5190/5194 Modular Tape Subsystem Manual

Introduction to the Modular Tape Subsystem

5190/5194 Modular Tape Subsystem Manual—426878-002

1-11

SCSI Cable (MFC)

A SCSI cable connects the MFC RS-232/SCSI BIC to a SCSI port at the rear of the

tape drive CRU. The MFC permits cable lengths of 10 feet (3 meters) and 75 feet (23

meters). Appendix A, Part Numbers, lists the SCSI cable part numbers.

3216 Tape Controller

The 3216 tape controller manages input/output (I/O) operations for a modular tape

subsystem. The controller consists of two boards: a logic board (LB) and a backplane

interconnect card (BIC). You access the logic board from the front of a system or I/O

cabinet. You access the BIC from the rear of a system or I/O cabinet.

As stated in Table 1-1

on page 1-2, the 5190 and 5194 tape drives are supported by

different software releases:

•

D20.00 or later D-series release is required for the 5190 tape drive with the 3216

controller.

•

D30.01+ or later D-series release is required for the 5194 tape drive with the 3216

controller.

The 3216 tape controller provides a fiber-optic link up to two kilometers long between

the controller BIC and the tape drive CRU. Cable lengths greater than 500 meters

must be customer-supplied (see SCSI Extender for Fiber-Optic Cable on page 1-13).

Figure 1-5. MFC Logic Board and RS-232/SCSI BIC

MFC

Logic Board

Connectors for

Terminals, Printers,

or Workstations

Connector for

Cartridge Tape Drive

Connector for

Communications Line

Connector for

Diagnostic Line

MFC

RS-232 / SCSI BIC

VST004.vsd