[Info-vax] Disk offline message when trying to mount

[Rich Jordan]

On Feb 9, 9:27 am, tadamsmar <tadams... at yahoo.com> wrote:
> On Feb 9, 10:25 am, tadamsmar <tadams... at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > I have a DS10 running VMS 7.3-2
>
> > I was trying out a used disk I bought.
>
> > It's recognized as DKA100 after boot, but I get a disk offline message
> > when I do MOUNT/FOR DKA100
>
> > Any ideas?  I tried adding a jumper to enable auto spin, did not work
>
> > There are jumper locations for "force se","ti sync nego","disable unit
> > attn", all are open now.
>
> It's an IBM Ultrastar disk  ultra3 scsi drive model DDYS-T09170

Which SCSI controller are you using?

My info shows that drive as having an SCA connector.  If you are using
an SCA to 68 pin adapter to connect to the cable in your box, are you
certain the adapter is ok?  Does it have jumpers on it, and if so what
do they control besides device ID and apparently spinup?  Is there a
SYNCH/ASYNCH jumper and how is it set?  Is there an LVD/SE jumper?  Is
it rated for the speed of your adapter (the drive is apparently a
U160)?

My DS10L has a KZPEA adapter (U160).  I have several IBM drives that
have worked in it using a generic U160 rated SCA to 68 pin adapter;
its currently running an internal IBM Eserver 24P3763 18.2GB 10KRPM
U160 SCA disk very reliably.

However I tried both 36GB and 73GB 2.5" Seagate U320 drives that were
discussed here late last year and none of them would come online when
connected via the 68-SCA adapter.  They worked just fine when I
plugged them into my SuperMicro removable disk cage which was plugged
into the second external port of the KZPEA; all recognized, mountable,
usable.

My suspicions rest on the 68 pin to SCA adapters, but if you have an
alternate means of plugging that drive into your SCSI bus to test, it
might be worth a try.