[WEB4LIB] RE: CD tower - one more step.

[Dennis Brantley]

Moderow, Kevin wrote:
> 
> Map your drives only upon use.  Don't let Windows map the drives.
> 
> For example, for a Trademarks or Patents CD ROM, create .bat file called
> Patents.bat consisting of:
> 
> @ECHO OFF
> 
> Net use x: /del /yes
> Net use x: \\Myserver\\Myfolder
> 
> x:\Patents.exe
> 
> The schortcut the patron clicks on calls Patents.bat not the EXE for the
> Patents CD.  Using a similar command sequence for other applications renders
> x available to an unlimited number of programs.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Gary E. Masters [mailto:GMASTERS at TAMIU.EDU]
> Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 1999 9:21 AM
> To: Multiple recipients of list
> Subject: [WEB4LIB] CD tower - one more step.
> 
> We are trying to put our CD tower (Procom) on a Gov Docs. workstation since
> we don't use it with the server and we have several CD's that we get from
> the government.  The problem is that Windows will recognize only seven of
> the 21 drives.
> 
> OK.  We went back and checked the pins on the "luns" and now have all
> drives recognized by Windows.  I guess that replacing the SCSI lines
> several time pushed a few back into the frame.  Now it works.
> 
> Question:
> 
> How does one deal with 21 CD drives when there are two floppy drives, two
> hard drives, network drives and not enough letters to go around.  Is there
> some software I can buy?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Gary Masters

I don't think this is the problem that Gary is trying to address. 
Though this is a recommended approach, this deals only with the client
end of things.  Gary's problem is at the server.  For example, if you
have 28 drives physically attached to an NT machine, unless you are
using special software on the server, not all of the drives will be
available.  NT will assign drive letters to the floppy, to all hard disc
partitions, and then to CD drives until the letters A-Z are used up. 
Everything else will be ignored.  If you have the need to also map
network drives on the NT box, then you've got additional problems.

One of the things that NT or Netware-based CD management software does
(or should do) is consolidate all the drives under a single drive
letter.  Each individual drive appears as a subdirectory under the
single.  Though appearing as subdirectories, the individual drives can
be root mapped to accommodate those applications requiring it.

--
Dennis Brantley
Data Access Technologies, Inc.
770-339-6554 Voice
888-4DATI-CD (432-8423) Toll Free