HSC High Performance Software, Version 8.3

This document describes HSC High Performance Software Version 8.3 (QA-NBKAA), a software component for Digital Equipment Corporation's Hierarchical Storage Controllers (HSCs). This version provides new support for SCSI tape devices (TZ86, TZ867, TLZ06, TLZ6L, TSZ07, TKZ60, TKZ09) and specific SCSI disk devices (RZ26, RZ28, RZ74, EZ51). It also enhances I/O performance for the K.scsi data channel module and addresses minor software inconsistencies.

HSC High Performance Software V8.3 is an upgrade that replaces earlier versions (V6.5, V7.0, V8.0, V8.1, V8.2) and is compatible with HSC40, HSC60, HSC65, HSC70, HSC90, and HSC95 controllers (excluding HSC50). The software enables the HSC to function as an intelligent mass-storage server, managing I/O requests from host computers and handling low-level device operations. Key features include optimized device management with overlapped seeks and request pipelining, robust error detection and recovery mechanisms (e.g., automatic retransmission, bad block replacement), and integrated device integrity tests. It also supports volume backup/duplication and Volume Shadowing Phase II for SDI and SCSI disks.

To maintain system parameters during upgrades, the SCTSAV utility is included. Other utilities like SETSHO (for parameter alteration) and VTDPY (for dynamic status display) are also available. Hardware requirements specify supported HSC models and various data channel modules (HSC5X-BA/CA/DA, HSC9X-FA, HSC9X-SX/SZ) and cache options. Software requirements include OpenVMS VAX Version 5.5-2 or higher for K.scsi module implementations, or OpenVMS V5.4-2 and higher if SCSI data channels are not used. The software is distributed on RX33 diskettes.