RA60 Disk Drive: Difference between revisions

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| year introduced = June, 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.
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''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==
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     :ph#268772:bh#4096:fh#1024:
     :ph#268772:bh#4096:fh#1024:
</pre>
</pre>
{{semi-stub}}


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
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* [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]
* [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 08:36, 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"