[comp.unix.i386] multiple tape drives with ISC 386/i

neese@adaptex.UUCP (11/17/89)

>>Now that we have customers with 60 MB, 120 MB and 150 MB tape drives,
>>I am faced with a problem. We want to (1) WRITE 60 MB tapes (for software
>>distribution), (2) WRITE 150 MB tapes (for efficient backups), and
>>(3) READ everybody's tapes. 
>>The scenario I have in mind is to have an Archive VIPER SCSI
>>tape drive for (2) and (3), and a regular Wangtek 60 MB drive,
>>or an Archive 60 MB SCSI drive for (1).
>>Is there any reason why one of these configurations could not work?
>
>This should work.  The VIPER 150 can read both 150 and 60 MB tapes
>(I *have* tried this), but indeed only write the 150 MBs.  The dual
>config should work, especially if you use the wangtek or archive
>with its own controller, as this uses a different driver, different
>major device number, and different /dev entry names.  I can't vouch 
>for how running two SCSI tapes work, although theoretically that too
>should work, just as long as you assign different SCSI IDs.  Let
>us know what you find out.

About the only reason this wouldn't work would be the driver limitation.
After I read the original posting I hooked up my 4 SCSI tape drives to
a SCO XENIX 2.3GT system and no problems.  I don't have ISC here just yet
but when I get it here, I will study it carefully.  If any of you ISC folks
can find out the answer to this poster's question, please post so we call
all share.


			Roy Neese
			Adaptec Central Field Applications Engineer
			UUCP @ {texbell,attctc}!cpe!adaptex!neese
				merch!adaptex!neese