On 28/12/2007, at 12:21 PM, richardtoohey@paradise.net.nz wrote:

quoted text
> Hi, all.
>
> I've finally found some time to try and get a tape drive - Seagate  
> STT3401A (now
> Certance/Quantum) - working on a Dell SC440.
>
[cut]
quoted text
> mt rewind
>
> will log this (/var/log/messages):
>
> /bsd: wdc_atapi_intr: warning: reading only 255 of 256 bytes
>
> Or:
>
> tar cvf /dev/nrst0 AFile.zip
>
> Shows this on the console:
>
> AFile.zip
> tar: Failed write to archive volume: 1: Invalid argument
> tar: Waiting for tape drive close to complete...done.
>
> And this in /var/log/messages:
>
> last message repeated 2 times
> /bsd: st0(atapiscsi1:0:0): Check Condition (error 0x70) on opcode 0xa
> /bsd:     SENSE KEY: Illegal Request
> /bsd:      ASC/ASCQ: Illegal Function (Should 20 00, 24 00, or 26 00)
>
>
[cut]

Can anyone help?  I've had an offlist reply that makes it seem that  
my tape commands are OK.

I'll take the tape drive out of this box and try it on another  
machine / another OS, but was
hoping someone would recognise this tape drive (supplied by Dell with  
the machine) or
give me some pointers as to what the underlying problem might be (is  
it atapiscsi?)

Thanks.