14 Jul
2020
14 Jul
'20
1:24 p.m.
-----Original Message-----
From: Ali <cctalk at ibm51xx.net>
Sent: 14 July 2020 20:22
To: 'Dave Wade' <dave.g4ugm at gmail.com>; 'General Discussion:
On-Topic
and Off-Topic Posts' <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
Subject: RE: Compaq Smart Array 3200 Controller as a SCSI Controller
there
Ali,
Its been a long time, but I think the answer is no. A tape is not a
disk and uses a different SCSI command set to a disk. For example you
can't rewind a disk.
I found a SmartArray 3200 manual here:-
http://index-of.es/Tutorials/Proliant%201600/SmartArray3200.pdf
and in the Q&A it says :-
Q. Does the Smart Array 3200 Controller support SCSI tape drives and
CD-ROM drives?
A. No; the Smart Array 3200 Controller only supports Wide-Ultra2
SCSI,Wide-Ultra SCSI-3, Fast-Wide SCSI-2, and Fast SCSI-2 hard drives.
So I would say not.
Dave,
RTFM - Read The Friggin Manual. :) That pretty much settles it. Thanks for
finding that bit of info. I am going to throw in an Adaptec controller in and call it done!
-Ali
Ali,
No probs! It has been a long time since I worked for Compaq, but I remember
having huge issues with mixing tapes and disks and RAID controller
compatibility.
We used to have a big spreadsheet that showed all the compatible
controllers/devices/operating systems, but even that failed us at times.
Oddly, my old Microchannel Cheetah RAID controller in my P390 supports tapes
and CD ROMS....
Dave