DEC optical jukebox support

[Bob Johnson_7]

Now that you have completed the acquisition of Compaq which acquired Digital will you provide support in your "StorageWorks Library and Tape Tools" software for older DEC optical jukeboxes, like the DEC RW551 2.6 gig that is just like HP's 40ST ( C1150H )? I am hoping the support is a simple software change ( like that ever happens ).

[Vincent Fleming]

Generally, any product is supported until 5 years from end of life.

I'm not familiar with the DEC RW551, but if it is less than 5 years from end-of-life (say it was discontinued 4 years ago), then it's still supported by the combined companies. You would not need to rebadge it to HP or anything like that.

I am also not familiar with the 40ST - it was discontinued before I started at HP - so, if HP discontinued essentially the same product years after DEC did, then your support should be good until 5 years from end-of-life of the HP product.

Either way, you should not need to rebadge it (assuming you are correct that the two are the same product), the most you would need would be to bring it to current FW levels, if it's not current.

I hope this helps,

Good luck,

Vince

[Bob Johnson_7]

After snooping around in the StorageWorks Library and Tape Tool I see that you can treat an unsupported device as one of the supported devices by choosing "Options" from the menu then choosing "Enable Factory Overrides" from the pull down. You have to type in a password that must be provided by HP. What I want to do is see if I can treat my DEC RW551 autochanger as an HP C1150H autochanger but I need the password . The HP tool says it allows mapping of the device firmware to a product, irrespective of the device's product ID, which is what I think I want to try. I just want to see if I can run the front panel from the tool. Could you please email me the password for the HP StorageWorks Library and Tape Tool. Also, this unit was manufactured in January of 1997. Thanks for responding so quickly.

[Bob Johnson_7]

I forgot to include my email address in previous email. Its grainwav@swbell.net. Thanks.

[Vincent Fleming]

I'm sorry, but I don't have the password.

I also don't think I understand exactly what your problem is... what are you trying to achieve in having the diagnostic tool treat the jokebox as an HP-branded jokebox? Are you having a software incompatability?

[Bob Johnson_7]

I am currently trying to find a Windows software package to purchase for it but I cannot find a vendor who lists this DEC jukebox as one that is supported. They always support all of HP's jukeboxes but never DEC. This jukebox has HP stickers all over it so I believe that DEC just bought an HP jukebox and stamped their name on all of the firmware. What I would like to do is see if this DEC unit operates just like HP's 40ST, and possibly download HP firmware to it so it will be compatible with other vendor's software. My way of checking this out is to use the HP StorageWorks Library and Tape Tools to verify that I can do this before spending money on a vendor's software package. Who can I contact to get the password to the HP StorageWorks software? Thanks for responding.

[Vincent Fleming]

The passwords are for HP Customer Engineers only, as they can be used to make the unit inoperable. (I'm not a CE, so I don't have access to the passwords)

If the unit is under a service contract with Compaq/DEC, it would have been taken over by HP. If you are not under service contract, you can contact HP service to get one.

Once you have the service contarct, you can get an HP firmware upgrade (probably for free) installed by an HP CE. That would solve your problem.

Good luck,

Vince