Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!clyde!att!osu-cis!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!rutgers!deimos!uxc!uxc.cso.uiuc.edu!kailand!pwolfe
From: pwolfe@kailand.KAI.COM
Newsgroups: comp.sys.sequent
Subject: 2 Gb cartridge tape drive
Message-ID: <2400029@kailand>
Date: 4 Dec 88 18:57:00 GMT
Lines: 24
Nf-ID: #N:kailand:2400029:000:1116
Nf-From: kailand.KAI.COM!pwolfe    Dec  4 12:57:00 1988


I've recently received information about the EXABYTE EXB-8200 8mm cartridge
tape subsystem, with which one may store up to 2 Gigabytes (2,000 Megabytes)
on a single tape cartridge.  Sounds very attractive for running unattended
overnight backups.

It includes an integrated SCSI controller and formatter, onboard error
recovery, and 256 Kb buffer.  The SCSI interface meets the ANSI X3.131-1986
specification.

National Peripherals sells the EXB-8200 for about $4,000, including cables
and desktop cabinet (it's a 5-1/4" form factor - maybe this fit inside the
Sequent system cabinets?).  This device is supposed to work with Sun
workstations, so I assume device driver software already exists somewhere.

Actually, I was wondering if any gurus out there could tell me:
	- how difficult is device driver software to work on?
	- can anybody relate any experiance with this particular device?
	- is Sequent's SCSI (ANSI X3.T9.2) capable of supporting this drive?
	- do you have any info on connecting SCSI peripherals to Sequents?


Patrick Wolfe  (pat@kai.com, kailand!pat)
System Manager, Kuck and Associates, Inc.