Re: IIgs and Syquest removable drives

[dempson@swell.actrix.gen.nz (David Empson)]

In article <1993Jul19.045523.6392@news.weeg.uiowa.edu>, rcuevas@news.weeg.uiowa.edu (Ramon 'Jammin' Cuevas) writes:
>  
> As I understand it, the hardware responsible for reading Syquest (and
> compatible) removable hard-drive cartridges are SCSI compatible. Theoretically
> therefore, they should be able to work fine with an Apple IIgs equipped with
> some sort of SCSI card. The question I have is this: would the cartridge
> have to remain online _all the time_, or is one able to drag the hard drive
> icon to the trash, thereby ejecting the cartridge. I'd especially be
> interested in hearing opinions from people that already have a Syquest/
> compatible removable hard drive equipped to their Apple - thanks!

I think the eject capability depends on the firwmare in the SyQuest
drive.  My drive (about two or three years old) doesn't even eject
from a Macintosh, using the device driver supplied with the drive!

I have seen newer SyQuest drives ejecting properly on the Mac (at
least, "spinning down").  I've also tried manually sending the "Shut
down drive" SCSI command to my SyQuest, and it ignores it.  I haven't
tried a newer drive on the IIgs, so I don't know if the Apple drivers
are sending the correct eject command (it may use a custom command
rather than the standard one).

The SCSI drivers in Systems 5 and 6 certainly recognise the SyQuest as
a removable device - you wouldn't be able to drag the icon into the
trash can if they didn't, and Finder keeps polling the drive to see if
you've ejected it yet.
-- 
David Empson                                                               
dempson@swell.actrix.gen.nz                                                
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand