Difference between revisions of "RL01/02 disk drive"

From Computer History Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
m (Cabling: Fmt)
(15 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
{{Infobox Disk drive
 
{{Infobox Disk drive
| name = RL01
+
| name = RL01 / RL02
 
| manufacturer = [[Digital Equipment Corporation]]  
 
| manufacturer = [[Digital Equipment Corporation]]  
|}}
+
| controller = [[RL11 disk controller|RL11]] ([[UNIBUS]])<br>[[RLV11]] and [[RLV12]] ([[QBUS]])<br>[[RL8A]] ([[OMNIBUS]])
[[Image:rl01.jpg|150px|thumb|right|A RL01]]
+
| capacity = 5.2 Mbytes (formatted) (RL01)<br>10.4 Mbytes (formatted) (RL02)
[[Image:rl01drive.jpg|150px|thumb|right|RL01 drive]]
+
| transfer rate = 512 Kbytes/sec<br>3.9 usec/word (peak)
The RL01 is a 5MiB, single platter, removable cartridge drive introduced in 1976 by [[Digital Equipment Corporation]].
+
| average access time = 67.5 msec
 +
| rpm = 2400
 +
| revolution time = 12.5 msec
 +
| one track seek = 15 msec
 +
| average seek = 55 msec
 +
| maximum seek = 100 msec
 +
| head switch = 8 msec (maximum)
 +
| surfaces = 2
 +
| tracks = 256 (RL01)<br>512 (RL02)
 +
| sectors = 40
 +
| words per sector = 128
 +
| tracks per inch = 125 (RL01)<br>250 (RL02)
 +
| density = 3725 bpi (maximum)
 +
| recording method = [[Modified Frequency Modulation]] (MFM)
 +
| start time = 40 seconds
 +
| stop time = 30 seconds
 +
| physical size = 19" W x 10-1/2" H x 25" L
 +
| weight = 55 pounds
 +
| power consumption = 160W (running); 550 VA (starting)
 +
}}
  
Its 22-bit [[QBUS]] controller is the [[RLV11]],[[RLV12]]
+
[[Image:rl01drive.jpg|thumb|left|An RL01 drive; note no label]]
  
Its [[UNIBUS]] controller is the [[RL11]]
+
The '''RL01''' and '''RL02''' are single platter, removable [[pack]] [[disk|disk drive]]s, introduced in 1976 and 1978 respectively, by [[Digital Equipment Corporation|DEC]]. They used an [[IBM 5440]] type pack, as used on the [[IBM System/3]]. Up to 4 drives may be attached to a single controller; the drives are connected serially. The total length of the string may not exceed 100 feet.
  
Its higher-end cousin is the [[RL02]]
+
The RL01 is a 5MiB drive, and the RL02 is 10MiB; the latter is a high-density version, with twice as many [[track]]s per surface, but otherwise mostly identical.
  
5.2 MB, 512 KB/s transfer, 67.5 ms average access time, 15 ms track-to-track seek time, 2400 rpm
+
To keep the [[head]]s properly aligned on the [[track]]s, it used a servo system driven by servo data written on the pack (along with [[sector]] headers) at the factory. Packs ''cannnot'' be low-level re-formatted in the field, and are not compatible with both drive types (although both types are physically identical).
  
 +
[[Image:rl02drive.jpg|150px|thumb|left|An RL02 drive; note the label]]
 +
 +
Early versions of the drives included a set of brushes that swing out over the [[platter]] on start-up; these were deleted in later versions.
 +
 +
The [[UNIBUS]] controller is the [[RL11 disk controller|RL11]], a single [[DEC card form factor|hex]] card. The [[QBUS]] controllers are the [[RLV11]] and [[RLV12]]; the former consists of two [[DEC card form factor|quad]] cards, and needs a QBUS [[backplane]] with [[CD interconnect]]; the latter is a single quad card, and is also the [[QBUS|Q22]] version. The [[OMNIBUS]] controller (for the [[PDP-8]]) is the [[RL8A]].
 +
 +
==Cabling==
 +
 +
[[Image:rl01.jpg|150px|thumb|right|An RL01 pack]]
 +
 +
The RL0x uses a cable with latching connectors at each end to go between drives; the part number is 70-12122-xx (where xx is the length, one of -08, 10, 20, 40 or 60); it is also known as a BC20J-xx. A later version, with thicker cable, is the BC21Z-xx (see in -06, 08, 10, and 25). A still later version with metallic coating on the connector, and thicker double shielded cable is the BC17F-xx (only observed in -10).
 +
 +
To get from the controller to the first drive of the string, one of two setups can be used.
 +
 +
A BC80M-xx cable has a [[Berg connector]] at one end which plugs into the controller, and one of the latching connectors to connect to a drive at the other. Alternatively, a BC06R-xx [[flat cable]] goes from the controller to a transition adapter in a mounting bracket attached to the rack; a standard cable goes from there to the first drive. (If the flat cable is plugged into the adapter the wrong way around, no damage is done; the 'Fault' lights on the drives on that string come on, is all.)
 +
 +
The drive string must be ended with a [[terminator]] on the 'out' port of the last drive, part number 70-12293-0-0 (although the terminators generally have no markings on them). Again, terminators in both plain black plastic, and with silvery metallic coating, have been observed.
 +
 +
The terminators for the RL0x and RK06/07 drives are the same, and interchangeable. The cables are semi-compatible; RK06/7 cables may be used with the RL0x, but not the other way around - those for the RK06/07 have additional wires which are not present in the RL0x cables.
 +
 +
==4.3 BSD disktab==
 +
 +
<pre>
 +
rb02|RB02|DEC RL02 on 730 IDC:\
 +
    :ty=removable:se#256:ns#40:nt#2:nc#32:\
 +
    :pa#15884:ba#4096:fa#1024:\
 +
    :pb#4480:pc#20480:</pre>
 +
 +
==Emulating the RL02==
 +
 +
[[Image:Rl02.jpg|150px|thumb|right|An RL02 cartridge]]
 +
 +
Reinhard Heuberger has created an open source emulator for the RL02 (and RL01) using a Terasic DE0-Nano Altera Cyclone IV FPGA board, extended with necessary interfacing hardware and an SD card slot. The emulator can be used with a real PDP-11, for example.
 +
* [http://www.pdp11gy.com/doneE.html Home page of project]
 +
* [http://www.vintage-computer.com/vcforum/album.php?albumid=184&attachmentid=12300 Picture of the simulator connected to a PDP-11/53]
 +
 +
==External links==
 +
 +
* [http://www.pdp-11.nl/peripherals/disk/rl-info.html RL01 / RL02    removable hard disk drive] - Provides a great deal of useful information about using these drives
  
 
[[Category: DEC Disk Drives]]
 
[[Category: DEC Disk Drives]]

Revision as of 17:48, 31 December 2017


RL01 / RL02
Manufacturer: Digital Equipment Corporation
Drive Controller(s): RL11 (UNIBUS)
RLV11 and RLV12 (QBUS)
RL8A (OMNIBUS)
Capacity: 5.2 Mbytes (formatted) (RL01)
10.4 Mbytes (formatted) (RL02)
Transfer Rate: 512 Kbytes/sec
3.9 usec/word (peak)
Average Access Time: 67.5 msec
Revolutions per Minute: 2400
1/2 Revolution Time: 12.5 msec
One Track Seek Time: 15 msec
Average Seek Time: 55 msec
Maximum Seek Time: 100 msec
Head Switching Time: 8 msec (maximum)
Total Surfaces: 2
Tracks per Surface: 256 (RL01)
512 (RL02)
Sectors per Track: 40
Words per Sector: 128
Tracks per Inch: 125 (RL01)
250 (RL02)
Density: 3725 bpi (maximum)
Recording Method: Modified Frequency Modulation (MFM)
Start Time: 40 seconds
Stop Time: 30 seconds
Physical Size: 19" W x 10-1/2" H x 25" L
Weight: 55 pounds
Power Consumption: 160W (running); 550 VA (starting)


An RL01 drive; note no label

The RL01 and RL02 are single platter, removable pack disk drives, introduced in 1976 and 1978 respectively, by DEC. They used an IBM 5440 type pack, as used on the IBM System/3. Up to 4 drives may be attached to a single controller; the drives are connected serially. The total length of the string may not exceed 100 feet.

The RL01 is a 5MiB drive, and the RL02 is 10MiB; the latter is a high-density version, with twice as many tracks per surface, but otherwise mostly identical.

To keep the heads properly aligned on the tracks, it used a servo system driven by servo data written on the pack (along with sector headers) at the factory. Packs cannnot be low-level re-formatted in the field, and are not compatible with both drive types (although both types are physically identical).

An RL02 drive; note the label

Early versions of the drives included a set of brushes that swing out over the platter on start-up; these were deleted in later versions.

The UNIBUS controller is the RL11, a single hex card. The QBUS controllers are the RLV11 and RLV12; the former consists of two quad cards, and needs a QBUS backplane with CD interconnect; the latter is a single quad card, and is also the Q22 version. The OMNIBUS controller (for the PDP-8) is the RL8A.

Cabling

An RL01 pack

The RL0x uses a cable with latching connectors at each end to go between drives; the part number is 70-12122-xx (where xx is the length, one of -08, 10, 20, 40 or 60); it is also known as a BC20J-xx. A later version, with thicker cable, is the BC21Z-xx (see in -06, 08, 10, and 25). A still later version with metallic coating on the connector, and thicker double shielded cable is the BC17F-xx (only observed in -10).

To get from the controller to the first drive of the string, one of two setups can be used.

A BC80M-xx cable has a Berg connector at one end which plugs into the controller, and one of the latching connectors to connect to a drive at the other. Alternatively, a BC06R-xx flat cable goes from the controller to a transition adapter in a mounting bracket attached to the rack; a standard cable goes from there to the first drive. (If the flat cable is plugged into the adapter the wrong way around, no damage is done; the 'Fault' lights on the drives on that string come on, is all.)

The drive string must be ended with a terminator on the 'out' port of the last drive, part number 70-12293-0-0 (although the terminators generally have no markings on them). Again, terminators in both plain black plastic, and with silvery metallic coating, have been observed.

The terminators for the RL0x and RK06/07 drives are the same, and interchangeable. The cables are semi-compatible; RK06/7 cables may be used with the RL0x, but not the other way around - those for the RK06/07 have additional wires which are not present in the RL0x cables.

4.3 BSD disktab

rb02|RB02|DEC RL02 on 730 IDC:\
    :ty=removable:se#256:ns#40:nt#2:nc#32:\
    :pa#15884:ba#4096:fa#1024:\
    :pb#4480:pc#20480:

Emulating the RL02

An RL02 cartridge

Reinhard Heuberger has created an open source emulator for the RL02 (and RL01) using a Terasic DE0-Nano Altera Cyclone IV FPGA board, extended with necessary interfacing hardware and an SD card slot. The emulator can be used with a real PDP-11, for example.

* Home page of project
* Picture of the simulator connected to a PDP-11/53

External links