Conference ssag::ask_ssag

    Hi,
    
    Sorry, the StorageWorks should be BA356-KD instead of the BA350. The
    question is the support of the old TLZ04 in the BA356-KD.
    
    Thanks.
    
    Regards,
    Lee

    The TLZ04 is not supported in any StorageWorks enclosure.  It was
    end-of-life well before StorageWorks was even dreamed of.
    
    Besides, due to quirks in the SCSI implementation, and changes in the
    O/S's SCSI drivers, it is unlikely to work on an Alpha platform at all.
    It's not supported. 
    
    Chris
    

    Well I used to use a TLZ04-DA (tabletop model) on a DEC 3000 Model 400 
    running Digital UNIX.  It worked just fine for what I did.
    
    				-John

    Given the increased pickyness of the drivers to SCSI "issues", I'm not
    sure it would work on current versions of the O/S.... YMMV.
    We're certainly not testing it anymore.
    
    CHris
    

You may not be testing it, but we (Digital UNIX) still
support it.  We call it H/W investment protection.  Once
you buy the H/W, it will continue to work even with newer
versions of the O/S.

We can't force customers to go out and buy new H/W every
few years just because we've made something new.

Don't forget if you do try to use an old TLZ04, they account
for 1 meter of bus cable length all by themselves!  This
can be a real problem in some configurations.  You should
really consider the newer H/W (BA356, TLZ07/9, etc...).

	Fred

    re: .0
    
    Yes the RZ29B can be used in the BA356-KD.  It can also be used in the
    BA350-KB provided that the BA350 has been upgraded with dual speed
    blowers and "air recirculation blocking foam."  The blowers and the
    foam ARE the BA35X-MJ kit.  (There are other requirements for cabinet
    mounting.)
    
    RZ29B's are NOT supported in the BA353.
    
    				Bill

    Great! Glad to hear someone still is doing this.
    
    No argument with investment protection. We know there are configs where
    it won't work, however, and there's no way to get code updates from
    the vendor (mainly OVMS Alpha sync negotiation issues, if I remember
    correctly).
    
    Chris
    

    I have a tlz04 at home on a 3000-300lx. Works ok, so long as I use
    60m media (it can't handle 90m or longer). This is with VMS 7.1,
    and btw the scsi drivers were gone over to try to make them much
    LESS picky about scsi variations for 7.1 ovms.
    

    Good to hear. There was at least one version where the '04 had
    problems.
    
    Chris
    

    Hi there,
    
    Anyone has DEC 3000/300X with external BA356-KD with BA35X-MG connected 
    to PMAZB-AA? Is this configuration supported/worked?
    
    Thanks.
    
    Regards,
    Lee 

    Hello there,
    
    I need to re-phrase my question in .0 & .1.
    
    What is a better solution to recommend for a customer with 3 DEC 3000
    Model 300X who requires to add additional disks and tape drive. All the
    3 systems have one unused SCSI port, PMAZB-AA.
    
    Solution 1 (with old SW box which were tested/certified for these old
    systems)
    
    	- 3 x BA350-SA
    	- 3 X BA35X-VA
    	- 3 X BA35X-HA
    	- 3 X TLZ07-VA
    	- 4 X RZ28B-VA
    	- POWER CORDS & SCSI CABLES
    
    
    SOLUTION 2 (With limited expansion with the SW box)
    
    	- 3 x BA353-AA
    	- 3 X TLZ06-VA
    	- 4 X RZ28B-VA (1 each for 2 x BA353 and 2 for the 3rd BA353)
    	- Power cords and SCSI cables.
    
    
    Solution 3 ( with new 16-bit SW uncertified/untested with the old
    system)
    
    	- 3 x BA356-SC
    	- 3 X BA35X-MG
    	- 3 X BA35X-VA
    	- 3 X BA35X-MD
    	- 4 X RZ28B-VA
    	- Power cords & SCSI cables
    	- Which is the supported SCSI controller card for the DEC
    	  3000/300x?
    	- Can the PMAZB-AA, dual-SCSI TURBOchannel card, be used in this
    	  configuration (not FWD)??
    
    This third option will give the customer more option for future since
    they have other Alpha boxes around. If they decide to phase out the DEC
    3000/300x in future, the BA356 boxes can be used for the newer alpha
    boxes.
    
    Thanks for any info, pointer, suggestions or comments.
    
    Regards,
    Lee 

The BA356 with the BA35X-MG will work fine on the PMAZB
adapter of the DEC3000.  They could even put wide disks
in the BA356.  They would be used in narrow mode until
the update to a new system/adapter.

I did some limited testing of this configuration a long
time ago when the BA356 first came out.

It depends on how long they think they will stay with the
current config, or how soon they will upgrade as compared
with how much they want to spend right now to get this
expansion space.

	Fred Knight
	Digital UNIX

    Thanks Fred for you reply.
    
    Does the same config, BA356 with BA35x-MG, works on OpenVMS environment
    too? 
    
    Thanks.
    
    Regards,
    Lai Chan