mix 'n match disk drives?

2007-12-25 7:21:00

I recently inquired whether there are any "gotchas" in mixing drives

of different geometries on a xy451, xy7053, or isp80 disk controller.

The general consensus was that this usually works, but two potential

problem areas were identified:

1) If mixing drive types on a xy451, make sure the "magic cookie"

drive_type is different for the disks you are formatting on

each controller. Otherwise, you won't be able to get at all the

drives on each controller, from the format program. (If you have

to change drive_type, this forces a re-format because drive_type

is stored on the disk.)

2) One correspondent mentioned that he has observed some SMD drives will

interfere with other when cabled together on the same controller.

He doesn't know why, but just knows he has definitely observed

this happening, probably caused by certain manufacturers not

observing proper grounding or terminating conventions on the control

cable. However, he seemed sure drives from the same manufacturer

don't have this problem.

These successes in mixing drives were reported:

1) Four correspondents either said, or implied, that they are mixing

drives on a xy451.

2) Two correspondents said they were mixing 1.2G and 2.5G Sabre

drives and/or using both 3MB/sec and 6MB/sec (dualhead) Sabre

drives on a isp80 controller.

3) Three correspondents reported success in mixing drive types on

a xy7053 controller. Two specifically mentioned mixing Hitachi

DK815 and Sabre 9720-* drives.

Thanks to the following persons for taking the time to reply:

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