19 Feb
2007
19 Feb
'07
3:29 p.m.
> NOTE: Most of the 9000/800 series boxes,
including the small ones (IE
F20),
Why that series particularly? Many older HP9000s have HPIB ports as
standard too.
Because it seems to be the easiest path to making practical use of the tape
drive. I'm not saying it can't be done your way, it's just a matter of
what's easiest and most practical (for the rest of us). For that matter, I
have read data off HPIB disks and tapes using a HPIB bus analyzer one byte
at a time. Sure it can be done but, it ain't for the faint of heart!
OK... Quick survey. How many people on the list own a HPIB bus analyzer and
have ever made "real" use of it?
So... Assuming you had a HPIB tape drive, 9816, and a PC. Exactly what steps
would be required to transfer data between the PC and 9-track?
I can tell you what's required to accomplish the same task with an
inexpensive, readily available, HPUX box.
1.) FTP the file from PC to HPUX box - Networking is included in the base
HPUX install.
2.) Copy the data to the TAPE drive - HPIB and TAPE drivers are also
included in the base install. Hmm... Question: Can a 9 track tape drive be
set up as a NFS mount? If so, skip step one ;-)
3.) Have a cold beer while Tony solders together a serial cable to link his
9816 to the PC.
4.) Have another beer while Tony writes (both ends) of a kermit-like program
to transfer the data.
NOTE: Surely the easiest way would be to find a 9-Track with SCSI interface
and hook it directly to the PC. Does Windows and/or Linux provide support
for the drives?
I'd gladly trade a spare 7980 HPIB drive for a SCSI one.
See ya, SteveRob