Support
Technical News and quick tips:
- Frequently Asked Questions - Mac Product
- Frequently Asked Questions - CD / CDR / CDRW
- Frequently Asked Questions - Tape Drive and Library
System
- Frequently Asked Questions - Hard Disk and RAID
System
1. Frequently Asked Questions - Mac Product
Configuration Questions:
Q. How do I install MacOS in a SKYDATA hard disk that was already
prepared by FWB software?
A: Boot the Mac with the bootable MacOS CD, and follows the
instruction to load MacOS. At some point, you will be prompted to
overwrite existing driver as the install procedure will report that
there is FWB driver installed already. You much specify DO NOT OVERWRITE
DRIVER at this point. Follow the instruction to install the rest
of the MacOS.
Q: Can I partition a hard disk into more than one volume without
third party software?
A: Yes, only with Apple compatible hard drive. From the MacOS
CDROM, you can run the Drive Setup utility to partition the Apple
hard drive. For third party hard drive, third party software such
as FWB HD toolkit or Silverlining is required. All existing data
would be lost after re-partitioning.
If you are re-partitioning a bootable drive, you would need to boot
the system from a CDROM or floppy before any partition change can
be made to it. You would have to re-install the MacOS after re-partitioning
is completed.
Q: Can I format a drive HFS+ (HFS Extended) using FWB HDT?
A: Yes. This is only possible with HDT ver. 2.5.2 and later,
MacOS 8.1 and later.
Q: Can Retrospect support the DLT8000 in Macintosh?
A: Yes. Version 1.6 of the Dantz Advanced Driver Kit is required
Q. Can Retrospect support the SONY DDS4 (SDT10000) tape drive?
A. Yes, but requires driver upgrade kit. For Retrospect 4.2,
driver kit 1.9 is required. For Retrospect 4.1, driver kit 1.8 is
required. The driver kit can be downloaded from the Dantz development
web site at http://www.dantz.com/index.php3?SCREEN=updates
Q: Can I use CDR/CDRW with the Mac iMac?
A: Yes. iMac does not come with SCSI interface and only USB
interface is provided. Original iMac with MacOS 8.0 and USB 1.01
does not support CDR. Upgrade to 8.5 (8.5.1 recommended) or higher
and USB 1.1. Toast 3.8 is also required for USB support.
Troubleshooting Questions:
Q: When I run Toast on my Mac, in the CD-recorder section of
the first dialogue box, I get the message "No CD-recorder.
Please check cables and power". What's wrong?
A: Run SCSIProbe (from Adaptec
ftp site), or HDT Prober, or any other SCSI Bus Scanning Utility
to see if the drive can be seen by the SCSI host. If not, then you
have a cabling and/or termination problem. If the drive is being
seen, then all you need to do is make sure you have the correct
version of mastering software that supports that model. To check
for software compatibility, visit the Adaptec site at http://www.adaptec.com/cgi-bin/cdrmain.cgi
Q: I upgraded my Sky CD writer to the 8X24 (Teac 58S) and now
my Toast software cannot recognize it. What's wrong?
A: Toast 3.5.7 is required for the Teac 58S. Upgrade from
version 3.5.6 by downloading the file toast-3_5_7-english-updater.hqx
from our ftp site at ftp://ftp.skydatacorp.com/mac
for English. For other languages, download updates from the Adaptec
web site at http://www.adaptec.com/support/files/toast.html.
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2. Frequently Asked Questions - CD / CDR / CDRW
Q: Where can I find out about Track error code reported by Easy
CD Creator from Adaptec?
A. Track write error code can be found Track
errors
Q: I am getting an error "Buffer underrun" while working
with my recorder. what could be the cause of this error?
A. At this Adaptec site Buffer
Underrun Explained
Q: When I run Toast on my Mac, in the CD-recorder section of
the first dialogue box, I get the message "No CD-recorder.
Please check cables and power". What's wrong?
A: Run SCSIProbe (download SCSIProbe, go to skydownload.html),
or HDT Prober, or any other SCSI Bus Scanning Utility to see if
the drive can be seen by the SCSI host. If not, then you have a
cabling and/or termination problem. If the drive is being seen,
then all you need to do is make sure you have the correct version
of mastering software that supports that model. To check for software
compatibility, visit the Adaptec site at http://www.adaptec.com/cgi-bin/cdrmain.cgi.
To upgrade Toast, visit the Adaptec site at http://www.adaptec.com/support/overview/cdrec.html
Q: How do I check the compatibility of Adaptec CD-R softwares
with my CDR/CDRW drive?
A: Visit the Adaptec site at http://www.adaptec.com/cgi-bin/cdrmain.cgi.
Select your recorder's manufacturer in the "Which Adaptec CD-R
Software supports my CD Recorder option" and follow the instruction.
Q: I am getting an error "D0 100 - I/O error (03/CA/00)
Disc error. Power calibration area error". What is wrong?
A: The CDR is defective. Contact your reseller for servicing.
Q: I have a SONY CDR and it reports the following error message
every time I try to burn a CD
"Sense Key = Unit Attention
Sense Code = 0XCB
Write error"
What is wrong?
A: Most of the time, this error is caused by a defective
SCSI cable. Try a different SCSI cable. It is still does not work,
contact SKYDATA technical support.
Q: I upgraded my Sky CD writer to the 8X24 (Teac 58S) and now
my Toast software cannot recognize. What's wrong?
A: Toast 3.5.7 is required for the Teac 58S. Upgrade from
version 3.5.6 by downloading the file toast-3_5_7-english-updater.hqx
from our ftp site at ftp://ftp.skydatacorp.com/mac
for English. For other languages, download updates from the Adaptec
web site at http://www.adaptec.com/support/files/toast.html.
General CD Technologies and Specs
Q: What is ISO9660 format?
A: An international standard that specifies how data is physically
recorded onto the CD (sector-by-sector) into a directory tree (up
to eight levels of directories). CD-ROMs made according to the ISO
9660 Level 1 specifications can be read on multiple operating systems
such as Macintosh, DOS, Windows 3.x, Windows 95, and Windows NT.
Q: What is Joilet format?
A: A standard developed by Microsoft for Windows 95 that
allows CDs to be recorded using long filenames. Joliet allows you
to use file names up to 64 characters in length, including spaces,
and also allows you to use Unicode characters for better international
support. Joliet records the associated DOS standard filename (8
+ 3 characters) for each file so that the CD can be read on DOS
systems or earlier versions of Windows.
Q: How compatible is CDRW drive with CDROM drive?
A: While CD-RW discs can be erased and re-written, they cannot
be read by all standard CD-ROM drives and CD players. The phase
change recording material of a CD-RW disc isn't as reflective as
a stamped disc or even a CD-R disc. As a result, the recorded CD-RW
discs are only readable in CD-ROM drives that advertise CD-RW compatibility,
or that conform to the new Multi-Read specification. While most
new CD-ROM drives sold today are compatible with CD-RW discs, there
are many drives already installed in computers that cannot read
these discs.
Q. Are there any good information on CD/DVD on the web?
A. Yes. Check out the following links:
Andy McFadden
CDROM FAQ
DVD FAQ
Primer
on CDR (Mike Richter's website)
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3. Frequently Asked Questions - Tape Drive and
Library System
DLT Tapes Configuration
Q: I have a ATL Powerstor 200 autoloader and the tape cartridge
would not locked when placed in slot 5 of the magazine. What can
I do?
A: Remove the magazine from the library, place the cartridge
in slot 5 and re-insert the magazine into library.
Q: I have a ATL Powerstor 200 autoloader running Veritas Backup
Exec for NT version 7.3. After the installation of Veritas, I cannot
"see" the loader. What is the problem?
A: The loader has not been installed properly. Check out
this technote at Veritas web site here.
Q: I am running ArcserveIT for NT with an ATL Powerstor L200
loader, and in Device Management the loader is marked offline. What
can I do?
A: Click
here to see the resolution to the problem.
Q. The Use Cleaning Tape light is ON and won't go away, what
does this mean?
A. Check out this cleaning basics web page by clicking here.
This could also be caused by a
bad data cartridge. Go here for more detail of how to inspect data
cartridge.
Q. All the lights on the right side of my DLT tape drive are
blinking on and off, what does this mean?
A. Call your reseller or Skydata to have the drive serviced.
Q. How can we visually inspect whether the data cartridge is
defective or not?
A. Yes. Here
is the procedure.
Q: Can Retrospect support the DLT8000 in Macintosh?
A: Yes. Version 1.6 of the Dantz Advanced Driver Kit is required
Q. Where can I find device driver for NT4 for my DLT tape drives?
A: Download the file d16nt4i_16.exe (for Intel platform)
from our ftp site at ftp://ftp.skydatacorp.com/tape
driver. This is a self-extracting file with instruction for
installing the device driver. This file is also available at Quantum
web site at http://www.quantum.com/support/csr/software/csr_software.htm
for other platforms. We recommend that a third party backup software
be used (eg. Computer Associates) where the NT driver is provided.
Q: Which version of Arcserve NT will work with the DLT8000?
A: Arcserve IT version 6.6 will support the DLT8000.
DAT Tapes Configuration
Q: Where can I find tape driver for Windows 95?
A: There is no tape driver for Windows 95. You must purchase
a third party backup software (Computer Associates, Veritas etc.)
Q. Can Retrospect support the SONY DDS4 (SDT10000) tape drive?
A. Yes, but requires driver upgrade kit. For Retrospect 4.2,
driver kit 1.9 is required. For Retrospect 4.1,
driver kit 1.8 is required. The driver kit can be downloaded from
the Dantz development web site
at http://www.dantz.com/index.php3?SCREEN=updates
General Tapes Technologies
Q: What is ME (Metal Evaporated) tape vs MP (Metal Particle)
tape?
A: A white paper from Quantum http://www.quantum.com/src/whitepapers/wp_mevsmp.htm
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4. Frequently Asked Questions - Hard Disk and
RAID System
Q: Where can I get Zterm to setup the SKYDATA Raidstar in Mac?
A: From our ftp site. Click
here to download.
Q: When I power up the Raidstar RAID array, all the drive modules
are blinking RED. What can I do?
A: Check that both power supplies OUTPUT GOOD Led are on.
If not, the power supply is defective. Contact your reseller or
SKYDAT support to arrange for a replacement.
Q: Can I expand capacity to an existing RAID system on the fly
on the Raidstar?
A: Yes, our SKYDATA Raidstar allows expansion on the fly.
The new drive must have capacity equal or greater than the existing
drives.
Q: What is the difference between a Raidstar and a Raidstar
Silo?
A: A Raidstar has a Hardware RAID Controller (from
Chaparral) where a Raidstar Silo does not.
Q: Do I need to install external terminator for the Raidstar?
A: No, the Raidstar is terminated internally so no external
terminator is required. Simply connect the SCSI cable from the SCSI
host adapter inside the computer to the SCSI port that is labeled
"host in" at the back of the Raidstar.
Q: I have both external and internal LVD hard drives connected
to the Adaptec AHA2940U2W, is this going to be a problem?
A: There may be a potential problem as described on Quantum
App notes link. Click
here to read the app note.
Q: How do I terminate a LVD hard drive?
A: There is no termination enable jumper on the LVD hard
drives. If the drive is installed in an external chassis, termination
is done by installing an external terminator. If the drive is internal,
you must obtain an internal SCSI cable that has a multimode terminator
at the end of the cable. Contact your reseller to purchase one.
Q. Do you know where I can get information on ATA-66, UltraDMA,
UltraSCSI and other interfaces?
A. Yes. Technical papers on hard drives can be found on Seagate
website and Quantum
website.
Q. Do you know where I can find information on SCSI?
A. Yes. Here are some links you should definitely check out:
Adaptec
- Ultra2 SCSI
Ultra160
SCSI website
Gary Field - SCSI
Frequency Asked Questions
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