Many thanks for the following replies:
Original Question:
I have a TK50 Tape Drive that I would like to move from an old
DECStation 5000 workstation running Ultrix 4.4 to an Alpha 2100 server
running DU 4.0b with a TZ 875 DLT tape system. Can I chain the TK50 tape
drive to the TZ 875 DLT and will the Alpha recognize it ?
From: Dr. Tom Blinn
If it's got a SCSI interface, then it will probably work. If it's got
an interface that's not SCSI, you're probably
out of luck.
From: Alan Rollow
The TK50 is not listed as a supported device in the V4.0B Software
Product Description. For what it is worth, the TZ30 is, and it is a close
relative of the TK50. The TK50 predates the SCSI-2 standard by a few
years. I would keep the cables short and use an active terminator. I'd
test it extensively when the system was relatively idle, by itself and
under a relatively heavy load with the other drive. If I had a spare
KZPAA, I'd isolate it to its own bus, so it can't hurt anything else if it
goes berserk.
From: Paul Thompson
If it's really a TZ50 (or TZ30) drive you can probably chain it. If
it is really a TK50 drive then it is a TMSCP drive and you can't.
From: Chris Ruhnke
If you truly have a TK50 (with emphasis on the "K"), you can't do
anything with it as this is not a SCSI device. If instead you have a TZ50
(emphasis on the "Z" this time), then you have a SCSI drive and should be
able to daisy-chain with your DLT. Just be sure you don't have duplicate
SCSI ID's set -- remember the jukebox has IDs for the robot and each tape
drive. I haven't tried connecting a TZ50 on my systems but it can't hurt
to try.
From: Peter Stern
I have a TK50 Tape Drive that I moved from a VAX system to our Alpha
3000/800 several years ago. It is chained to an external disk (also moved
from the VAX) connected to an external SCSI port. So it should work. You
probably need to run /dev/MAKEDEV to make the special files for tz?, but I
don't remember the details or if this is still necessary for DU 4.0+.
Thanks for the good advice, I checked my TK50 drive further and found it
is a TK50Z-GA and I believe it has a SCSI interface. I will try
connecting it up at my first opportunity.
Received on Fri Oct 16 1998 - 14:59:44 NZDT