Compaq Smart Array 3200 Controller as a SCSI Controller

[Dave Wade]

> -----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
> 
> > 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
there
> 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