We have just upgraded the AspectStation/Hamiltonian on our DMX to
an SGI INDY. As you might expect, we are very pleased with the SGI.
In our never-ending quest to reduce costs, we wanted
to avoid the unreasonable cost of the "official" SGI DAT tape
drive (list price ~$2500). An attempt to use a WangDAT 3200HS was
unsuccessful: WangDAT Tech support was unable to provide any info
and my feeble attempts at hacking the /var/sysgen/master.d/scsi
file of the IRIX system kernel were unsuccessful.
I can report success with the Archive (Connor has bought them out)
Python model 4324NP (3.5" DDS-DC) DAT. This DAT can be found for
roughly $1000 at any of several 3rd party resellers. It isn't
exactly the same as the "official" SGI DAT: the SGI DAT is a special
firmware-modified model 4320 that Archive only sells to SGI that
allows you to record audio-format DAT from the CD or other media
on the SGI. If you can live without your INDY being able to dub
your Pearl Jam CD to DAT and only want to back up data and load
software, then the 4324NP is a viable option. The 4324NP will read
Bruker UXNMR tapes.
Installation instructions:
4324NP DIP Switches: 1-3 SCSI address (not needed if the enclosure
has an external SCSI switch), 4=ON (SCSI-2 mode), 5=OFF (disables
parity checking), 6=OFF (disable DDS pass-through mode), 7=OFF
(no function?), 8=OFF (disable power-on self test).
Power down SGI and all SCSI devices. Install DAT drive in the SCSI
chain and reboot according to normal procedures.
As superuser:
cd /dev
rm *tape
./MAKEDEV tape tapelinks
The DAT should now work normally.
While the 4324 does not support audio, I left the MTCAN_AUDIO option
in the /var/sysgen/master.d/scsi DAT entry and have not yet encountered
a problem.
As usual, all info here is for use at your own risk, my opinions
have nothing to do with those of my employer, we assume no
responsibility for the information, . . . etc, etc. but it
worked for me!
Best of Luck.
David Kinney
ARCO Chemical Company
3801 West Chester Pike
Newtown Square, PA 19073 USA
(610)359-3455 Voice
(610)359-5573 FAX
cvxdrk@arco.com EMail