  Third-party SCSI devices on OpenVMS? (M4 tape) 
 The Question is:
 
I have a M4 1/2" scsi tape unit on a Alpha 1000.  I have been told (by M4)
that I need to upgrade the tape device drivers, as I am having problems
using the tape unit more than once after a system boot.  I cannot find any
reference to this update in the P
atches/ECO.
Any help would be much appreciated.
 
 
 The Answer is:
 
  You can certainly purchase third-party "generic" SCSI disks or tapes
  for your AlphaServer 1000.
 
  If you purchase third-party "generic" SCSI devices, you and your SCSI
  device vendor will be responsible for the testing and the support of the
  devices.  Compaq will address problems in the host interface (changes
  that will not prevent operations with supported devices, of course), but
  you and the device vendor are responsible for problems in the device.
 
  Realize that SCSI is not a standard interface, it is a collection of
  optionally-implemented and standardized interface features.  Do not
  simply assume that all SCSI devices are interchangable.
 
  Each SCSI host contains non-trivial SCSI driver software, and each SCSI
  device contains equally non-trivial firmware -- taken together with the
  mechanical and electronic components, this software and firmware will
  communicate storage-related requests using the standard SCSI protocol.
  Hosts and devices have various optionally-implemented features, and both
  also implement vendor-specific protocol extensions for operations outside
  those explicitly specified in the SCSI protocol.
 
  Integration and testing work is mandatory with each new SCSI device, and
  there can be no certainty that any particular SCSI device will operate as
  expected in any particular configuration without first performing this
  (non-trivial) work.
 
  Please review the previous discussions of third-party SCSI device support
  issues here in Ask The Wizard.
 
  The ECO kits available for problems with OpenVMS are located at:
 
    http://search.service.digital.com/
 
  These may or may not address problems with your M4 tape device.
 
