On Dec 21, 1999 at 09:30:29 -0700, Tim Jones twiddled the keys to say:
> Jarmo Paavilainen wrote:
>
> > ...
> > > For a Linux Professional, it is obvious that one must delete references to
> > > fdc INTERNAL, also delete references to TRAKKER if one has a Ditto
> > > External .
> >
> > I'm not a Linux professional, maybe that's why I agree completely. Linux
> > setup is hard, sometimes very hard. And the HowTos, when found, are cryptic
> > and hard to understand. And mostly not up-to-date.
>
> This is what we're trying to do with the LinuxTapeCert.org website. I
> hope you are all visiting and providing feedback.
Thanks. It's a bit less cryptic than the MCONFIG file instructions.
> > What Linux community has to do is to make better howtos and readmes. Drop
> > the Windows wannabe attitude, and make good console software with good
> > howtos instead.
>
> If you're really interested here (and you ARE part of our community),
> document your experiences in a manner that can help others. We'll be
> most pleased to post them on the website. I even have our tech writer
> ready to assist with things like grammar and spelling, so you don't have
> to be another "Tom Clancy" to get published <GRIN>!
I had actually tired of all of the Ditto posts to the point where I was
about assume Juergen's former post as sole bearer of the flame after his
untimely demise. I gave up though as you came out with LinuxTapeCert
just about a week after I had thrown any effort into it. All I had in
mind was posting my current setup with thoughts from the list in a sort
of FAQ. You're doing a much better job than I could've, so keep up the
good work. ;-)
> > > A Question :-
> > >
> > > insmod ./ftape.o ft_fdc_driver=bpck-fdc,none,none,none
> > > ft_tracings=3,3,3,3,3
> > >
> > > I do not have "none,none,none"
> > >
> > > Is it important that I add NONE,NONE,NONE ?
>
> Yes, there are 4 slots that must be filled and the current design needs
> those. I don't know that leaving them out will cause damage, but it
> costs so little to put them in <grin>.
As I recall from reading many docs, you only need the first parameter as
long as you don't have to specify later parms. In other words, the
latter 'none' parms only serve as space-holders in the event you need to
specify an even later parm, which you don't in the case of the Ditto
because it will only run in the first slot anyways. (Again from memory.
I'm still running 1999_04_25.)
This is all from an insmod point of view though. I have no idea if ftape
proper requires the extras. Mine is working and I'm not about to change
anything after the three months it took to get it going.
Enough speculation though. I'd like to throw one tidbit in here if I
may. In the Ditto manual it says "Avoid low-quality printer cables and
do not exceed an overall cable length of 3 m". Take that as gospel. I was
using a 6 ft (evidently low grade) cable, then switched to the cable that
came in the box (the little two-footer) and the silly thing just worked
first time.
It's worked ever since about March, with an upgrade for the 2.2.x
kernels, but after Jeurgen's last post I'm wondering when I'll get
bitten the same way. Anybody out there have an alternate solution?
Preferably SCSI in the 10-20GB range, under $500, and of course Linux.
Rick Myers [EMAIL PROTECTED]
----------------------------------------------------
The Feynman Problem 1) Write down the problem.
Solving Algorithm 2) Think real hard.
3) Write down the answer.
