Hehehe, I just encountered that very problem and we discovered that it was
because I am not using the accelerator card. My FDC (Fixed Disk
Controller) needs to run at a minimum of 1000KBits/s. Unfortunately it
only runs at 500KBits/s.
The best way to discover for sure that this is what is happening to you is
to look in your /var/log/messages file (do a tail -f on it while you
access the drive). Remove the modules from memory (rmmod zftape and rmmod
zftape) and put them back into memory (modprobe zftape, modprobe ftape).
Now with the "tail -f /var/log/messages" in one window, open up another
window and issue the following command:
mt -f /dev/qft0 status
You should see the tape drive light up, a bunch of messages scroll in the
/var/log/messages window and an error message print out below your
command. Look in the new messages in the /var/log/messages window and you
should see error messages talking about not being able to make a rate
change.
The solution is to install the "Ditto Dash Tape Accelerator" card.
Unfortunately this card is no longer made by iOmega. The good news is that
it has been re-introduced for a short time probably due to popular demand.
Your best bet would be to call iOmega and ask them where you might be able
to purchase one. I looked all over and no one had them in stock. One
woman said that she has people waiting months at a time for these things.
iOmega was able to help me out right away in terms of locating me a card.
I warn you though, they run about $60.
All is not lost though. Apparently, there are some arguments you can give
ftape that will force it to access at the 500Kbps rate, but unfortunately
you will only be able to fit half the data on the tape. I am told that the
"magical" arguments are in the documentation. I have not researched this
yet and probably wont because I don't need to since I have a card coming
in the mail.
Once I get the card I will post a listing of how it works out.
Good luck!
-Chuck
On Thu, 23 Sep 1999, Dave DeGan wrote:
> I am running linux ver 2.0.36 , When I try to access my Ditto Easy 3200 ftape
> the light on the unit goes on, but it does not write.
>
> ie.
> tar cvf /dev/ftape * <ret> (light on the tape unit blinks)
> tar: Cannot open /dev/ftape: Input/output error
> tar: Error is not recoverable: exiting now
>
> I am using a Travan-3 tape cartridge
>
> Any help will be greatly appreciated
>
>
> - Dave
>
>
