I was having problems with an EXB-8900 and a DLT8000 connected to
an XP1000 (running Tru64 5.0A) via a KZPCA-AX. Essentially, the
drives were seen at the console prompt (">>>") with "show dev",
but SCSI errors were detected during the boot sequence, and the
OS never got to see the devices. I only got two answers from
the list.
alan_at_nabeth.cxo.dec.com suggested that I rent a SCSI analyzer to
get a trace of the whole boot sequence and determine which device
wasn't playing by the rules. This is a little bit over my head
and I didn't follow up on this.
Ib Koersner confirmed that he had the same problem using
different kinds of Exabyte drives, but none with DLTs. They
finally replaced the controller with an older KZPBA-CA and
have had no problems since.
I also talked to Matthew Chichester from Exabyte. He thought
that the error messages had to do with selection timeout and/or
parity error, adding "Basic bus problems as these are normally
the result of cabling, connector or termination problems."
So before downgrading from LVD to SE, I disconnected again all
SCSI cables and the terminator, visually inspected all connectors,
and reconnected the Exabyte by itself, being particularly careful
in obtaining well seated connections, properly screwed down.
It worked!
And it has continued to work for several days, going through the
restoration of several tapes. Yesterday, I added the Quantum
drive to the chain, and it also worked.
My apologies for having taken time asking a question that turned
out to have a trivial solution. The moral for me is that SCSI
LVD is trickier than SE: I would probably think it over twice
before paying the LVD premium, at least for tape drives.
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Received on Sat Oct 07 2000 - 00:03:13 NZDT