Also, I understand that HP's DLT4000 driver in 5.5 is less robust than
the C1520B DDS driver we currently use for our DLTs on 5.0.  For
example, fast search is not supported - a big deficiency, if true!
Also, the drive must report a specific product ID - "HP DLT4000" or
"Quantum" (I haven't yet verified this with HP).  This puts a burden on
those who could save considerable $$$$ by purchasing drives from other
vendors.  I understand that a unit's firmware could be programmed to
report any product ID desired, but what a hassle!

We use both DEC TZ-88's (from Orbit) and CoComp DLT4000's configured as
HPC1520B DDS devices on our HP3000 systems.  If the above limitations
I've seen are true, I'll have no desire to switch to HP's DLT driver
when we go to 5.5, just to lose functionality.

Lee Gunter          [log in to unmask]
HMO Oregon


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: [HP3000-L] Re[2]: DLT 4000 support
Author:  Mark Klein <[log in to unmask]> at ~INTERNET
Date:    1/26/97 12:02 PM


Greg Pearson wrote:
>
> I've installed MPE-iX 5.5 on our system and the accompanying power patch
> #1. In the documentation that I received with the power patch it states
> that the single-ended DLT 4000 drive is now supported. After the
> installation I checked in the "iodfault.pub.sys" file and it does have
> an entry for the DLT4000. After configuring an LDEV and connecting a DLT
> 4000 drive I tried a simple store to the drive and got an error stating
> the media was bad.

First off, heres a <plug alert>:

ORBiT's Backup+ has supported DLTs for quite some time. Visit
http://www.orbitsw.com for a whitepaper on DLT.

</plug alert>

HP is providing DLT support and is working with us to make sure that
support will be universal (thanks HP).

Turns out that I think there is a patch to the patch under construction
in the labs. I don't know if it is yet available as we just finished
beta testing the 5.0 version a week or so ago. Try contacting the RC and
see whether or not the DLT patch for 5.5 is now available.

Regards,


M.