On Mon, Sep 16, 2002 at 12:12:48AM -0400, Gene Heskett wrote:
> On Sunday 15 September 2002 22:56, Jason Thomas wrote:
> >controller ----- 50 pin cable ---- terminator of some sort.
> >
> >   68pin cable
> >
> >   hdd
> >
> >   tape
> >
> >   hdd
> >
> >   hdd
> >
> >   active term
> >
> >cable is about 1M long.
> 
> I'm not familiar with that controller, some have a seperate 50 pin 
> buss for the rear panel, and some combine them but terminate the 
> upper 18 lines right beside the 50 pin hidens connector.  I'd 
> assume that such is the case since I think you can check the state 
> of the terms with the ctrl-a option at bootup.  I assume you have 
> done that, and that they are enabled or on.  In which case you may 
> dispense with the external 50 pin "terminator of some sort" as that 
> would be overkill.
> 
> However, with the tape in the middle of an otherwise working bunch 
> of HD's, it becoming a bit of a stretch to totally blame the 
> terminations.
> 
> One last element maybe, (can you tell I'm grasping at straws here?) 
> have you run something like memcheck86 on that machine in recent 
> history?

no not on this machine. but it would seem unlikely on a stable machine.

> 
> Replaced that cable with a fresh one?
> Subbed a different active term on the end of the cable?
> Tried the tape on a different connector?

yep done those things.