Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!ncar!noao!amethyst!mat
From: mat@zeus.opt-sci.arizona.edu (Mat Watson)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next
Subject: Answer to External MO Disk Drive question.
Message-ID: <MAT.91Jun28063750@zeus.math.arizona.edu>
Date: 28 Jun 91 13:37:50 GMT
Organization: University of Arizona Optical Sciences Center
Lines: 36


I have finally gotten what I consider to be an authoritative
answer on the 3rd party optical disk question.

First the question:
   Can I use a 3rd party SCSI optical drive on my NeXTstation?

Then the answer:
   Yes.

Another person I've talked to at NeXT (who impressed me as knowing
what he was talking about) has obtained and installed a Canon 512MB
external SCSI OD on his NeXT.  He told me the insallation process he
went through:

1. Connect the OD to the SCSI port using shielded (like Sun, unlike
   Mac) SCSI cables.
2. Boot the computer.
3. When you insert an unformatted optical disk into the Canon
   drive, an allert panel will pop up offering to initialize
   the disk.  Answer yes.

Done!

Important note: THE EXTERNAL CANON DRIVE IS UNABLE TO READ DISKS
WRITTEN WITH THE INTERAL CANON DRIVE FOUND ON THE CUBES.  THIS
INCLUDES SOFTWARE RELEASED BY NEXT ON MAGNETO-OPTICAL DISKS.  The low
level format for the internal disk is different than that used by the
newer external SCSI drives even though the optical drive unit itself
is essentially the same.


I hope this clears up any confusion people (like me) had about
being able to use 3rd party MO drives on their NeXTstations.

--Mat    mat@zeus.opt-sci.arizona.edu