WANTED: Need additional Drives

[pkraja]

Just got 3U system. I am looking for addtional storage.. 750GB or 1TB drives. Please send me info if you have any that you are looking to sale.

 

[Riskky]

Please dont fall into this trap.. you just cant buy disks from outside of Kaleidescape, basically if you try and stick in a disc that has either been used in another player or use a 3rd party one... WELCOME TO A WORLD OF PAIN!

I'll be happy to have your system collected and fixed because it's not a cheap repair and we'll make a fair bit of money. The Kaleidescape KAOS raid is quite intelligent and unless the drive has the kaleidescape firmware on it, you WILL loose all your existing content

 

[BritBlaster]

I might write a software utility to erase a K-drive back to as-shipped-from-factory condition. I was kinda disappointed to learn that drives used in one K-system cannot be used in another. When I upgrade in the future to 2TB drives, I'd like to be able to sell my 1TB drives...

 

[cinelife]

.......I was kinda disappointed to learn that drives used in one K-system cannot be used in another. When I upgrade in the future to 2TB drives, I'd like to be able to sell my 1TB drives...

Actually, they can be used in another system, but must first be sent to K to be "reinitialized."

To get this service, the drives must still be under warranty. Out of warranty drives will NOT be invalidated. Contact your dealer for more info.


Jim

 

[BritBlaster]

Actually, they can be used in another system, but must first be sent to K to be "reinitialized."

To get this service, the drives must still be under warranty. Out of warranty drives will NOT be invalidated. Contact your dealer for more info.


Jim

Thanks Jim.
That's not too unreasonable. Though it appeals to me to write a utility to "invalidate" the drives "just coz" it would be fun to write.

 

[cinelife]

....Though it appeals to me to write a utility to "reinitialize" the drives "just coz" it would be fun to write.

Just curious, how would you do that (reinitialize a drive) without being able to hack into K's software? Wouldn't this have to be done while the drives are still in the Server, and if so, how do you gain access to the op system with your "utility?" (Not being sarcastic, nor questioning your ability, I just don't have a clue how this is possible. You can PM me if you'd rather respond that way, or ignore the questions.)

I also realize you are probably just "thinking out loud."


Jim

 

[BritBlaster]

Just curious, how would you do that (reinitialize a drive) without being able to hack into K's software? Wouldn't this have to be done while the drives are still in the Server, and if so, how do you gain access to the op system with your "utility?" (Not being sarcastic, nor questioning your ability, I just don't have a clue how this is possible. You can PM me if you'd rather respond that way, or ignore the questions.)

I also realize you are probably just "thinking out loud."


Jim

I've been writing software related to storage/data for the last 15 years or so and am intimately familiar with firmware, protocols/interfaces -- ST506, ESDI, SCSI, SAS, 1394, FC, USB ... been there, done that.
The utility is based on the assumption that when K ship a drive it contains data (not specific to that specific drive) that indicates it's in virgin condition. Therefore, all that's necessary is to make the drive a virgin again. No knowledge of the K system would be necessary.
This is really old-hat stuff. IBM and others used to do this (embedding proprietary identification in either firmware or on-data) to justify hiking the price by 3-4x.
Now, depending on the mechanism used, it might be possible to run the utility on a non-K drive purchased for a fraction of the cost from an OEM supplier and getting the K-system to recognize it as a K-approved device. I wouldn't advocate that necessarily, but technically possible and given the ~$800 per drive savings, quite a financial incentive exists. It's very tempting to try it for P.O.C.

 

[AnOutsider]

it appeals to me to write a utility to "invalidate" the drives "just coz" it would be fun to write.

Please do. I can see a number of problems with Kscape's solution, not least of all the time required, fees, and the fact that no matter WHAT you pay you can't get it done if it's not under warranty.

IMO, there should be an option in the GUI or computer-based control panel to completely wipe discs. It's a bit TOO dependent on kscape for my tastes.

 

[Steven]

Cannot Get Drive Support??

You cannot get a drive 'invalidated' if it is out of warranty? In other words, you have zero options after that? That seems a little ridiculous, doesn't it?

 

[AnOutsider]

It does. If it is indeed the case, all the more reason to take matters into your own hands. One thing I dislike about the kscape system is the dependencies -- both on kscape and the dealer.

For example, my dealer takes forever to respond to queries and such, but I've got no choice but to just deal with it.

 

[cinelife]

You cannot get a drive 'invalidated' if it is out of warranty? In other words, you have zero options after that? That seems a little ridiculous, doesn't it?

That's correct, K WILL NOT invalidate drives out of warranty. The shipping back and forth, and working the drive to invalidate, place additional stress on the drive that could result in a drive failure (not probable, but possible), and K is not willing to accept potential liability for the drive.


Jim

 

[AnOutsider]

That's correct, K WILL NOT reinitialize drives out of warranty. The shipping back and forth, and working the drive to reinitialize, place additional stress on the drive that could result in a drive failure (not probable, but possible), and K is not willing to accept potential liability for the drive.


Jim

Ok well that's a fair enough reason as to WHY they won't do it, but an even better reason to go the DIY route.