Ryan Colp wrote:
> From: Ryan Colp <rcolp_at_csil_dot_net>
> To: "'Christopher Congdon'" <hostmaster_at_congdonweb_dot_net>,
> "'gb-users_at_gta_dot_com'" <gb-users_at_gta_dot_com>
> Subject: RE: IDE Device?
> Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 18:52:21 -0600
>
.. snip ..
> Anyway, after thinking about the whole storage device issue...once the
> GNATbox is booted, I believe that the firewall doesn't need to read anything
> off the disk in order to operate. (Guys, correct me if I'm wrong!) If this
> is the case, then I have just found a new level of appreciation for
> GNATbox's design!
I believe -- with lite version 2 anyway -- that the software periodically
checks the registration on the floppy. A situation that aggravates the
situation of a flaky floppy, dirty FDD, etc. In my case, I had a bad floppy
(I won't be reusing those AOL mailers anymore!), and on two occasions
GNATbox decided it couldn't read the floppy (middle of the night) and began
to BEEP.
>
> Under this assumption, a failed floppy drive, or even a failed hard drive
> would allow the GNATbox to continue running...it just wouldn't be able to
> update statistics to disk, re-configure or restart.
>
I don't beleive this to be the case, based on my comments above.
> And you have probably found that GNATbox does very little disk access while
> it runs. A hard drive is spinning all the time, but a floppy drive just
> spins up briefly when it is needed. Therefore diskette and drive wear is
> really minimized with a floppy system.
>
> Disaster recovery is where the floppy system really shines. To recover from
> a bad diskette, all you need to do is make a new one from your saved image
> file and you're laughing. Even if you need to replace the floppy drive
> itself, it is still less work than with a hard drive, which makes recovery
> quicker. And those of us who must guarantee uptime to our clients will
> really appreciate this.
I agree, nothing beats thowing in another a backup diskette to get going.
Although, the discussion has addressed the virtues issues of no moving parts
it is my opiniion that floppy disks are some of the most unreliable methods
to store data, and more that matter to operate off of.
... snip ...
>
>
> A Flash device takes the reliability to a new level though. I'm all for
> that!
FLASH is an absolute must for speed and reliability.
I recognize the motivations and intent of GTA with respect to driver support,
etc for only handling a FDD device. What I would like to see is a device
with has the same physical form factor of the FDD, and same electrical
interface as a FDD, but would emulate in FLASH memory a solid state floppy
disk drive - either 1.44 or 2.88 MB. This device could be in one of two
forms:
1) Simple solid state FDD.
Data would have to be loaded by inserting the device in an existing
PC as B: drive, and doing a diskcopy A: B:, where the A: drive would
contain the GNATBox boot diskette. The devive could then be deployed
to the GNATBox PC.
2) Integrate the solid state functionallity noted with a FDD, so that
the above noted operation could be facilitated with greater ease.
Would have to include a jumper to "flip" the drive addressing.
I do not know of such a Solid State FDD. There are similar emuators available
as chips for embedded applications which I suspect interface via BIOS, or
installed drivers. The real issue is taking the emulation device from the
point of being embedded and being interfaced via BIOS/drivers and extending
it with a FDD 34 pin electrical interface. GNATbox is the first case where
I have seen a direct requirement as most other environments can
deal with the previously mentioned IDE devices. Clearly "people" have
developed the technology for IDE, maybe a lobby is required to see the
concept extended to include the FDD electrical interface.
Maybe GTA could sell such a device with the gbfloppy default image preloaded.
--
Darren Besler
Beehive Enterprises
Email: dbesler_at_beehive.mb_dot_ca
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