Alpha Microsystems Eagle 250 User manual

DSM-00221-01
Eagle 250
Computer Owner's
Manual
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© 2000 ALPHA MICROSYSTEMS
FIRST EDITION: July 2000
01 Version - January 2001
To re-order this document, request part number DSO-00221-00.
FCC Notice
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a
commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a
residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own
expense.
Canadian Department of Communications Compliance Statement
This equipment does not exceed Class A limits per radio noise emissions for digital apparatus set out in the Radio Interference
Regulations of the Canadian Department of Communications. Operation in a residential area may cause unacceptable interference to
radio and TV reception requiring the owner or operator to take whatever steps are necessary to correct the interference.
Avis de Conformité aux Normes du Ministère des Communications du Canada
Cet équipment ne deapsse pas les limits de Classe A d'émission de bruits radioélectriques pour les appareils numeriques tels que
prescrites par le Règlement sur le brouillage radioélectrique établi par le ministère des Communications du Canada. L'exploitation faite
en milleu résidential peut entrainer le brouillage des réceptions radio et tele, ce qui obligerait le propriétaire ou l'opératour à pendre les
dispositions nécessaires pour en éliminer les causes.
Battery Warning
CAUTION: Danger of explosion if battery is incorrectly replaced. Replace only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the
manufacturer. Discard used batteries according to the manufacturer's instructions.
ATTENTION: Il y a danger d'explosion s'il y a replacement incorrect de la batterie. Remplacer uniquement avec une batterie du même
type ou d'un type recommandé par le constructeur. Mettre au rébut les batteries usagées conformément aux instructions du fabricant.
For AM-3500-E100, -E200, -E300, -E400, -E500 and AM-990-01 systems replace battery with Panasonic or Ray-O-Vac BR2325 only.
For AM-3500-E250, AM-3500-E450, AM-3500-E550, AM-3500-6000, and AM-990-04 systems, replace batteries with Panasonic or
Ray-O-Vac BR1225 only. Use of other batteries may present a risk of fire or explosion. Replacement batteries may be ordered from
your authorized Alpha Micro reseller.
Safety Warning
This computer contains no user-configurable components that require opening the computer case. Because the power supply in this
computer is capable of outputting high current levels hazardous to your safety, the computer case should only be opened by an
authorized service technician.
Cet ordinateur ne contient aucune pièce configurable par l’utilisateur qui nécessite l’ouverture du boitier. L’alimentation de cet
ordinateur peut preduire des nivaeux de tensions dangereux, le boitier ne devrait donc être ouvert que par un technician autoriaé.
SOFTWARE SECURITY DEVICE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: _________________
The Alpha Micro Software Security Device (SSD) is a customized integrated circuit that personalizes the computer, providing identity
verification for it. Certain Alpha Micro and non-Alpha Micro software may require that your computer contain an SSD in order to run
software that has been customized to run only on your computer.
Please enter the identification of your SSD above and on the Contact Information Sheet at the back of this manual. The SSD
identification number should be on your computer ID label under "SSD Serial No." Software vendors may ask you for the SSD number
if they are customizing software to run only on your computer.
This document may contain references to products covered under the following U.S. Patent Number(s): 4,530,048
ALPHA MICROSYSTEMS
2722 Fairview Street
Santa Ana, CA 92704

Eagle 250 Owner's Manual, Revision 01
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1 -INTRODUCTION 1-1
THE EAGLE 250 DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE 1-1
What’s in This Book? 1-1
Graphic Conventions 1-2
HARDWARE FEATURES 1-2
Options 1-3
SOFTWARE FEATURES 1-3
CHAPTER 2 -USING YOUR COMPUTER 2-1
FRONT PANEL CONTROLS AND INDICATORS 2-1
REAR PANEL CONFIGURATION 2-3
TURNING THE COMPUTER ON 2-4
TURNING THE COMPUTER OFF 2-4
REBOOTING THE COMPUTER 2-5
CHAPTER 3 -KEEPING YOUR COMPUTER HAPPY 3-1
WHERE SHOULD THE COMPUTER BE? 3-1
REGULAR MAINTENANCE 3-2
Cleaning the Computer Cabinet 3-2
Caring for Tape Drives and Tapes 3-2
Caring for the Diskette Drive and Diskettes 3-4
BACKING UP YOUR DATA 3-4
Using a Streaming Tape Drive 3-5
Using a DAT Drive 3-7
Warm Booting 3-8
CHECKING THE DISK 3-8
The REDALL Command 3-9
The DSKANA Command 3-9
DSKANA Options 3-11
The CHECK Option and Automatic Backups 3-11
CHAPTER 4 -WHAT IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG? 4-1
IF THE PROBLEM IS WITH ONE TERMINAL 4-1
IF THE PROBLEM AFFECTS MORE THAN ONE USER 4-2
IF YOU CAN’T CONTACT YOUR DEALER 4-2
FOR MORE INFORMATION 4-3

Page ii Table of Contents
Eagle 250 Owner's Manual, Revision 01
CHAPTER 5 -ABOUT AMOS 5-1
THE TERMINAL KEYBOARD 5-1
Correcting Typing Mistakes 5-2
USER NAMES 5-3
Logging On 5-3
Adding User Names 5-4
HOW AMOS STORES INFORMATION 5-4
Device Names 5-4
Accounts 5-5
File Names 5-6
File Specifications 5-6
Organizing the Disk 5-7
Logging Into Other Accounts 5-8
Adding New Accounts 5-8
CHAPTER 6 -WHERE TO NOW? 6-1
APPENDIX A -THE CONTROL CHARACTERS A-1
ABOUT YOUR COMPUTER 1
ABOUT YOUR DEALER 1
ABOUT ALPHA MICRO 1

Eagle 250 Owner's Manual, Revision 01
Chapter 1 - Introduction
Welcome to the Eagle 250 Owner’s Manual. This book is for the new owner of an Eagle 250 computer.
It tells you how to keep your computer running happily, what to do if something should go wrong, and
how to get the most out of your computer hardware and software.
THE EAGLE 250 DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE
Besides this Owner’s Manual, two other documents describe the Eagle 250:
•The Eagle 250 Installation and Technical Manual, DSO-00222-00, describes how to set up the
system hardware and software, and includes technical details about system performance,
capability, and configuration.
•The Eagle 250 Service Manual, DSO-00223-00, contains instructions on adding and changing
components in an installed Eagle 250.
These other documents are intended for Alpha Micro dealers and, in the case of the Service Manual,
authorized technicians. If your computer is installed and running, this Owner’s Manual has the
information you need for its day-to-day operation and maintenance.
What’s in This Book?
This book contains five chapters:
•Chapter 1 - Introduction: describes the documentation and covers the hardware and standard
software included with your computer.
•Chapter 2 - Using Your Computer: tells you how to turn the computer on and off, and talks about
the controls and indicators on the front and back of the computer.
•Chapter 3 - Keeping Your Computer Happy: discusses the operating conditions the computer
prefers and the regular care and maintenance you can use to keep it running properly.
•Chapter 4 - What if Something Goes Wrong?: gives you procedures to follow to assist your
Alpha Micro dealer if certain system problems occur.
•Chapter 5 - About AMOS: discusses AMOS, the Alpha Micro Operating System. While most or
all of it may be invisible to you, the AMOS software enables your computer to run the
applications you use every day.
•Chapter 6 - Where to Now?: lists some other Alpha Micro documents you may find useful.

Page 1-2 Chapter One
Eagle 250 Owner's Manual, Revision 01
Graphic Conventions
Like other Alpha Micro documents, this Owner’s Manual uses some standard symbols and special
typefaces to make our examples and explanations easier to read and understand:
Symbol Description
This means STOP!, and signals an important warning or restriction. Be sure to
read the text next to this symbol carefully, as it could help you avoid serious
problems.
This marks a hint—a shortcut or an easier way to do something.
This indicates a note: information which relates to the current topic, and may be
important for you to remember.
Text We show characters the computer displays on your screen, such as prompts and
information messages, in this typeface.
TEXT In examples, we use this typeface for the characters you type on your keyboard.
KEY This symbol refers to a non-character key on your keyboard. For example: DIR
ENTER tells you to press the ENTER key at the end of the DIR command.
CTRL /C This combination of symbols tells you to hold down the first key and press the
second key. For example, to type a CTRL /C (Control-C), press the CTRL key
and, while holding it down, type a C.
HARDWARE FEATURES
The Eagle 250 comes in an attractive, compact deskside enclosure, as shown below. Inside the enclosure
are:
•A CPU (Central Processing Unit) board using the Motorola MCF5102 ColdFire CPU chip.
•At least one SCSI-2, Wide SCSI-2, or Ultra SCSI disk drive for permanent data storage.
•From 4MB to 256MB of Random Access Memory (RAM), used to store data and programs
during processing.
•A tape backup device. Depending on the device you’ve ordered, you may be able to store up to
26GB of data on a single tape. The tape drive is accessible through the computer’s front panel.
•For the standard Eagle 250, from eight to 32 serial input/output ports for connecting terminals,
printers, modems, and workstations. The Eagle 250LC contains only 4 serial input/output ports.
There are connectors for these ports on the back panel of the computer.
•An Ethernet network interface. You can attach your Eagle 250 to a computer network through a
connector on the back panel. You can then share information between computers, use PCs to run
programs on the Eagle 250, share printers, and much more. If your network is attached to the
Internet, you’ll be able to access the Eagle 250 from practically anywhere in the world.

Introduction Page 1-3
Eagle 250 Owner's Manual, Revision 01
Options
Your computer may have additional devices, such as an internal diskette drive accessible through the
front panel, an external RAID disk subsystem for extremely reliable, high-capacity data storage, an
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) to guard against data loss during a power failure, and more.
SOFTWARE FEATURES
All Eagle 250 computers use AMOS, the Alpha Micro Operating System. AMOS lets the various parts of
the hardware talk to each other—for example, it sends characters from the computer’s CPU to your
terminal screen or to the printer—and performs the calculations and information storage that is the heart
of the computer’s function.
Almost all Eagle 250’s also have at least one software application. An application is a software program,
or group of programs, which perform related tasks for a specific purpose. For example, an application
may contain all the programs needed to run a dental office—billing, scheduling, keeping patient records,
and so on—a hardware store, or any other business. Popular general purpose applications include word
processors, spreadsheets, electronic mail, and lots more.
The application software on your Eagle 250 was added by your dealer for your specific situation, so it
isn’t discussed in this manual. For information on the applications you have, please contact your Alpha
Micro dealer.
For more information about AMOS, including how to use some common AMOS commands,
please see Chapter 5. Depending on how your dealer configured your computer, AMOS may be
completely “hidden”: your application may include options for all the features you need, so you
never enter any AMOS command directly. In that case, while you may find the information in
Chapter 5 interesting, you don’t really need to know any of it.

Eagle 250 Owner's Manual, Revision 01
Chapter 2 - Using Your Computer
This chapter discusses some of the basic things you need to know to use your computer: what the buttons
and lights on the front panel mean, what attaches where on the back panel, and how to turn the computer
on and off.
FRONT PANEL CONTROLS AND INDICATORS
Figure 2-1, below, shows the computer’s front panel. The panel has these controls and indicators:
•The two-character status display shows various codes depending on the state of the computer. It
is also used during the computer’s self-test feature.
•The Power light is lit whenever the computer is turned on.
•The Turbo light indicates system activity.
•In some configurations, the Turbo button puts the system into a special diagnostic state known as
LEVEL7. This is necessary only if you are having certain hard-to-diagnose system problems. If
you have this feature, do not use it unless you are told to by your dealer. If you don’t have this
feature, the Turbo button has no effect.
•The Reset button lets you reset the computer. When you press it, the hardware resets and the
computer reboots. To avoid losing data, make sure there are no applications running and the
H.D.D. light is out before you press this button. See the section on “Rebooting the Computer”
later in this chapter.
•The H.D.D. light is lit whenever the computer is reading from or writing to a disk or tape.
•The Power switch, at the top right of the computer, turns it on and off. This switch is not shown
in Figure 2-1.

Page 2-2 Chapter Two
Eagle 250 Owner's Manual, Revision 01
Figure 2-1: Front Panel Controls and Indicators
Two-character status display
Turbo button
Reset button
Power light
H.D.D. (disk/tape
activity) light
Turbo (system activity) light

Using Your Computer Page 2-3
Eagle 250 Owner's Manual, Revision 01
REAR PANEL CONFIGURATION
The illustration below shows the Eagle 250 rear panel configuration.
4 or 8 STANDARD DB9
SERIAL PORTS
(RJ-45 CONFIGURATION
OPTIONALLY AVAILABLE)
10-BaseT
ETHERNET
PORT
EXTERNAL SCSI PORT
BOOT PORT
01
23
45
67
115
SCSI
0
9-PIN UPS
STATUS
PORT
25-PIN
PARALLEL
PORT
SERIAL I/O
EXPANSION
SLOTS FOR RJ-45
CONNECTORS
OPTIONAL
AM-90 BOARDS
Figure 2-2: Eagle 250 Rear Panel Configuration

Page 2-4 Chapter Two
Eagle 250 Owner's Manual, Revision 01
As shown, the back panel includes connectors for the serial ports (where you plug in terminals, printers,
and modems), an Ethernet connection (for connecting the Eagle 250 to a computer network, and an
external SCSI connector (for a disk, tape, or CD-ROM drive).
TURNING THE COMPUTER ON
While you will probably leave your computer running most of the time, you will need to turn it on from
time to time. To do so, follow these steps:
1. Turn on all of the terminals and other devices connected to the computer’s back panel. You don’t
need to turn on other computers or devices which are attached to the network.
2. Press the power button at the top right of the front panel.
After you turn the computer on, it automatically “boots” the AMOS operating system: it loads the AMOS
programs from the disk drive into memory, determines what kind of devices are attached to the computer
by reading a special file called the system initialization file, and prepares the computer to run your
programs.
While AMOS is booting, you see a succession of codes on the front panel status display (see Figure 2-1),
then the AMOS license agreement appears on the operator terminal, followed by the commands in the
system initialization file. These scroll rapidly as the computer executes them. When AMOS is finished
booting, the operator terminal displays MEMORY 0.
Depending on how your computer is set up, your terminals may automatically display a menu or
start your application after you turn the computer on.
If nothing appears on the status display or the terminal screen after a minute's wait, please turn to Chapter
4 to see what to do next.
When the computer is up and running, the front panel display will show a zero.
TURNING THE COMPUTER OFF
You need to turn off the computer whenever:
•A technician needs to open the computer chassis for any reason.
•You move the computer or servicing is required.
•You add or remove external SCSI devices. NEVER attach or detach a SCSI device while the
computer is on! Doing so could damage the device and/or the computer’s CPU board.
To turn off the computer always follow these steps:
1. Have everyone stop using the computer and log off.
2. Remove any backup media (such as streaming tape) from the computer.
3. After everyone is logged off and the H.D.D. light (see Figure 2-1) is out, press the power button
at the top right of the front panel.

Using Your Computer Page 2-5
Eagle 250 Owner's Manual, Revision 01
4. Generally, you do not need to turn off devices connected to the serial ports, such as printers and
terminals, or devices connected via the network. If you do choose to turn off serial devices, turn
them off after turning off the Eagle 250.
REBOOTING THE COMPUTER
At times, you may want to have the computer restart the operating system without turning power off and
back on. This is called “rebooting” the computer, and you may do it if you install new or updated
software, change the computer’s configuration, or in some problem situations. To reboot the computer:
1. Have everyone stop using the computer and log off. If you are rebooting because one or more
users are “locked up,” have everyone else log off.
2. After everyone is logged off and the H.D.D. light (see Figure 2-1) is out, press the Reset button
on the front panel.
As when you turn the computer on, you’ll see a succession of codes on the front panel display, then the
AMOS license and the system initialization file commands will appear on the operator terminal.

Eagle 250 Owner's Manual, Revision 01
Chapter 3 - Keeping Your
Computer Happy
As you use your computer in your business, certain regular practices and daily habits can help keep it
performing at maximum efficiency. This chapter discusses:
•The best environment for the computer
•Taking care of the various components: the main enclosure, tape drives, and diskette drives
•Backing up your data
•Checking your disk data
WHERE SHOULD THE COMPUTER BE?
For your computer to do its best job, it needs to be in a clean environment it is comfortable in. Excessive
dust, extreme temperature, or very high or low humidity can cause computer failure.
Possibly your computer’s most critical need is enough reliable electrical power for all of its
components. The computer’s electrical needs are covered in the Eagle 250 Installation and
Technical Manual, and were no doubt considered when your computer was installed. If you need
to move the computer, make sure its new location meets its power requirements and is free from
electrical interference. You may want to check with your Alpha Micro dealer before relocating the
computer.
Most of the computer’s environmental requirements are just common sense: do not place it where people
may bump into it, trip over it, or use the cabinet as a desk or table. Never put drinks or food on the
computer—if a drop of coffee or chunk of doughnut gets inside the chassis, it could make the computer
fail.
In fact, anything, even excess dust, inside the chassis is not good for your computer. Try not to place it
in a high-traffic area. These areas have more dirt and dust, which can clog the computer’s air intakes and
cause cooling problems. High-traffic areas can also lead to static electrical discharge (from feet rubbing
on the floor or, especially, carpet) which can cause system resets and possibly damage delicate
components. To minimize static electricity, don’t place the computer on a carpet unless it’s unavoidable;
if you must, treat the area with anti-static spray regularly.
As far as temperature and humidity , if you’re comfortable, the computer probably is, too. The
temperature around the computer should be between 60 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit (16 to 32 Celsius), and
humidity should be between 10 and 90 percent.
It is very important for the health of your computer that you do not obstruct its cooling system. Allow at
least six inches behind the chassis for ventilation, and make sure none of its air intakes are blocked.
Specifically, do not place the computer on a surface which can block the air intakes on the bottom of the
chassis.

Page 3-2 Chapter Three
Eagle 250 Owner's Manual, Revision 01
All of the proper conditions were probably assured before your computer was installed, and shouldn’t be
a problem unless you move the computer or change its surroundings. If you have any questions, contact
your dealer.
REGULAR MAINTENANCE
Physical maintenance of your computer is very simple: it’s mostly a matter of keeping it clean. You also
need to be sure to take proper care of the tape drive and tapes in your computer, and your diskette drive if
you have one.
Cleaning the Computer Cabinet
The computer main enclosure is sturdy painted sheet metal and plastic. A light dusting is the safest
cleaning procedure, and probably all it will require. If necessary, you can clean the enclosure as you
would any other painted surface, using a gentle detergent. Remember, however, that if any liquid gets
inside the enclosure, it could severely damage the computer.
Caring for Tape Drives and Tapes
Every Eagle 250 has some kind of tape drive for data backup, usually either a ¼” streaming tape drive or
a DAT (Digital Audio Tape) drive. As discussed later in this chapter, in case of a problem your backup
tapes can be the only thing between your business and data disaster, so it’s very important to take
excellent care of your tape drive and the tapes it uses.
Caring for the Drive
It is very important to clean the read/write head or heads of your tape drive periodically. How often to
clean the heads depends on the tape drive. For streaming tape drives, if you back up once a day, you
should clean the head at least once a week. For more frequent use, keep in mind:
•When you use new tapes exclusively or often, clean the head after every two hours of tape drive
running time.
•If you reuse tapes most of the time, clean the head after every eight hours of running time.
For the AM-626, AM-627, and AM-628 streaming tape drives, follow these cleaning procedures:
•Dip a lint-free cotton swab in isopropyl alcohol (at least 91% strength)
•The head is a brass-colored metal square that can be seen in the tape slot. Rub the surface of the
head with the moist cotton swab.
•Rub the head with a dry swab to prevent residue buildup.
When cleaning tape drive heads, never use 70% rubbing alcohol. Make sure you use isopropyl
alcohol of at least 91% strength.

Keeping Your Computer Happy Page 3-3
Eagle 250 Owner's Manual, Revision 01
For the AM-629 and AM-650 drives use the appropriate drive-cleaning cartridge, as described in the
documentation for the tape drive.
If you have a DAT drive, you should clean the drive heads whenever the tape cartridge status light
flashes.
As routine maintenance, the heads of a DAT drive should be cleaned after every 50 hours of use.
To clean the heads on the DAT drive, use a cleaning cartridge designed for your drive. The cartridge
contains the correct recognition holes to allow the DAT drive to identify it as a cleaning cartridge.
Follow these general guidelines to use the cleaning cartridge:
1. Insert the cleaning cartridge into the DAT drive. The drive will immediately detect that this is a
cleaning cartridge.
2. The drive will load and run the cartridge in about 10 seconds, then eject it.
Caring for the Tapes
A cartridge tape can store data from an entire disk, so it is worth taking care of properly. When using and
storing tapes, remember the following:
•Don’t touch the tape itself with your fingers or anything else.
•Keep tape cartridges in a dust-free environment.
•Store cartridges on edge, not lying flat. This places the weight of the tape on the hub of the
cartridge, not on the edge of the tape, which could bend the tape over time. Keep the write-
protect switch in the SAFE position.
•Keep magnets away from your tapes. Even weak magnets such as those in paper clip holders can
erase data on a cartridge tape.
•Don't expose tapes to very high or low humidity (more than 80% or less than 20%), or extremely
high or low temperatures. Don’t store them in direct sunlight.
•Cartridge tapes should be acclimated to computer-room temperature and humidity conditions
before use. If the tape has been stored away from the computer, it should be returned to the
computer environment at least eight hours before use. If it has been in a different environment for
less than eight hours, it should be kept in the computer location for at least as many hours as it
was away from it.
Caring for the Diskette Drive and Diskettes
Like the tape drive, a diskette drive needs to have its read/write heads cleaned regularly. This prevents
problems, such as data loss, which can result from dirty heads. If you do start noticing data loss, cleaning
the heads will probably take care of it.
You can clean your diskette drive using a special head-cleaning kit available from computer supply
stores.

Page 3-4 Chapter Three
Eagle 250 Owner's Manual, Revision 01
Diskettes require much the same care as magnetic tapes:
•The outside case of a diskette protects the actual recording surface inside—don’t touch the
recording surface itself.
•Treat diskettes gently. Fingerprints, scratches, spills, and dirt can ruin them.
•Keep your diskettes in a dust-free environment.
•Never expose diskettes to an electromagnetic field—it could erase your data! For example, do not
leave diskettes on top of the computer or a terminal since the equipment inside emits a strong
magnetic field.
•Keep magnets away from your diskettes. Even weak magnets such as those in paper clip holders
can erase data on a diskette.
•Avoid temperature extremes. Do not expose diskettes to temperatures below 50 degrees
Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius) or above 125 degrees Fahrenheit (52 degrees Celsius). Do not
leave your diskettes next to a window where direct sunlight can cook them.
Diskettes should be at about the same temperature as your computer. If the place you store them
is at a very different temperature than the computer, give a diskette a few minutes to adjust to the
computer’s temperature before using it.
BACKING UP YOUR DATA
Computers and disk drives are very reliable, but nobody can prevent all unforeseen occurrences: a power
outage, spilled cup of coffee, fire, or hardware malfunction could happen to anyone. So, no matter how
trouble-free your computer is, please remember one important thing—you must keep current copies of
the data you are working on! This copy is your "backup."
Your data is valuable—that’s probably one of the reasons you bought a computer to store and work with
it. How long would it take to re-enter the entire company payroll or all of your accounts receivable
invoices if they were lost? What if you could not reconstruct the information no matter how much time
you had?
All Eagle 250 computers come with some type of tape backup device. Whether yours is a
streaming tape or DAT drive, learn to use it! Develop regular backup procedures and follow
them! If disaster strikes, you'll be glad you did.
You should back up some or all of the data on your computer at regular intervals. How often you need to
back up depends on how often you add or change data. If you add important data every day, you should
back up your computer each night. If the data changes only once a week, back up once a week, etc.
We strongly suggest you have several sets of backup tapes, so you never record over your most recent
tape. That way, if something goes wrong during a backup, you still have recent data should you need it.
It’s also a good idea to keep one backup off-site so your data is safe if there’s a fire, flood, or similar
disaster in your building. Don’t let one broken water pipe destroy all your records!
Backup programs generally work best if no one else is using the computer when they run, so it’s often
most convenient to run them at night. AMOS offers two ways—command files and the Task Manager—

Keeping Your Computer Happy Page 3-5
Eagle 250 Owner's Manual, Revision 01
to automate backups and have them run at any time you select, even if you aren’t there. These methods
can also automatically run diagnostic programs to check for disk errors before each backup, ensuring you
are copying good data to the backup tape.
If you haven’t yet done so, work with your dealer to determine the best backup schedule for your
business, and to develop a reliable and convenient backup procedure. AMOS uses the MTUSAV and
MTURES commands to transfer data to and from streaming tape. These commands are described in the
AMOS System Commands Reference Manual.
Using a Streaming Tape Drive
If your Eagle 250 includes a streaming tape drive for backup, it’s important that you know what tape
cartridges you can use with it, and how to insert them into and remove them from the drive. The sections
below show the tape cartridges and formats supported by each tape drive available from Alpha Micro,
and describe how to use the tapes with your drive.
Tape Capacity
There are several different ¼" streaming tape drives available for your computer: the AM-62x series of
narrow SCSI drives, and the AM-650 Wide SCSI-2 tape drive. The storage capacity of your tapes
depends both on the drive you have and the type of tape cartridge you are using. The following table
shows the different types of tape cartridges available and the corresponding capacity for the various
drives.
The cartridge tapes shown in the table below are the ones specified for use by the tape drive
manufacturer. Using tapes other than those recommended may cause excess head wear.
3M Cartridge Capacity Notes
DC6037 40MB Not supported in AM-650
DC6150 150MB
DC6250 250MB
DC6320 320MB Not supported in AM-625
DC6525 525MB Not supported in AM-625
Magnus 1.0 1GB Not supported in AM-625 or 626
Magnus 2.0 2GB AM-628, 629, and 650 only
Sony SLR5 4GB or 8GB AM-629 only
Imation 13GB 13GB or 26GB AM-650 only

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¼" Tape Drive Read/Write Compatibility
Streaming tape drives use many different data formats. The tape drives for your computer can read (R)
and write (W) the following formats:
QIC-11 QIC-24 QIC-120 QIC-150 QIC-320 QIC-1000 QIC-2GB
AM-625 R - R - R - R W - - - - - -
AM-626 - - R - R - R W R W - - - -
AM-627 - - R - R - R W R W R W - -
AM-628 - - R - R - R W R W R W R W
AM-629 - - R - R - R W R W R W R W
AM-650 - - - - - - R W R W R W R W
The AM-629 also supports QIC-9634 and 9634C with 4GB tapes; the AM-650 also supports QIC-5010
and QIC 5010C formats with 13GB tapes.
In most cases, you don’t need to worry about tape format; the computer will automatically select the
proper format to read or write each tape. You’ll only be concerned with specific tape formats if you’re
using tape to transfer data to or from another computer with a different model tape drive.
Some software may have further restrictions on tape format.
Loading and Unloading Tape Cartridges
To avoid static discharge, always ground yourself by touching the metal chassis before loading or
unloading a tape cartridge.
For the AM-62x tape drives, follow this procedure to load a tape cartridge:
1. Press the button on the drive's front panel to open the tape drive door.
2. Hold the cartridge with the metal side down. The end of the tape cartridge with the write-protect
switch will enter the drive first.
3. Insert the cartridge into the drive. Keep pushing until the cartridge stops, and then close the door.
After the door closes, the drive positions the tape, after which it is ready for use.
Before unloading the tape cartridge, be sure the tape activity light is not flashing. To unload, press the
tape door release button and remove the tape from the drive.
This is the procedure for the AM-650:
1. Hold the cartridge with the metal side down. The end of the tape cartridge with the write-protect
switch will enter the drive first.
2. Insert the cartridge into the drive. When the cartridge is part way in, the drive will take it and
load it into the proper position.
If you insert a tape incorrectly, the drive will reject it. Do not attempt to force a tape into the
drive! If the tape does not load easily, take it back out and check its orientation.

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Before unloading the tape cartridge, be sure the tape activity light (the center green LED) is out. To
unload, press the tape eject and the drive will eject the tape.
Using a DAT Drive
The DAT drive is very simple to use:
1. In order to save data to the tape, the window on the tape cartridge must be in the write-enable
position. The figure below shows the tape window in both "write-enable" and "write-protected"
positions.
2. The tape inserts as shown below. As you insert the tape through the tape door, the DAT drive
pulls the tape cartridge into position.
WINDOW SHUT = WRITE ENABLE
WINDOW OPEN = WRITE PROTECTED
TAPE EJECT BUTTON
DRIVE STATUS LEDs
DAT
DAT Tape Drive
3. Once the tape is loaded, the status lights on the drive indicate the status of both the drive and the
cartridge. See the manual that came with your tape drive for information on interpreting the
status lights.
4. To unload the tape cartridge from the DAT drive, press the tape eject button, which is shown
above. The drive will automatically eject the tape.
Warm Booting
Warm booting is the process of booting the computer using a tape rather than the disk drive. It is
necessary only if a problem, usually with the disk drive, keeps the computer from booting normally. If

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you have a warm boot tape, and a good backup tape, you can normally recover all your data even if your
disk drive “crashes” and is unreadable.
Warm booting requires a special tape containing the proper system software files. You should have at
least two, and possibly more, warm boot tapes.
Your dealer or technician may have made warm boot tapes when he or she installed the computer. Check
with your dealer to make sure the proper warm boot tapes for your computer exist, whether they’re at
your office or your dealer’s.
As you become more familiar with your computer, we strongly recommend you create several warm boot
tapes. In addition, if you ever change the drive configuration or AMOS version of your computer, you
will almost certainly want to make all new warm boot tapes.
You can use the WRMGEN program to generate a warm boot monitor, and the appropriate backup
command to place the monitor onto a tape. See the AMOS User's Guide and the AMOS System
Commands Reference Manual for details on these procedures.
CHECKING THE DISK
A disk diagnostic program reads data from a disk. If it cannot read an area of the disk, it reports the
problem to you. Checking your disk frequently with disk diagnostic programs helps prevent data loss—
the sooner you catch a malfunction, the less data is likely to be affected.
Before using disk diagnostic programs, talk to your dealer. If you have an automatic backup
procedure, it may include a disk diagnostic program as well as the backup. You may not need to
use these programs separately.
If a diagnostic program indicates problems, you may need to restore data from a backup copy or
reconstruct the data on a damaged disk. If you have this type of problem, contact your dealer.
Before running a disk diagnostic program, especially if you suspect a problem, it is a good idea to use the
SET DSKERR command:
SET DSKERR ENTER
This causes the computer to report the location of any errors the diagnostic program finds. If you don't
use SET DSKERR, you see only that an error occurred, not where on the disk it happened. You must run
the diagnostic program from the same job where you used SET DSKERR.
See Chapter 5 for a discussion of how AMOS organizes information on the disk.
The next two sections discuss two very useful diagnostic programs, REDALL and DSKANA. There is
more information on these disk diagnostic programs in the AMOS System Operator's Guide and the
AMOS User's Guide.