> Richard - yesterday I was in Milan at the annual "IBM Storage Forum,
>           there was a stand with a couple of English guys (well one
> English and one Scottish!) they said that a microcode upgrade is
> required.
>
> Mauro, STM
>
> > >IBM has released the Extended Length 3590s today
> >
> > According to the
> http://www.storage.ibm.com/hardsoft/tape/announce/0229ann.html
> > announcement, they need to be used on those drives supporting extended
> length:
> >
> >   A new extended length media cartridge, the IBM Magstar 3590 Extended
> High
> >   Performance Cartridge Tape. The new cartridge has a native capacity
> of 40 GB
> >   (120 GB with 3:1 compression) for the Magstar 3590 Model E and 20 GB
> (60 GB
> >   with 3:1 compression) for the Model B. These capacities are double
> that of
> >   the current cartridge.
> >
> >   By using the new cartridges on tape drives that have the extended
> media
> >   support, customers can experience significant savings from less tape
> >   cartridge handling, improved automation slot utilization, and a
> reduction in
> >   floor space requirements. Use of the new media will especially
> benefit
> >   customer applications such as system backup and restore which utilize
> full
> >   tape cartridges.
> >
> > Is "extended media support" a field upgradeable option for Model B
> drives?
> > Anyone have experience with such an upgrade?
> >
> >     Richard Sims, BU
> >