Difference between revisions of "RA60 Disk Drive"

From Computer History Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
m (Jnc moved page RA60 to RA60 Disk Drive: Formal DEC name)
m (New sub-cat)
 
(5 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 2: Line 2:
 
| name = RA60
 
| name = RA60
 
| manufacturer = [[Digital Equipment Corporation]]
 
| manufacturer = [[Digital Equipment Corporation]]
−
| year introduced = 1982
+
| year introduced = June, 1982
 
| controller = [[Standard Disk Interconnect#SDI Family of DSA Products|all SDI controllers]]
 
| controller = [[Standard Disk Interconnect#SDI Family of DSA Products|all SDI controllers]]
−
| capacity = 205 Mbytes (formatted)
+
| capacity = 205 Mbytes (16-bit mode, formatted)<br>208 Mbytes (18-bit mode, formatted)
 
| transfer rate = 1.3 Mbytes/sec
 
| transfer rate = 1.3 Mbytes/sec
−
| average access time = 50 msec
+
| average access time = 50.3 msec
−
| rpm = 3600 1/min
+
| rpm = 3600
 +
| revolution time = 8.3 msec
 
| one track seek = 6.7 msec
 
| one track seek = 6.7 msec
 
| average seek = 41.7 msec
 
| average seek = 41.7 msec
 +
| maximum seek = 75 msec
 +
| surfaces = 6
 +
| number of heads = 6
 +
| tracks = 1,588
 +
| sectors = 38 (18-bit word mode)<br>42 (16-bit word mode)
 +
| bytes per sector = 512 (16-bit word mode)<br>576 (16-bit word mode)
 +
| tracks per inch = 779
 +
| density = 9,668
 +
| start time = 60 secs (max)
 +
| stop time = 40 secs (max)
 +
| physical size = 26cm x 44cm x 85cm
 +
| weight = 155 lbs (approx)
 +
| power consumption = 780 watts
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
[[Image:open ra60.jpg|thumb|200px|left|An open RA60]]
 
[[Image:open ra60.jpg|thumb|200px|left|An open RA60]]
  
−
The '''RA60 Disk Drive''' is a [[Digital Equipment Corporation|DEC]] [[Standard Disk Interconnect|SDI]] [[removable-pack disk]] drive, introduced in 1982. It is the only removable-pack drive in the RAxx group of drives; the others ([[RA70]], etc) are all [[non-removable-media disk]] drives.
+
The '''RA60 Disk Drive''' is a [[Digital Equipment Corporation|DEC]] [[Standard Disk Interconnect|SDI]] [[removable-pack disk]] drive, introduced in 1982; it could support either 16- or 18-bit words. It is the only removable-media drive in the RAxx group of drives; the others ([[RA70]], etc) are all [[non-removable-media disk]] drives. It is member of the [[Digital Storage Architecture]] family.
  
 
It uses the RA60-P [[pack]], which has a five platters, with six data surfaces; the two end platters are purely protective. Track servo information is pre-recorded on the data surfaces; the servo information is recorded at manufacturing time.
 
It uses the RA60-P [[pack]], which has a five platters, with six data surfaces; the two end platters are purely protective. Track servo information is pre-recorded on the data surfaces; the servo information is recorded at manufacturing time.
Line 23: Line 37:
  
 
''The RA60 is the industry's highest capacity and lowest price-per-megabyte rack mounted, removable media disk. With 205 megabytes of user formatted capacity, 615 megabytes are available in a 42-inch high cabinet - 50% more than any other removable media product. The RA60 provides 205 megabytes of removable media flexibility for $15,000.''
 
''The RA60 is the industry's highest capacity and lowest price-per-megabyte rack mounted, removable media disk. With 205 megabytes of user formatted capacity, 615 megabytes are available in a 42-inch high cabinet - 50% more than any other removable media product. The RA60 provides 205 megabytes of removable media flexibility for $15,000.''
 +
 +
Some DEC marketing material refers to the RA60 as a 'Winchester' drive; strictly speaking, this is not completely accurate. It does use some aspects of Winchester drives, such as the use of pre-recorded servo information, but it does not have a sealed HDA, which many regard as the key innovation in Winchester drives.
  
 
==4.3 BSD disktab==
 
==4.3 BSD disktab==
Line 33: Line 49:
 
     :ph#268772:bh#4096:fh#1024:
 
     :ph#268772:bh#4096:fh#1024:
 
</pre>
 
</pre>
−
 
−
{{semi-stub}}
 
  
 
==Further reading==
 
==Further reading==
Line 45: Line 59:
 
* [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/disc/ra60/ ra60] - documentation at [[Bitsavers]]
 
* [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/disc/ra60/ ra60] - documentation at [[Bitsavers]]
 
** [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/disc/ra60/EK-0RA60-SV-001_May83.pdf RA60 Disk Drive Service Manual] (EK-0RA60-SV-001l
 
** [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/disc/ra60/EK-0RA60-SV-001_May83.pdf RA60 Disk Drive Service Manual] (EK-0RA60-SV-001l
 +
* [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/brochures/DEC-RA60-205MB-RemovableMediaDiskDrive.pdf RA60 205-Mbyte Removable-Media Disk Drive] - brochure
 +
* [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/disc/brochure/RA60_RA80_And_RA81_Disk_Drives_Brochure_Aug82.pdf The RA60, RA80 and RA81 Disk Drives and The Digital Storage Architecture] - another brochure
 +
* [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/brochures/DEC-RA-FamilyOfWinchesterDiskDrives.pdf RA Family Of Winchester Disk Drives] - and one more
 
* [https://manx-docs.org/collections/hcps/m880btc.pdf RA60 Maintenance Guide] (AA-M88OB-TC)
 
* [https://manx-docs.org/collections/hcps/m880btc.pdf RA60 Maintenance Guide] (AA-M88OB-TC)
 +
* [https://www.computerhistory.org/collections/catalog/102733609 DEC RA60 disk drives]
  
−
[[Category: MSCP Disk Drives]]
+
[[Category: SDI Disk Drives]]
 
[[Category: DEC Removable-pack Disks]]
 
[[Category: DEC Removable-pack Disks]]

Latest revision as of 09:36, 31 August 2023


RA60
Manufacturer: Digital Equipment Corporation
Year Introduced: June, 1982
Drive Controller(s): all SDI controllers
Capacity: 205 Mbytes (16-bit mode, formatted)
208 Mbytes (18-bit mode, formatted)
Transfer Rate: 1.3 Mbytes/sec
Average Access Time: 50.3 msec
Revolutions per Minute: 3600
1/2 Revolution Time: 8.3 msec
One Track Seek Time: 6.7 msec
Average Seek Time: 41.7 msec
Maximum Seek Time: 75 msec
Total Surfaces: 6
Number of Heads: 6
Tracks per Surface: 1,588
Sectors per Track: 38 (18-bit word mode)
42 (16-bit word mode)
Bytes per Sector: 512 (16-bit word mode)
576 (16-bit word mode)
Tracks per Inch: 779
Density: 9,668
Start Time: 60 secs (max)
Stop Time: 40 secs (max)
Physical Size: 26cm x 44cm x 85cm
Weight: 155 lbs (approx)
Power Consumption: 780 watts


An open RA60

The RA60 Disk Drive is a DEC SDI removable-pack disk drive, introduced in 1982; it could support either 16- or 18-bit words. It is the only removable-media drive in the RAxx group of drives; the others (RA70, etc) are all non-removable-media disk drives. It is member of the Digital Storage Architecture family.

It uses the RA60-P pack, which has a five platters, with six data surfaces; the two end platters are purely protective. Track servo information is pre-recorded on the data surfaces; the servo information is recorded at manufacturing time.

The RA60 can also be connected in a dual-port arrangement, permitting its use by two controllers.

Quote from the combined DEC RA60/RA80/RA81 1982 sales brochure:

The RA60 is the industry's highest capacity and lowest price-per-megabyte rack mounted, removable media disk. With 205 megabytes of user formatted capacity, 615 megabytes are available in a 42-inch high cabinet - 50% more than any other removable media product. The RA60 provides 205 megabytes of removable media flexibility for $15,000.

Some DEC marketing material refers to the RA60 as a 'Winchester' drive; strictly speaking, this is not completely accurate. It does use some aspects of Winchester drives, such as the use of pre-recorded servo information, but it does not have a sealed HDA, which many regard as the key innovation in Winchester drives.

4.3 BSD disktab

ra60|RA60|DEC RA60 Removable:\
    :ty=removable:ns#42:nt#4:nc#2382:\
    :pa#15884:ba#8192:fa#1024:\
    :pb#33440:pc#400176:\
    :pg#82080:bg#4096:fg#512:\
    :ph#268772:bh#4096:fh#1024:

Further reading

  • RA60 Disk Drive User Guide (EK-0RA60-UG-001 - not available online)
  • RA60 Disk Drive Service Manual (EK-0RA60-SV-002 - not available online)

External links

Retrieved from "https://gunkies.org/w/index.php?title=RA60_Disk_Drive&oldid=31368"