AST RESEARCH, INC.         TECHNICAL BULLETIN #0845               07-20-93




            PREMIUM SE WITH TAPE BACKUP PROBLEMS AND BANYAN VINES


PROBLEM:       While performing a tape backup under Banyan Vines 4.11(5),
               AST's Premium SE intermittently locks up.

SYSTEM         1.  AST Premium SE 4/50 with BIOS release 2.00
CONFIGURATION: 2.  DPT PM2012B/90 EISA SCSI Controller with firmware release
                   003.G
               3.  GigaTrend SL 4mm DAT Drive with firmware release 1.191
               4.  Banyan Vines Release 4.11(5).

CAUSE:         The release of firmware in GigaTrend's SL 4mm DAT  drive.

SOLUTION:      Upgrade the firmware in GigaTrend's SL 4mm DAT drive to
               release 1.261 or higher.