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From: jbs@mit-eddie.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.periphs,net.wanted
Subject: Need Help with Cipher Microsteamer
Message-ID: <1206@mit-eddie.MIT.EDU>
Date: Thu, 6-Mar-86 23:48:26 EST
Article-I.D.: mit-eddi.1206
Posted: Thu Mar  6 23:48:26 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 9-Mar-86 08:41:56 EST
Reply-To: jbs@eddie.UUCP (Jeff Siegal)
Followup-To: net.periphs
Distribution: net
Organization: MIT EECS Dept.
Lines: 25
Xref: watmath net.periphs:1002 net.wanted:8353

References:

I recently posted a request to net.unix-wizards about running a
Cipher 880 (1600 bpi) tape drive on a Unix (4.3 BSD) VAX-11/750.

The basic problem was that it is a streaming drive and if it doesn't
get data fast enough, it goes into something Cipher calls start-stop
emulation mode.  When this happens, the drive constantly stops,
repositions, and continues writing.  The performance in this mode is
horrible.

Well, I've gotten lots of information about how to keep the tape drive
in streaming mode (I'll post a summary to net.unix-wizards soon).

The Cipher documentation indicates that the drive can operate at 25
ips and 100 ips.  I don't see anywhere how one configures the drive to
run at the higher speed.  Now it is running (and streaming) at what
appears to be 25 ips.  How can I get it to go into 100 ips mode?  Is
this, like the start-stop mode, automatic (i.e. I get Unix to spit out
data even faster and the drive starts spinning faster) or is there
something I must do to the drive and/or controller?

Thanks for any information or suggestions.

BTW, is Cipher Data Products on the net?

Jeff Siegal - MIT EECS