Results 1 to 4 of 4
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2000
    Location
    CT
    Posts
    1,621
    Can anyone please tell me more about this Fibre Channel SCSI HD? My two sources of information are: http://www.seagate.com/support/kb/di...e_channel.html and http://www.adaptec.com/worldwide/pro...rechannel_faqs

    Why are the drives so cheap? You can get as lows as $89 for IBM 18.2GB 7200rpm Fibre Channel SCSI drive. I know, it's only 7200rpm compared to the usual 10000rpm. But the transfer rate is >100MB/sec, higher than the ordinary 40-80MB/sec SCSI drives (except the Ultra160). Well... with such a price, I am thinking of using this drive, but still not sure about how easy it is to install it, etc.

    BTW, how much is the adapter? Anybody knows?

    cheers,


  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2000
    Location
    CT
    Posts
    1,621
    seems that you can't have these drives as internal drives. Am i right?

    cheers,

  3. #3
    Fibre Channel is used in shared storage applications. You would need a Fibre Channel enclosure and applicable connectors to your server. It can get quite expensive.

    You can check out Dell's stuff at
    http://www.dell.com/us/en/biz/produc...re_storage.htm
    Mike Palmer
    FindWebspace.com
    Hosting Resources & More

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2001
    Location
    Cerritos, California
    Posts
    86
    There are two different channels of drives, grey market and distribution. Grey market drives are not fakes, they are the real deal. However, they were generally manufactured for some big OEM's designated project. Being fiber-channel, they were probably built to be incorporated into a large RAID array (which was either cancelled, returned, or never built.). You will probably find that if you need support, seagate will direct to Dell, Compaq,HP, or some other OEM. However, at $89, you really can't go wrong if you're wanting to do some experimenting with Fiber Channel. Think of it as a very inexpensive educational venture, and you will never be unhappy about it.
    P.S.
    The previous response above was absolutely correct. The controllers are expensive, the cables are expensive, and you must have proper carriers if you are hot-swapping them. On the other hand, with the fiber-channel's capability of upscaling to over 120 devices per channel.....you can grow this thing quite a ways before you need another RAID controller. U160 RAID controllers are limited to 15 drives per channel. I guess it all boils down to how bad you want some first-hand fiber channel knowledge, right?



    [Edited by IPC PRO on 04-12-2001 at 12:18 AM]
    Skye Van Ferguson
    Chief Technology Officer
    http://www.aproimage.com
    "Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason why so few engage in it." Henry Ford

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •