Technical data

Communication to the drive is by way of the SCSI 2 interface at a synchronous rate of 4

Megabytes (1.5 Megabytes asynchronous) per second. The standard features of the drive

include:

• Mounting in standard 19-inch EIA/RETMA † rack (rackmount version)

• Automatic tape loading and threading

• Drive parameters conﬁgurable from the front panel

• Eight-character alphanumeric display on the front panel

• Automatic read/write retry

• Autoranging ac power supply

1.2 Physical Description

The three main physical assemblies of the drive are:

• front panel

• deck plate

• chassis

The front panel is fastened to the deck plate. The front panel has a door that opens to allow

easy operator access for loading and unloading the magnetic tape. Beneath the door are

operator switches, indicators, and an eight-character alphanumeric display. Air inlets in the

front panel provide for cooling and automatic tape loading.

The deck plate is made of cast-aluminum and supports two dc motors, tape path sensors, and

a read/write head. The deck plate is hinged to the sheet metal chassis.

The chassis forms a box-like structure to protect the internal circuit boards and components.

Power and system interface connections are made at the back of the chassis.

The drive is designed for rack mounting, and is compatible with cabinets meeting the standard

19-inch EIA/RETMA form factor. A table-top enclosure is also available for the drive. For

the location of the major mechanical parts and electronic circuit board assemblies, refer to

Section 1.2.1 through Section 1.2.5.

† RETMA racks are standard sized cabinets used by Digital and other major manufacturers of electronic equipment. The

cabinet rails, mounting hole patterns, and spacing conform to international standards that allow compatibility with

products manufactured by Digital and other major manufacturers.

1–4 Introduction