[comp.sys.hp] 7970E tape drive on hp9000s300 under HP-UX 7.0

barrett@undeed.uucp (Alan P. Barrett) (10/19/90)

We have an HP 7970E nine track tape drive which has worked well on
several HP systems over the years.  Our current system is an HP-9000
series 300.  We recently upgraded to HP-UX release 7.0, and find that
the 7970 drive is no longer supported.

Does anybody know how if there is any way we can solve this problem?  We
don't want to have to buy another tape drive.

Thanks,
--apb
Alan Barrett, Dept. of Electronic Eng., Univ. of Natal, Durban, South Africa
Internet: Barrett.UNDEE@f4.n494.z5.fidonet.org      UniNet-ZA: Barrett@UNDEE
Real Soon Now: Barrett@EE.UND.AC.ZA    PSI-Mail: PSI%(6550)13601353::BARRETT

rjn@hpfcso.HP.COM (Bob Niland) (10/21/90)

re: > Our current system is an HP-9000 series 300.  We recently upgraded to
    > HP-UX release 7.0, and find that the 7970 drive is no longer
    > supported.

Do you mean:
 "It works, but HP doesn't support it."
or
 "It doesn't work."

We have never officially supported it on the 300 (or 400) because the 7970E
was designed and built before FCC Part 15 Subpart J, and it won't pass RFI
tests.

Last time I tried one on a 300, it worked.  What is your configuration?
  - SPU model number
  - If a 320, do you have DMA (98620B)
  - What HP-IB interface?
  - If a 98625A, what select code, interrupt level, and what other
    interfaces are present.
  - Kernel config - what is in "dfile"
  - Device file, inclduing minor bits.
  - What else is on the bus with the 7970E?

To my knowledge, nothing was done in 7.0 to break the 7970/7971 code.
Early models of the 7970E may not have an on-board controller compatible
with the Series 300 driver.  I do not know if upgrades are still available.

Regards,                                              Hewlett-Packard
Bob Niland      Internet: rjn@hpfcrjn.FC.HP.COM       3404 East Harmony Road
                UUCP: [hplabs|hpfcse]!hpfcrjn!rjn     Ft Collins CO 80525-9599