User`s guide

XEN OWNER'S HANDBOOK 3/9
Operating the Apricot XEN
Chapter 3
Using the SCSI QIC tape drive
Your Apricot XEN may be configured with a SCSI QIC tape
drive for quarter-inch tape cartridges. The software required
to control the QIC tape drive depends on your operating
environment; ask your Apricot supplier for details.
Apricot currently supplies 150 Mbyte and 525 Mbyte QIC tape
drives. However, these capacities depend on the type of cartridge
and the recording format used.
• The 525 Mbyte drive can use either DC6320 (600 ft, 320
Mbyte) or DC6525 (1000 ft, 525 Mbyte) cartridges and
can read and write in QIC-525, QIC-150 and QIC-120
formats.
• The 150 Mbyte drive can use DC6150 (600 ft, 150 Mbyte)
cartridges and can read and write in QIC-150 and QIC-
120 formats.
Both drives can also read from (but not write to) a QIC-24
formatted tape.
The drive automatically senses the cartridge type and uses the
maximum density QIC format possible for that cartridge
(thereby giving its nominal capacity) unless the cartridge has
already been used in a lower-density format.
Apricot does not supply, support or recommend the use of
1000 ft, 250 Mbyte cartridges with the 150 Mbyte drive. If you
must use 1000 ft cartridges with the 150 Mbyte drive,
do not use 600 ft cartridges on the same drive. The
different cartridges produce different patterns of wear on the
read/write heads, resulting in increased error rates and reduced
head life. Standardize on one length only (preferably 600 ft) to
get the best performance from your drive.
The tape drive can be damaged by incorrect insertion or removal
of cartridges, so always observe the following procedures: