*BSD News Article 91386


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From: ai@shell. (ai)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.sun.hardware,comp.sys.sun.misc,comp.sys.sun.wanted,comp.sys.sun.hardware,comp.unix.bsd.misc,comp.unix.solaris,comp.unix.misc,comp.unix.questions
Subject: _____HELP: "no tape loaded" error on DAT drive + SunOS 4.1.3_____
Date: 19 Mar 1997 01:09:42 GMT
Organization: West Coast Online's News Server - Not responsible for content
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Message-ID: <5gnecm$rjo$1@news.wco.com>
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Hello,

We are trying to connect and use an external DAT drive
(HP35480A mechanism, Centronics 50-pin connector) to a 
SunSPARCstation 2 running SunOS 4.1.3 .

On bootup, the Sun says it recognizes the DAT drive OK.

But when we try a:

        mt -f /dev/rst0 rewind

or:

        tar cvf /dev/rst0 files....

command, the machine comes back with the error message:

        /dev/rst0 : no tape loaded or drive offline

1. Why are we getting this message and how do we fix 
   any possible problems?

NOTE: the above error message occurs whether a DAT tape 
(90 meter DDS 4mm DAT tape) is loaded into the drive or not.

ALSO: the drive and tapes work FINE on a SPARCstation 20
running Solaris 2.5 .

2. Does anything in the SPARC 2 kernel need to be modified
   in order to work with the DAT?  (or maybe some internal
   settings on the HP35480A?)

3. We have an older, now not-working HP35480A drive (different
   enclosure and with a DIP switch bank for compression
   options). This older HP35480A worked FINE with the
   SPARC 2 running SunOS 4.1.3 .  Wierd.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions/recommendations
to:

   ai@wco.com