Re: More RamFAST (this time re tapes)

[billh@lsid.hp.com (Bill Harris)]

Rubywand (rubywand@swbell.net) wrote:
: Bill Harris writes ...

Thanks for the feedback (to both of you, so far).

:      RamFAST has a Backup function you can get to via Ramfast.system.

Did that.

:      You need to have the "HD Backup" option under the [O]ptions menu
: set to "No" in order to use tape (instead of something like a Zip Drive)
: for backup. Then, you can select [B]ackup from the main menu bar.

Did that.

:      Regarding the SCSI device number setting, 3 may be fine on a
: RamFAST. A couple years ago, Phil Abel responded to a similar question
: and said that, for his particular interface and drive, setting the tape
: at SCSI device 0 seemed to work best.

It appears as if the tape device number is set internally, while I can
modify the disk number externally, so that's why I did what I did.  If
anyone knows that device 0 is required for the tape, I'd see about changing
it (it's a borrowed unit).

:      Probably, you would want to remove any Apple drivers named "SCSI
: ..." from the DRIVERS/ folder to eliminate possible conflicts with the
: Ramfast driver.  

Pretty sure I did that _long_ ago when I first got the RamFAST.

:      Since you are just dumping a volume to tape, there is no obvious
: need for pre-formatting; but, I do not know whether or not such a tape
: needs to be pre-formatted or whether this may depend upon a particular
: SCSCI tape drive.
:  

Me, too.

As I responded in email to Reade, I read the manual (twice) and searched
the pertinent parts of the on-line manual (as well as searching it for
'tape', 'backup' and other likely terms).  

I saw his recommendation of GSTape, but I also saw that the on-line manual
implied that software was no longer available.  In addition, I didn't want
to spend the money for a one or two time use; I'm hoping to fix or replace
my floppy drive soon, and I can't be guaranteed future access to the DAT
drive. 

Thanks again to all (and any more ideas are still welcome).  The best ideas
so far seem to be to check the ROM revision and to try putting the DAT
drive at device 0 (although that seems like a bit of a stretch).  I just
didn't have time last night to try any of them.

Bill

PS:  I've also put in an email query to Sequential Systems, so I'll see if
they respond.

--
Bill Harris                             Hewlett-Packard Co. 
R&D Engineering Processes               Lake Stevens Division 
domain: billh@lsid.hp.com               M/S 330
phone: (425) 335-2200                   8600 Soper Hill Road
fax: (425) 335-2828                     Everett, WA 98205-1298