
no longer have a complete list (the PRIAM swallowed my "saved" mail),
and I don't want to slight anyone. Good luck!


Rrrrrich.
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...!{uunet,linus!alliant}!merk!root			Rich Brennan