User's Guide

1. Introduction

The Certance DAT 72 and DDS-4 tape autoloaders are fully integrated, intelligent, multi-cartridge

tape systems that support the (Digital Data Storage) DDS-2 (DDS-4 autoloader only), DDS-3, DDS-4,

and DAT 72 (DAT 72 autoloader only) 4mm tape formats. They include a magazine that can

accommodate up to six (6) data cartridges.

These autoloaders are an internal or standalone desktop subsystem that connects to a host system

using an LVD 2 68-pin shielded SCSI cable.

The autoloader combines established DDS technology, high-density recording and hardware data

compression capability to provide unmatched reliability and performance.

Features

The following list summarizes the key features of the DDS-4 and DAT 72 autoloader drives.

• Compatibility

• DDS-4: Supports DDS-2, DDS-3, and DDS-4 recording formats.

• DAT 72: Supports DDS-3, DDS-4, and DAT 72 recording formats.

• Support for various native data-storage capacities

• High-speed transfer rates for fast backups

• Advanced onboard DDS-DC hardware using Lempel-Ziv (DCLZ) data-compression, doubling

the drive’s uncompressed capacity (e.g., a 20 GB uncompressed drive can be 40 GB with

compression)

• High-performance SCSI burst transfer rates

• Three levels of error-correction code (ECC) and four-head design for read-after-write (RAW)

error detection and correction (uncorrectable error rate of less than 1 in 10

bits)

• “Flying” preamplifier for greater signal-to-noise ratio

• Flash memory to store setup parameters and enable field firmware upgrades

• Automatic Power On Self Test

• State-of-the-art sealed drive mechanism and tape handling components for improved immunity

to airborne contaminants and extended media life.

NOTE: These autoloaders will not work in a SCSI-1 environment.