In article <08061007214171_20200492@antinode.info>, sms@antinode.info
(Steven M. Schweda) writes:
|>From: Rod
|>
|>> On Jun 3, 4:35=A0pm, s...@antinode.info (Steven M. Schweda) wrote:
|>> > =A0 =A0Is anyone using a USB-connected DVD drive on VMS (Alpha)?
|>>
|>> Neat trick since USB support is disabled by the firmware on at
|>least
|>> some of the Alpha models.
|>
|> It's not much of a trick, but it is pretty simple and painless, so
|>it
|>might count as "neat". Buy a cheap Chinese USB (PCI) card (for about
|>$10) which uses what seems to be the most popular chip (NEC µPD720100
|>"http://www.necel.com/usb/en/"), and install it. On the XP1000, only
|>the built-in USB is disabled, and there's a console variable which
|>controls it (set usb_enable off|on), I gather.
|>
|> I seem to recall that someone, sometime, actually added support
|>(or
|>at least function) for the built-in USB in the XP1000, but I already
|>had
|>the add-in solution working in mine, so I haven't tried enabling the
|>built-in interface. (A Google search suggests that it's in VMS V8.3,
|>but my main system is still at V7.3-2.)
|>
|> I assume that the add-in PCI card will work in practically any
|>Alpha
|>with a good open PCI slot, irregardful of the state of the built-in
|>USB
|>hardware (if any).
|>

As long as there is only the slow I/O speed on alpha it's not meaningful to
use USB for DVD (or Blu-Ray) recording.

I will add the code to cdrecord in order to support USB as soon as USB
is as fast as on Itanium.

regards
Eberhard