Theoretically, the E1A can read B1A-produced tapes.
The first time a 128 track tape is written to by an E1A it is converted to 256 
track format (Hmmm  what about appends - I suppose it's intelligent)
So you *should* be able to convert all drives at once.

My conversion happened before I started here, but as tapes expired they were 
reclaimed and I had problems with insufficient mountpoints (when there were 
drives idle) and the TSM server hanging.  I raised a problem on this but then 
suddenly all of the old  data expired and I no longer had the means to recreate 
the error.  I'm on AIX 4.3.3 and TSM server  4.1.3.

So, be careful, should and can might be different.


Steve Harris
AIX and TSM Admin,
Queensland Health, Brisbane Australia

>>> "Jolley, Bill" <bill.jolley AT EDS DOT COM> 09/11/2001 9:15:15 >>>
Question about upgrading 3590B1a to 3590E1a.  Is there any other
documentation/procedure I can review. I've been asked to convert. Is it a
simple process? should I upgrade all drives at onetime? Do I need a second
device class?
How could I use  the old vols on the new drives? Help

Thanks