Does the CD-ROM work on the 4/390?

[Mark Plotnick]

We were given the following information about CD-ROM drives in May:

				SunCD Drive

SunCD for:	Order	US List 		US	Available  SunOS
		Number	Price	Discount	Service		   Req'd

SS 1		X558H	$995	  B		$30	Now	   4.0.3c
SS 1		X559H	$995	  B		$30	Now	   4.1
SS 1+		X558H	$995	  B		$30	Now	   4.0.3c
SS 1+		X559H	$995	  B		$30	Now	   4.1
Sstation SLC	X558H	$995	  B		$30	Now	   4.0.3c
Sstation SLC	X559H	$995	  B		$30	Now	   4.1
SS 330		X559A	$995	  B		$30	Now	   4.1
SS 370		556K	$995	  B		$30	June	   4.1
SS 470		556K	$995	  B		$30	June	   4.1 PSRA
SServer 490	556DR4	$995	  B		$30	June	   4.1 PSRA

Note that the 390 isn't listed.

I have a few questions:

- Do the different part numbers for the externally-attached drives
  (X55[89][AH]) denote different pieces of hardware?

- does the CD-ROM drive work on the 4/390?  A press release dated May 15
  says "The SunCD drive is available for all SPARCstations and
  SPARCservers", and the 4.1 CD-ROM includes directions for how to boot the
  4/390, but our sales rep looked into it and says the 4/390 isn't
  supported, quoting someone who said "Unfortunately, there are significant
  issues here that don't allow us to make any commitments at this time."

The 4/330 and the 4/390 use identical cpu boards, therefore have the same
scsi host interfaces, however 4.1 and 4.1PSRA have slightly different scsi
and sr drivers.  I'd like to know if there are real incompatibilities or
if Sun just doesn't want to support a white elephant like the 4/390.

	Mark Plotnick
	mp at allegra.att.com