[comp.unix.questions] request for Storage Tex 1960 controller

robm@janus.Berkeley.EDU (Rob McNicholas) (09/13/90)

Hi,

We have a Storage Tex model 1960 tape drive hooked up to a MicroVax
II, running Ultrix 3.1.  We are using an Aviv TFC 935 controller.
This tape drive apparently emulates a DEC TS11 drive.  The TS11 only
supported one density, so MAKEDEV only makes one device, which writes
to the tape at whatever speed the user has selected via the front
panel of the drive.

We would like to be able to select density via software, optimally by
creating multiple devices (/dev/{n}rmt0l, /dev/{n}rmt0m, and
/dev/{n}rmt0h) which each access the tape drive at a different
density.

The manual for the controller says that is supports density selection
via software, but it is non-standard.  I called Aviv and they said
that I would need to write my own software.

Before I try to learn how to write a device driver, I thought I'd ask
to see if anyone has already done this.

Please respond via e-mail, as I do not usually read this newsgroup.

Thanks,

- Rob McNicholas
  Computer Systems Support Group, EECS
  U.C. Berkeley
  robm@janus.berkeley.edu
  415/642-8633