Subject: Re: HP SURESTORE DISK DRIVES ON MPE/iX release 5.0
Author:  Stan Sieler <[log in to unmask]> at ~INTERNET
Date:    4/19/96 1:16 PM
 
 
>Jon writes:
>> Leslie Klein <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> >Is there a diagnostic utility under MPE/iX ver.5.0 or later which would
>> >allow the sparing of tracks(or reasigning blocks) for an HP-C3725S
>> >Surestore 2.14GB OEM disk drive???
...
>> I'm afraid that this is a semi-classic case of trying to use generic,
>> non-HP3000 peripherals on HP3000s.  HP and our customers expect a higher
>> level of functionality from our peripherals (e.g. powerfail recovery,
>> sparing, etc.), and often that higher level of functionality requires
>> firmware support in the peripheral itself.
 
Stan replies:
>That sounds good, except for one little item: the drives in questoin
>are HP drives.  As a stockholder, employee-spouse, and customer,
>I would firmly expect that any problems found in the firmware of an
>HP manufactured drive should *never* be fixed in an "HP 3000 version" of
>a drive ...  but in *EVERY* version of the drive.
 
>Remember, the myth of "business vs. technical" computers (with differing
>usage patterns) was disproved years ago...in HP, it was during the 1000 vs
>3000 era.  If a drive has a problem on a 3000, it WILL have the SAME problem
>on a 9000, a PC, a Mac, a Sun, etc.
 
>Saying that a non-HP3000 doesn't need powerfail recovery, or sparing
>capabilities, or whatever, is like an automobile manufacturer saying:
>oh, we only sell seatbelts on our top-of-the-line cars, the race cars
>and dump trucks don't need seatbelts.   And it's equally wrong.
 
 
I would agree ... but for true third-party-manufactured drives, should not that
vendor supply any such utility for maintaining that hardware?  If not, then
those drives should never be considered for purchase.
 
I've often wondered why HP has such a lock on peripheral devices for the HP3000
- the lack of competition only serves to keep the prices artificially high, such
as $48,000 for an 8 GB disk array with proprietary interface, non-redundant
power, cooling, etc.  The new HASS devices bring down the price per GB
significantly, but when you add the cost of Mirror/iX, PowerTrust UPS (required
if you want your data protected in the event of a power failure and subsequent
UPS drain - a non-PowerTrust UPS won't provide this), it's still nearly
unreasonable, IMHO.
 
Lee Gunter      503-375-4498        [log in to unmask]
HMO Oregon      503-375-4401  fax
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