SSDL specialises in the design, development, and integration of hard disk, floppy-disk and tape drive hardware emulators for legacy systems. We are also flash memory distributors for SanDisk, Innodisk, APRO, Transcend and other flash technology leaders, to the defence, industrial, telecommunications, and process control markets.
The company historically designs and builds bespoke Solid State disk and tape emulators for legacy computer installations, many of which are installed in NATO and Military environments.
ISO 9001:2000 approved, and with over 80 years of combined experience, SSDL has completed numerous flash based bespoke projects for control, semiconductor and manufacturing primes, providing a range of modified tape and disk emulators.
Customised, in-house Designed Solutions
The company historically designs and builds bespoke Solid State disk and tape emulators for legacy computer installations, many of which are installed in Multiple Legacy Storage Replacement Solutions for Engineering & Automation OEM Applications
SSDL Legacy Product Solutions
SCSIFlash™ SCSI Solid State Drive
The SCSIFlash emulation drive is a drop-in replacement for obsolete 3.5 inch and 5.25 inch SCSI-based hard disk, magneto-optical and tape drives on legacy systems and equipment that uses removable, solid state CompactFlash to replace the respective media. With data cable connection made to a standard, 50 pin SCSI-1 or SCSI-2 connector, SCSIFlash is seen by the host as if it the original drive. Data transfer rates are up to 10Mbytes/s depending on the drive technology being replaced.
FLOPPYFlash™ Floppy Solid State Drive
The FLOPPYFlash emulation drive is a drop-in replacement for obsolete 3.5 inch, 5.25 inch or 8 inch floppy disk drives on legacy systems and equipment that uses removable, solid state CompactFlash to replace the floppy disk media. With data cable connection made to a standard, 26 and 34 pin floppy edge connector, FLOPPYFlash is seen by the host as if it the original floppy drive. Data transfer rates are between 125kb/s and 500kb/s depending on the coding method selected.
FLOPPYFlash and SCSIFlash Features and Benefits
- Ethernet network enabled.
- Host hardware and software compatible.
- Greatly increased reliability (MTBF) and media life.
- Fast and efficient field replacement with field-upgradable firmware via integral USB port.
- Lower power consumption, noise and heat.
- Reduction in unplanned downtime with fast recovery from system crashes or CPU failure.
- Standard 3.5 inch form factor.
- Requires a single 5V power supply.
FLASH2GUI Software
SSDL Graphical User Interface for the control / configuration and backup / restore of SCSIFlash™ and FLOPPYFlash™ emulators for the replacement of legacy hard, floppy and tape drives
Fully integrates with SCSIFlash and FLOPPYFlash emulation drives
FLASH2GUI is a graphical user interface that fully integrates with Solid State Disks’ SCSIFlash and FLOPPYFlash emulation drives that use standard, industrial CompactFlash card technology to provide a solid state, drop-in replacement for obsolete electro-mechanical hard, floppy and tape drives. SCSIFlash™ and FLOPPYFlash provide OEMs and service providers with a quick, easy and cost-efficient solution for supporting their legacy systems and equipment.
FLASH2GUI is used for the control and configuration of the SCSIFlash and FLOPPYFlash emulation drives as well as network backup and restore operations. FLASH2GUI is available for both Microsoft Windows and as a command line interface for Linux.
FLASH2GUI enables the configuration of the SCSIFlash and FLOPPYFlash firmware to facilitate a perfect host match, eliminating the need for any host hardware or software changes. It also features multiple login levels to prevent unauthorised use and can be used to set the disk capacity from 1Mb to 64GB, set the drive emulation, the drive’s IP address and name remotely as well as write protect and erase a drive’s contents.
Summary of FLASH2GUI capability
- Multiple login levels to prevent unauthorised use.
- Back-up and restore by disk image.
- Set disk capacity from 1Mb to 64GB
- Write protect and erase drive contents.
- Set drive emulation.
- Set drives IP address and name remotely.
FLASH2GUI’s Image Editor facilitates data backup and restore based on a bit-for-bit disk image which can be unpacked, edited, re-packed and restored direct the SCSIFlash and FLOPPYFlash drive. It also enables the creation of a new formatted drive and the addition of new software install files to run from the drive.
Image Editor Summary
- View drive image contents.
- Extract files, folders or entire disk contents to PC (including exported recipes, message logs, recipe files etc)
- Add and remove files, folders from disk including recipes.
- Add new software install files to run from HD.
- Create a new formatted drive.
Demonstrations of how to use FLASHGUI on SCSIFlash and FLOPPYFlash for configuration and control, back-up and restore and the selection of different drive emulations, can be seen of Solid State Disk’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCecBg7qR9oa6bqYflEalCg.
Example supported systems
Examples of legacy engineering and manufacturing hosts systems supported include: IRMX86, HP1000A, HP9000, 12016A, VAX, uVAX using RWZ01, RZ23, RZ28, RZ29 SCSI Drives, Rosemount RS3, Unipro90, Honeywell Measurex TDC 2000 / TDC 3000 universal station on MX open and VX works. Systems we can support included Toyoda,, Okuma, Makino, Heidenhein, Argie Charmilles, FIDIA, Hardinge & Mazak.
Examples of legacy semiconductor manufacturing hosts systems include: HP1000, HP9000, HP UNIX HPUX9, HPUX10, AMAT (Applied Materials) P5000 / P5200, P5500, RTP, Endura, Centura, Canon FPS-3000, Canon FPS-5000, Canon B2000 / B2600, TSK, Tokyo Electron, TEL, LAM RESEARCH (CLASSIC, ENVISION) KLA, ASM EPI, KS, and DISCO.
Sales contacts:
James Hilken, Sales Director, Solid State Disks
Tel: +44 (0) 1189 323499. Email: [email protected]
SCSIFlash and FLOPPYFlash are registered Trademarks of Solid State Disks Ltd. All other Trademarks are of their respective owners.
