HP 3000 Manuals HP 3000 Manuals
New DDS Device on the Series 9x7 and 9x7LX by Lori Orvek Computer Systems Division The HP 3000 Series 9x7 and 9x7LX systems now support a new single-ended small computer systems interface (SCSI) digital data storage (DDS) drive. The HP Series 6400 Model 2000 is available in several configurations, including integrated (HP`C1503B) in the 9x7 and 9x7LX systems, and standalone (HP C1520B). Throughout the rest of this article, this device is referred to as the HP C1520B. PRODUCT FEATURES This next generation DDS device has several advantages over previous HP-IB and SCSI DDS drives. These advantages include: * small form factor * a larger data buffer * synchronous data transfer * support of longer, high capacity tapes The new, longer tapes are 90 meters in length, with a capacity of 2.0 GB. The older 60-meter tapes, with a capacity of 1.2 GB, can also be used in this drive. The new 90-meter tapes are not backwards compatible and should not be used in older DDS drives. Using a 90-meter tape in an older device could damage the device. UNDERSTANDING THE HP C1520B The new features offered with the HP C1520B do not change how the device is used, but you may notice this device behaves differently from older devices in certain situations. A few of these situations are worth noting so you can become familiar with this new device. For example, the larger data buffer of the HP C1520B allows the host to send more data to the device before the device's lights begin to blink, indicating tape activity. Similarly, you may notice a difference during a parallel STORE using TurboSTORE/iX to an older device and the HP C1520B. Typically, once STORE has started transferring files, both devices' lights blink quite regularly. But in this case, the HP C1520B's light activity will be quite different. Even though STORE is transferring data to the device, it can appear idle because the light might not be blinking. The HP C1520B is just waiting for its larger buffer to be filled before it transfers more data. You can see that any differences are slight and are only noticeable when compared closely to an older device. The HP C1520B offers you several new features with no change from older devices in the way the device is used.