Tape drive/device driver problems on a Masscomp

[phaedrus at eneevax.UUCP]

We purchased a Storage Technology 2920 tape drive (from a company
called Aviv) and a Xylogics 472 tape controller from Masscomp for our
Masscomp 5500DP.  The problem is that when the device is accessed, via
cat, tar, dd, etc.  the tape drive takes itself off line and unloads
the tape (it is an auto-load drive).  This is quite frustrating, since
Masscomp claims the controller is fine and Aviv claims the drive is
fine.  The only thing left is the device driver.  Has anyone seen this
kind of problem before?  If so, do you have any suggestions?  Even if
you haven't seen this before and you have some hunches, please
communicate them to me.  I am willing to try almost anything (even an
Aboriginal Shaman from a Peter Weir movie :-)).

BTW, we run RTU v3.1(a) on our 5500.

Thanks,
pk
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ARPA:	phaedrus at eneevax.umd.edu 
UUCP:	{seismo,allegra}!mimsy!eneevax!phaedrus