Hello,

I am sending this note to the T10 reflector and to a list of ISV contacts to solicit input from ISV's who deal with Tape drives.  

In response to an earlier query of ISV's, requests were submitted to the SSC-3 Working Group and SMC-3 Working Group to standardize items that would help the tape industry.  One of this items was to standardize on a method to allow an application client to program a special early warning notification that would allow the application to ensure it had enough space to clean up prior to reaching EOP.  A proposal to meet this request can be found at   http://www.t10.org/ftp/t10/document.05/05-423r2.pdf

During the September SSC-3 working group meeting I, as author of the proposal, was requested to query the ISV's on the desired notification method.  As can be seen in the proposal, it is currently written such that a Unit Attention condition is generated upon entry into this programmed early warning area.  Some of those in the working group are concerned that Unit Attentions might not be seen by the applications and wonder if a Check Condition with No Sense (00h) would be a better notification method.

If you have a preference, please reply to me at kdbutt@us.ibm.com or at t10@t10.org prior to November.
=> UA as exists in the referenced proposal
=> CC with No Sense (similar to existing EW but only returned once)
=> Something different (provide description of desired notification)

Thanks,

Kevin D. Butt
SCSI & Fibre Channel Architect, Tape Firmware
MS 6TYA, 9000 S. Rita Rd., Tucson, AZ 85744
Tel: 520-799-2869 / 520-799-5280
Fax: 520-799-2723 (T/L:321)
Email address: kdbutt@us.ibm.com
http://www-03.ibm.com/servers/storage/