Announcing ZuluSCSI - A file-based SCSI device emulator

[macuserman]

Yeah—gotta be honest, I can't even be angry about that. Kind of split between deep amusement and a kind of pity .

I thought you might get a chuckle out of it, I found them particularly amusing due to the sources they chose and also the quotes themselves of all the things to find to say about your product I mean lol those are certainly some choice words. Not exactly a rave review on either one, and neither one speaks to actual performance or usability. Just kinda bizarre.

 

[rabbitholecomputing]

What about systems like the Amiga 2000 / 3000 / 4000? Will ZuluSCSI performance be better or worse than SCSI2SD V6?

As with most things, it depends on a variety of factors. On the Amiga 3000, for instance, the built-in SCSI controller is the 53C80, which is the primary factor limiting throughput, not the ZuluSCSI itself. There are a variety of SCSI controllers available for the Amiga, some Zorro-based, most of which aren't that performant. Many, if not most, of those controllers have 53C80-based SCSI controllers (or clones of the 53C80), which are the primary limiting factor when it comes to throughput.

ZuluSCSI was not designed as a replacement for SCSI2SD V6. It was designed and brought to market due to ongoing component shortages which have made it impossible to purchase the semiconductors necessary to assemble more SCSI2D V5's. ZuluSCSI, however, performs better than SCSI2SD V5.x by a wide margin, particularly when it comes to read speeds. This assumes you're using it with a sufficiently fast machine, roughly 16/25MHz or higher.

On older, slower machines such as all of the original 8MHz-based 68000 machines, performance between SCSI2SD V5, ZuluSCSI, and BlueSCSI is more or less comparable, because the bottleneck is the overall speed of the system itself.

 

[rabbitholecomputing]

On a black PCB with a ghostbusters logo?

Nah, not unless we want to receive a _different_ letter from Columbia Pictures ;-)

 

[olePigeon]

On a black PCB with a ghostbusters logo?

Or maybe a Mr. Stay Puft.

Edit: Or perhaps a proton gun firing a beam that spells out SCSI.

 

[Juror22]

When I tried to update the firmware which I needed to do It was named Zulu instead of Azul so It didn’t work until I changed the name back to azul. Then it worked. Now the log files are saying Zulu and I would think it will be fine moving forward.

Thanks for posting this. Its good information and as another of the bleeding edge adopters, I'll likely run into this as well.

 

[dalek]

...On the Amiga 3000, for instance, the built-in SCSI controller is the 53C80, ... Amiga, some Zorro-based, most of which aren't that performant. Many, if not most, of those controllers have 53C80-based SCSI controllers (or clones of the 53C80), which are the primary limiting factor when it comes to throughput.

I think for Amiga low end controllers and the Amiga 3000 you meant to write WD33C93A not 53C80. BlueSCSI doesn't work on those (though I've been wanting to know if anyone has tried the F4 version with proper transceivers to see if it is a hardware issue).

Incidentally BlueSCSI works in the the one Logic branded L5380 Amiga SCSI controller I have - go figure.

Really liking the look of ZuluSCSI

 

[rabbitholecomputing]

I think for Amiga low end controllers and the Amiga 3000 you meant to write WD33C93A not 53C80. BlueSCSI doesn't work on those (though I've been wanting to know if anyone has tried the F4 version with proper transceivers to see if it is a hardware issue).

Yes, I absolutely meant 33C93A for the built-in controller on A3000. A lot of the other, less expensive Zorro II SCSI controllers did use 53C80's though.

 

[djhaloeight]

Thanks for posting this. Its good information and as another of the bleeding edge adopters, I'll likely run into this as well.

Same. For what it’s worth, the one bluescsi device I’ve tried didn’t work at all. Flashing question mark no matter how I formatted or named the .hda files. The azulscsi I purchased worked out of the box with the same files that didn’t work on the bluescsi. Gonna grab two or three more zuluscsi units when they’re back in stock.

 

[CC_333]

all this needless drama

AzulSCSI has been re-named to ZuluSCSI. This was a direct result of legal threats. You can probably guess the origin.

It's a sign of the times, unfortunately. People in general have become so divided over such mundane things that it amazes me that anyone can agree on anything at all anymore.

I had been contemplating getting a BlueSCSI, if only to try it out and see what it's like, but in light of these... energetic discussions, I'm pretty much no longer interested, if only for moral and ethical reasons, because I don't wish to either support or become party to such pettiness and immaturity.

It's frankly something that I'm getting highly tired of

Me too!

c

 

[Fizzbinn]

To each his own but I don’t care to try to investigate the drama or try to take sides. I am empathetic to the pain it’s apparently causing folks but personally I want to focus on all the awesome projects and products out there in the modern SCSI storage device space. So many options, form factors, features sets! I’m sure others legitimately disagree with this attitude or can’t get there but I just felt like trying to put the glass is half full idea out there.

 

[loplop]

Just a quick shout out for the ZuluScsi mini--I "installed" one (if that's what you can call plugging it in) on my Macintosh SE, and after a quick LIDO format of a volume, initialization, it was ready to go and I dragged over everything from my HD20 disk image. I was off to the races.

Loading times for big apps dropped 30-40%, and doc loading/saving in those apps is much faster.

The only hitch, for me, was I wasn't sure how to use it until I found the Git page. A short instruction sheet would be helpful to include, to get buyers started ASAP. BMOW's FloppyEmu really nails that.

Really enjoying the ZuluSCSI, and very happy the SCSI2SD wasn't available when I ordered, or I wouldn't have likely tried it! I think Zulu is pretty perfect for my needs, as the mini is well-protected in its case, the SD card is easy to get to, and of course dead-simple to move between Mac's. Initially I wanted an internal SCSI2SD with the SE mounting bracket (sold out), but this is really great.

 

[olePigeon]

Has anyone thought about making a SCSI disk clicker like BMOW's floppy noise clicker? Get those nostalgic noises going. Interface it between your favorite SCSI emulator (or maybe optical drive since they don't make noises, really.)

 

[loplop]

Has anyone thought about making a SCSI disk clicker like BMOW's floppy noise clicker? Get those nostalgic noises going. Interface it between your favorite SCSI emulator (or maybe optical drive since they don't make noises, really.)

I'd be in for that, if it had an on/off switch to allow me to choose nostalgia (or concentration). I still love the sound of my old Miniscribe.

I like Disk II's, so that gives some context.

That said, when real work is being done, I'd want quiet.

 

[Johnnya101]

Heck, at this point, make up an SCSI2SD compatible plug in literal drive platter that spins up and down and moves the arm and everything, but the storage is solid state.

 

[just.in.time]

Does the ZuluSCSI come with the disk activity LED connector on the board?

 

[Juror22]

The only hitch, for me, was I wasn't sure how to use it until I found the Git page. A short instruction sheet would be helpful to include, to get buyers started ASAP. BMOW's FloppyEmu really nails that.

Really enjoying the ZuluSCSI, and very happy the SCSI2SD wasn't available when I ordered, or I wouldn't have likely tried it!

I had a similar experience initially pieced together some of the information from a couple of different spots, including the .ini file from the git site, some random web hda file creation/setup examples. Once I had all the information put together, it was very easy (nicer setup than scsi2sd, so I'm also alright with getting this as an alternative as well)

Does the ZuluSCSI come with the disk activity LED connector on the board?

There is a spot for it... I'm going to solder one onto mine, eventually.

 

[rabbitholecomputing]

I had a similar experience initially pieced together some of the information from a couple of different spots, including the .ini file from the git site, some random web hda file creation/setup examples. Once I had all the information put together, it was very easy (nicer setup than scsi2sd, so I'm also alright with getting this as an alternative as well)

View attachment 41836
There is a spot for it... I'm going to solder one onto mine, eventually.

It does not. Very few people use it by default, and for those that want it, it can be easily added.

 

[macuserman]

I had a similar experience initially pieced together some of the information from a couple of different spots, including the .ini file from the git site, some random web hda file creation/setup examples. Once I had all the information put together, it was very easy (nicer setup than scsi2sd, so I'm also alright with getting this as an alternative as well)

View attachment 41836
There is a spot for it... I'm going to solder one onto mine, eventually.

I just ordered mine, anyone make a quick start guide post for getting one of these setup yet? Sounds like setup should be easy if you go hunt for all the info but would be nice to have a precise write up. Guess I’ll do it when mine comes if no one else has done it yet. Seems crazy this doesn’t exist yet.

 

[djhaloeight]

Has anyone thought about making a SCSI disk clicker like BMOW's floppy noise clicker? Get those nostalgic noises going. Interface it between your favorite SCSI emulator (or maybe optical drive since they don't make noises, really.)

I’d be all over that! The sound of old SCSI drives spinning and crunching away is a big part of the nostalgic Mac experience to me

 

[bakkus]

I’d be all over that! The sound of old SCSI drives spinning and crunching away is a big part of the nostalgic Mac experience to me

This exists: https://en.infinityproducts.co.jp/product-page/smc-beleth-s-drum-hd-sound-simulator
Runs off the LED signal, so shouldn't be too much of a hassle connecting it to a ZuluSCSI.