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HP OpenVMS Systemsask the wizard |
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The Question is: I hooked up an Iomega Jaz 1GB disk which is correctly recognized under $ show dev d as a node$DKB400 device (the type is "iomega jaz 1GB" and the number of 512 blocks seems about right). However, when I try to initialize the disk (this is a hard disk not a tape) it gives error msg MEDIUM OFFLINE After succesful allocation of DKB400 the command $ show dev/full dkb400 shows that the device is allocated, online... and other positive statements which imply (to me anyway) that this device is properly being recognized. It's just that when I try to actually USE the disk, that I get the MEDIUM OFFLINE announcement. In the JAZ documentation it says that this particular disk must be FORMATTED. Without OpenVMS "INIT" command I don't know how to do this. The JAZ DOC gives a hint however: You must perform a low-level (surface verify) format on this disk. (SCSI command 04h) So my question to you is (should you choose to accept it) HOW DO I PERFORM THE SCSI COMMAND 04h UNDER OpenVMS? I've been searching the VMS websites for a place where I can ask the simple question --- how do I execute SCSI commands under VMS, but still haven't found the right place to ask it. I hope you have time to answer my question. Thank you very much for your time and consideration DHB The Answer is : Please contact the folks that support the particular Iomega drive for assistance. If you do not have a vendor that you can contact, please contact your local Compaq Services (formerly Digital Services) office for assistance. SCSI is not a standardized interface, rather, it is a collection of optionally-implemented standardized features. Each SCSI host contains non-trivial SCSI driver software, and each SCSI device contains equally non-trivial firmware -- taken together with the mechanical and electronic compoents, this software and firmware will communicate storage-related requests using the SCSI protocol. Hosts and devices have various optionally-implemented features, and both also implement vendor-specific protocol extensions for operations outside those explicitly specified in the SCSI protocol. Integration and testing work is mandatory with each new SCSI device, and there can be no certainty that any particular SCSI device will operate as expected in any particular configuration without first performing this work. OpenVMS uses the INITIALIZE command to establish a file structure on a volume. A low-level format involving direct SCSI commands would involve sending a particular set of SCSI requests directly to the device via the GKDRIVER (see the I/O User's Reference Manual), or obtaining a tool that sends these requests for you. OpenVMS Alpha V7.1 is rather better about dealing with an Iomega Jaz drive -- the Wizard has seen reports of folks having problems with Jaz drives and V6.2, and reporting no problems with the same drive and the same system running V7.1.
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