Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!uwvax!rutgers!ames!ucbcad!ucbvax!vax1.physics.oxford.ac.UK!MACALLSTR From: MACALLSTR@vax1.physics.oxford.ac.UK Newsgroups: comp.os.vms Subject: TA78/HSC50 controller drop-outs : does someone (DEC?) have a patch to fix? Message-ID: <8711270012.AA28491@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> Date: Thu, 26-Nov-87 19:13:04 EST Article-I.D.: ucbvax.8711270012.AA28491 Posted: Thu Nov 26 19:13:04 1987 Date-Received: Sun, 29-Nov-87 17:50:59 EST Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Organization: The ARPA Internet Lines: 19 We have a serious problem with our TA78 tape drives on an HSC50. I'm sending this message in the hope that someone else has experienced the problem and has or knows of a fix. We have a VAX8700 + HSC50 + TA78with four TU78 drives. Problem: high error rates from any one tape drive can cause the controller to drop out and become disconnected from the HSC50 - thus losing ALL the drives with disastrous results for the other processes using them! DEC (UK) tell me this is a known problem ( and has been for a long time ) and that a new version of HSC50 microcode will be released in about four months' time. I asked if we could have a patch ( as is usually possible with most DEC products when serious problems are encountered ) but was told by our Field Service branch that this would not be possible. I think that is not a satisfactory response to a problem that I am able to reproduce, has been known to DEC for some time and must be affecting many of DEC's customers. So... if anyone from DEC is listening PLEASE may I have a patch to fix this particular problem? !! Hopefully..., John