[comp.sys.hp] Driver for 7970E tape drive on 825

congdon@gargoyle.UChicago.EDU (Richard Congdon) (12/01/87)

I hope someone out there in HP land can help me with this.

We got an 825 a month ago. When we ordered it, we were promised
by three different people in HP that our 7970E tape drive would
work with it. Guess what? It doesn't. Therefore, I feel justified
in pushing HP to provide the necessary driver (which I believe
must exist, since a header file for it comes with the system).
However, My sales rep seems unable to find anyone that knows where
the beast might be. Could someone give me a name and phone # that
I could have him contact you at? 

			Richard Congdon
			Dept. of Education, Univ. of Chicago
			...ihnp4!gargoyle!paideia!{richard,root}
			(312) 702-9453
-- 
			Richard Congdon
			Dept. of Education, Univ. of Chicago
			...ihnp4!gargoyle!paideia!{richard,root}
			(312) 702-9453

magnum@cup.portal.com (12/02/87)

I have some contacts regarding the HP series. Off the top of my head,
I beleive that that is the new "firefox" system employing RISC
architecture. Since the 7970E has been officially obsolete for some time
now (though it is still supported on service contracts), I doubt there
is any incentive to provide that driver, but I will look into it for you.

Mike Ryan

jack@csccat.UUCP (Jack Hudler) (12/02/87)

Here may be the answer to your question. This is take from the
Configuration reference manual HP # 98561-90020 Page A-230

			7970 Tape Drives

No 7970 tape drives are supported on HP9000 systems, although it is posiable
to convert some 7970E drives to support 7971A configuation.
Here is a summary of the situation:

o  7970a/b/c - requires a unique 16 bit interface,cable,driver. None is
   available on any HP9000 system. { This doesn't apply to you }

o  7970E - Any 45 ips HP-IB master drive with current interface electronics
   is supported i mounted in a 26078A cabinet (available for this purpose).
   This combination is a 7971A. Older 7970E's and those without HP-IB 
   interfacing may be upgraded to a current HP-IB master configuation
   with a 26072A kit.  { rather obscure.. wouldn't you say }

o  If you have a 7970E and prefer to upgrade to a newer device, trade-in
   credits are available. { snicker snicker } You can in one 7970E 
   ( "ordered" as a 7970EN ) for a 7974A, or you can trade in one or two
   7970ENs for a 7978A.

   ---------
   Hope this helps. At least you have something to reference to HP in 
   your discussion (i.e. screaming). (* grin *)

					Jack Hudler

-- 
See above 	 (214)661-8960

jerrys@hpuinda.HP.COM (Jerry Schurr) (12/02/87)

  Have your Sales Rep. contact his local SE and have him
give me a call.

Jerry Schurr/ HP- Indianapolis
hpfcse!hpuinda!jerrys

rjn@hpfcmp.UUCP (12/05/87)

re: "Here may be the answer to your question. This is take from the
     Configuration reference manual HP # 98561-90020 Page A-230"

<...text deleted...>

I wrote that section of the Series 300 Configuration Ref. Manual.
				   ^^^

That information does not apply to the Series 800, except insofar as to
describe how to upgrade a 7970E into a 7971A.  The situation on the Series
800 is not a matter of drive electronics.  It is a question of software
driver availability.

Prior to release of HP-UX 1.0 on the Model 840, there was a 'tape0' driver
in the system.  It was apparently seldom used within our labs, and never
fully QA'd, since most people were using the 'tape1' driver with the 7974A
and 7978A/B.  'tape0' was removed from HP-UX prior to first customer
shipments.

'tape0' may or may not be available as unsupported software through your
local SE.  Even if available, 'tape0' may not be fully forward compatible
with all HP-UX releases.  Disclaimer:  I do not have a copy of 'tape0',
indeed, I have never personally seen it.  Furthermore, it was written at
a different site (somewhere in California).

Regards,                                              Hewlett-Packard
Bob "keeper of the legends" Niland                    3404 East Harmony Road
[ihnp4|hplabs]!hpfcla!rjn                             Fort Collins CO  80525

carolyn@hpcupt1.HP.COM (Carolyn Sims) (12/07/87)

   The driver for the 7970E tape drive may be obtained
   through the INTEREX users group. The contact is:
     
     Jack McAlister
     INTEREX
     680 Almanor Ave.
     Sunnyvale, CA 94086
     (408) 738-4848

   Carolyn Sims					   Hewlett-Packard
   "unofficial keeper of unsupported 800 stuff"	   19447 Pruneridge
   hplabs!hpda!carolyn                   	   Cupertino, CA 95014