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From: pvr@wang.com (Peter Reilley)
Newsgroups: comp.periphs.scsi
Subject: Re: 9-TRACK SCSI TAPE DRIVES
Keywords: SCSI, 9-TRACK, TAPE
Message-ID: <b5vlsu.8j2@wang.com>
Date: 23 May 91 12:10:04 GMT
References: <1019@camco.Celestial.COM>
Organization: Wang Labs, Lowell MA, USA
Lines: 22

bill@camco.Celestial.COM (Bill Campbell) writes:

>I'm looking for 9-track 6250bpi tape drives with SCSI interface.
>Does anybody have any experience, recommendations?  We will be
>using this on either an Adaptec or Bustek SCSI controller with
>Chantal Paragon software (SCO UNIXV3.2v2).

	I have worked with Storage Tek 9914 9 track drive for a few years
now and have found that it is an excellent drive.   The model that
I have handles 6250, 3200, 1600, and 800 densities.   I have written 
a number of device drivers for this drive and have no problem recommending
it.
    There is a problem with the tape device driver in SCO UNIX 3.2.2
with variable block tapes.   When you read a tape you must specify the
exact block size.   If your read request is larger than the block size on
tape an error will be returned.   This is non-standard behavior for unix.
If you use tar, cpio, dd and specify the correct block size it will work.
If you don't know the block size then you will not be able to read the
tape.
-- 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Peter Reilley ..... pvr@wang.com <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
                     Well, that about says it.