kensmith@CS.BUFFALO.EDU (Ken Smith) (11/10/87)
Does anybody have a vdformat that works with the 515M CDC drives?
We're running a Sperry 7000. The local service office has decided
to replace a dead 340M drive with a 515M drive to see if it lasts
longer. Our version of vdformat that came with 4.3 died while trying
to format and the version we have from Sperry doesn't know about the
515M drives. Thanks in advance...
Ken Smith
internet: kensmith@cs.buffalo.edu bitnet: kensmith@sunybcs.BITNET
uucp: ..!{ames,boulder,decvax,rutgers}!sunybcs!kensmithjohn@leo.UUCP ( John McCurry) (11/12/87)
In article <8711101503.AA17279@joey.cs.Buffalo.EDU>, kensmith@CS.BUFFALO.EDU (Ken Smith) writes: > > Does anybody have a vdformat that works with the 515M CDC drives? I asked around and got the following information: The rev 3.5 vdformat tape will work with all of the drive types including the 515. This version comes with CCI's System V release but we use it on our Berekely systems too (it's standalone). There is a known problem with it so our tech-support people asked me to pass this along too: ----------------------- There is a problem with the 3.5 vdformat program. The 3.5 vdformat program was included in the 2.21 release. This problem does not effect system performance at the UNIX or application level. The problem only shows up when running PITS after doing a verify of a 3.5 vdformated Maxtor 380 MB drive. When executing the verify option, of vdformat, the program zero's out the pointer, in the ID block, to the address of the maintance cylinder that PITS uses to test the drive. Then when you run the disk subsystem test of PITS the diagnostics will fail with the following error message: Cannot identify drive(s) The program then returns you to the main PITS menu. If you have a drive that experiences this problem you can rewrite the ID block by using the Correct option in vdformat. The procedure is as follows: 1. Boot vdformat and when the operation prompt appears type: "Correct". When the operation prompt comes back type "start". 2. You should now have the location prompt. Type "ID" and answer the questions. Type "start", it is now re-writing the ID block. This problem will be fixed in the patch release 2.21.03 which will be released in 2 months. ----------------------- Ken, and any others in the same boat, I hope that this is of some help. Please let us know - e-mail, telepathy, whatever - if you have any problems getting the tape or if you have problems using it. <standard disclaimer stuff> John (714)458-7282 -- "Juglito ergo sum." - the Flying Karamozov Brothers John J. McCurry uunet!ccicpg!leo!john Computer Consoles Inc. CPD, Irvine, Ca.