[comp.os.vms] What's in new ROM for VS3100?

bolson@milton.u.washington.edu (Ed Bolson) (01/23/91)

While perusing the DEC Electronic Store, I discovered that DEC's TLZ04 DAT
drive comes with a "system ROM" for the VAXStation 3100.  The model number
is different for the Model 30 and the Model 38.  Does anyone know what
this ROM is for (I assume it is something to do with SCSI bus handling, but
might just have a built in hardware test for the TLZ04)?  Is it and should it
be available as an FCO/ECO?  I have already inquired of my DEC rep, but often 
(usually) the network is faster!

The reason for my concern is that, even at VMS version 5.4-1, my WangDAT 1300
DAT drive doesn't perform as other tell me their drives do.  For instance,
after MOUNT/FOREIGN MKB500:, I do a "SET MAG/SKIP=END_OF_TAPE MKB500:".
The drive skips to the end of a half full tape, all right, but it takes an hour!
This does not seem to be proper behavior.

Ed Bolson
bolson@u.washington.edu