Re: Running AS/400 with cover off and care of Drives -- MIDRANGE-L

David, 

We have model 6606 and 6607 disks, and yes, we've had
problems with extended power down time. We generally
do a scheduled IPL with RESTART(*YES), so the disks
don't stop spinning. However, a couple of months ago
we had to power down for a couple of hours due to a
combination of a mains power failure and our backup
generator also failing. After being off for about 4
hours we powered up the machine and 3 disks wouldn't
start. We got an IBM hardware tech out and he fixed 2
of them by blowing on them and tapping them on the
floor. The third had to be replaced. The one replaced
was a 6606. Can't remember whether the other 2 were
6606's or 6607's. The IBM tech pretty much said the
same to me that your friend did. We have a test AS/400
with 6714 disks that has been powered down for days at
a time sometimes. We've never had a problem with these
disks when it's restarted. 

Thanks


--- DAVID BULOG <d2ba@xtra.co.nz> wrote: > Hi list,
> I was wondering if you can advise me as to whether I
> should
> be running my Model500 with the rounded rear cover
> on or off.
> I could find no specific IBM reference as to what is
> the correct way but am
> I correct in assuming that I should run with the
> rear cover attached as this
> acts as a shield to circulate the air back towards
> the cards etc.
> 
> Another question is Harddrive care--my model 500 has
> 18gig total
> 2 x 6606, 2 x6607, 1x 6713.Are any of these models
> prone to sticking after
> long powerdwn periods.
> Since I have the machine at home for the purpose of
> playing with the project
> lightening toolkit I only powerup one day a week for
> aboubt 4 hours at a
> time--How much of a risk Im I taking--I know
> Quantem SCSIdrives on PCs are really bad,but IBM
> drives are
> much more reliable(I only use SCSI Ultrastars on my
> PCs and have
> never had a failure--they get a real thrashing to!
> What I dont know is how good the AS/400 drives are
> compared
> to the IBM ultrastar PC drives,I have heard a rumor
> that the AS/400s are top
> end Ultrastars with a special logic board??
> 
> My friend Andree says you should never
> powerdown because spinning the drives does not cause
> the wear and tear its
> the cold starts--in fact he almost guarentied in
> theory that if you left a
> brand new or near new IBM drive in its box for years
> it would be useless as the bearings would be
> stuck--stranglely
> enough he has recovered data for clients by carefuly
> taking apart and
> spinning by hand to give a quick start and then
> transfering the data on to
> another drive and throwing the damaged one away
> 
> Dave
> 
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=====
Adam Driver
AS/400 Systems Support Specialist

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