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From: jesup@cbmvax.commodore.com (Randell Jesup)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware
Subject: Re: GVP Tape Backup Unit
Message-ID: <19140@cbmvax.commodore.com>
Date: 20 Feb 91 05:46:22 GMT
References: <1484@richsun.cpg.trs.reuter.com> <1991Feb14.142917.9746@comspec.uucp>
Reply-To: jesup@cbmvax.commodore.com (Randell Jesup)
Organization: Commodore, West Chester, PA
Lines: 37

In article <1991Feb14.142917.9746@comspec.uucp> darrell@comspec.uucp (Darrell Grainger) writes:
>In article <1484@richsun.cpg.trs.reuter.com>, boi@richsun.cpg.trs.reuter.com (Ken Boi) writes:
>> I own a Xetec Fastrack hard drive controller board. I recently 
>> purchased a GVP 105Mb streamer tape backup unit. The tape unit
>> has been set up to plug into the SCSI extension port on my 
>> Xetec controller. Unfortunately, the GVP backup software does
>> not recognize the tape units existence. Now I am told (contrary
>> to the purchase statements) that the GVP tape unit will not
>> work with the Xetec controller, and that I should replace my 
>> controller with a GVP unit. I guess I am confused. Shouldn't 

> I have not looked at the RKM (ROM Kernal Manuals) for Libs & Devs recently
>but I do remember there are some SCSI routines listed. My guess would be that
>the routines provided by Commodore were deemed unsatisfactory (to slow or
>something) so the other companies formed their own method of using SCSI devices.

	There is a standard jointly developed by Commodore and the 3rd-
party hardware developers call "scsidirect".  All controllers adhering to
the scsidirect spec support a standard command allowing applications (like
tape backup software) to access the scsi bus.  (There is a separate spec
called "Rigid Disk Blocks" which defined how partitions, etc are to be
recognized.)  

	Most developers support scsidirect (or will).  I know that newer
GVP controllers do, Microbotics Hardframe does, etc.  If Xetec supports
scsidirect you can use any tape drive so long as your backup software
uses scsidirect.  I assume the GVP software does.  You will have to tell
the GVP software what the name of the driver is, though (check the manual
or check with GVP).  It's possible it doesn't use scsidirect (I hope not),
or that the driver name is hardcoded (once again I hope not).

-- 
Randell Jesup, Keeper of AmigaDos, Commodore Engineering.
{uunet|rutgers}!cbmvax!jesup, jesup@cbmvax.commodore.com  BIX: rjesup  
The compiler runs
Like a swift-flowing river
I wait in silence.  (From "The Zen of Programming")  ;-)