Use of Compaq StorageWorks SCSI RAID with IBM PCI SCSI
ORNL has over half a terabyte of StorageWorks SCSI RAID disk storage purchased in 1996; the equipment was connected to IBM RS/6000 microchannel-based servers. In 1997 extensive testing was undertaken to determine whether the equipment could be used with IBM RS/6000 PCI-based servers, since the microchannel equipment was becoming obsolete. The testing was never successful.
The testing was undertaken again in Probe to determine whether the equipment could be used at all or should be replaced since the microchannel servers are being retired. This time the testing went well - quite successfully. The difference between the current tests and the unsuccessful earlier ones has been attributed to a newer operating system release.
However, the testing also showed that the StorageWorks RAID was quite slow by today's standards. With that consideration and the considerable expense of maintaining the StorageWorks, ORNL has decided to replace the drives anyhow.