Certance DAT 24 User manual

i
Online User's Guide
DAT24 Tape Drive
CERTANCE

Copyright and Trademarks
Copyright © 2004 by Certance LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Part Number 50001756
April 2004
Certance and the Certance logo are trademarks of Certance LLC. Other product names are trademarks or reg-
istered trademarks of their respective owners.
Certance reserves the right to change, without notice, product offerings or specifications. No part of this publi-
cation may be reproduced in any form without written permission from Certance LLC.
Certance provides this manual “as is,” without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including, but
not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Certance reserves
the right to change, without notification, the specifications contained in this manual.
Certance assumes no responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, sufficiency, or usefulness of this manual, nor
for any problem that might arise from the use of the information in this manual.

Warnings
All safety and operating instructions should be read before this product is operated, and should be retained for
future reference. This unit has been engineered and manufactured to assure your personal safety. Improper use
can result in potential electrical shock or fire hazards. In order not to defeat the safeguards, observe the follow-
ing basic rules for installation, use and servicing.
•Heed warnings — All warnings on the product and in the operating instructions should be adhered to.
•Follow instructions — All operating and use instructions should be followed.
•Ventilation — The product should be situated so that its location or position does not interfere with proper
ventilation.
•Heat — The product should be situated away from heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, fur-
naces, or other heat producing appliances.
•Power sources — The product should be connected to a power source only of the type directed in this
document or as marked on the product.
•Power cord protection — The power cord should be routed so that it is not likely to be walked on or
pinched by items placed upon or against it, paying particular attention to the cord at the wall receptacle,
and the point where the cord exits from the product.
•To complete the disconnection of the electricity, please remove the power (electric) cord and the SCSI
cable from their connections in the back of the product. The plugs should be placed near the product for
easy access.
•Object and liquid entry — Care should be taken to insure that objects do not fall and liquids are not
spilled into the product's enclosure through openings.
•Servicing — The user should not attempt to service the product beyond that described in the operating
instructions. All other servicing should be referred to qualified service personnel.
CAUTION: This symbol should alert the user to the presence of “dangerous voltage” inside the
product that might cause harm or electric shock.
Caution! Risk of electric shock! Do not open!
To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not remove the cover (or back). No user-serviceable parts
are inside. Refer servicing to qualified service personnel.

Precautions
•Do not use oil, solvents, gasoline, paint thinners, or insecticides on the unit.
•Do not expose the unit to moisture or to temperatures higher than 151 °F (66 °C) or lower than
-40 °F (-40°C).
•Keep the unit away from direct sunlight, strong magnetic fields, excessive dust, humidity, and
electronic/electrical equipment, which generate electrical noise.
•Hold the power cord by the head when removing it from the AC outlet; pulling the cord can damage the
internal wires.
•Use the unit on a firm level surface free from vibration, and do not place anything on top of the unit.

FCC Notice
This equipment generates and uses radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used properly — that is, in
strict accordance with the manufacturer's instructions — may cause interference to radio communications or
radio and television reception. It has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B computing
device in accordance with the specifications in Part 15 of FCC Rules, which are designed to provide reason-
able protection against such interference in a residential installation. However, there is no guarantee that inter-
ference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause interference to radio or television
reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment on and off, you are encouraged to try to correct
the interference by one or more of the following measures:
•Reorient the receiving antenna.
•Relocate the computer with respect to the receiver.
•Move the computer into a different outlet so that the computer and receiver are on different branch
circuits.
If necessary, you should consult the dealer or an experienced radio/television technician for additional sugges-
tions. You may find the booklet, How to Identify and Resolve Radio-TV Interference Problems, prepared by the
Federal Communications Commission, helpful. This booklet (Stock No. 004-000-00345-4) is available from the
U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402.
Further, this equipment complies with the limits for a Class B digital apparatus in accordance with Canadian
Radio Interference Regulations.
Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est conforme au Règlement sur brouillage radioélectrique, C. R. C., ch.
1374.
The desktop device drive described in this manual requires shielded interface cables to comply with FCC emis-
sion limits.
WARNING: Changes or modifications made to this equipment, which have not been expressly
approved by Certance, may cause radio and television interference problems that could void
the user's authority to operate the equipment.
WARNING: To prevent fire or electrical shock hazard, do not expose the unit to rain or
moisture.
To avoid electrical shock, do not open the cabinet.
Refer servicing to qualified personnel.

vi
Contents
Chapter 1 – Introduction .................................................. 9
Chapter 2 – Installation ................................................. 10
Introduction ........................................................................................10
Unpacking and Inspection ...................................................................10
Installing an Internal DAT24 Drive .........................................................10
Installing the Desktop DAT24 Drive .......................................................18
Chapter 3 – Operation................................................... 20
Introduction .......................................................................................20
Loading a Cartridge ...........................................................................20
Unloading a Cartridge ........................................................................21
Initializing a Blank DAT Cartridge .........................................................21
DAT Cartridge Compatibility ................................................................22
Write-Protecting a DAT Cartridge ..........................................................22
Cleaning the Tape Heads ....................................................................23
LED Codes .........................................................................................23
Chapter 4 – UNIX Settings ............................................. 26
Introduction ........................................................................................26
Setting DIP Switches for UNIX Support ..................................................26
Configuring Inquiry Strings ..................................................................27
Configuring for the DEC UNIX Environment ...........................................28
Configuring for the Sun Environment .....................................................29
Configuring for the SGI Environment .....................................................30
Configuring for the HP-UX Workstation Environment ................................32
Configuring for the IBM AIX Environment ...............................................33
Configuring for the SCO Environment ...................................................34

vii
List of Figures
Figure 1. DIP Switches and Jumpers for Internal DAT24 Tape Drives ......................... 11
Figure 2. DIP Switch Settings for Internal DAT24 Drives........................................... 12
Figure 3. Location of Jumper Blocks on Internal DAT2 Drives.................................... 14
Figure 4. Mounting Holes for Internal DAT24 Drive in a 3.5-inch Configuration
(no mounting brackets) .......................................................................... 16
Figure 5. Mounting Holes for Internal DAT24 Drive in 5.25-inch Configuration
(with mounting brackets) ........................................................................ 16
Figure 6. Locations of SCSI Interface and Power Connectors on the Internal Drive ...... 17
Figure 7. Rear Panel of the Desktop Drive.............................................................. 19
Figure 8. SCSI Termination Examples.................................................................... 19
Figure 9. Loading a DAT Tape Cartridge (3.5-inch drive) ........................................ 20
Figure 10. Location of Tape Eject Button and Drive Status LED.................................. 21
Figure 11. Write-protect Tab on a DAT Cartridge................................................... 22
Figure 12. Status LEDs on the Front of the Drive...................................................... 24

viii
List of Tables
Table 1. DAT24 Models Covered in This User’s Guide.............................................. 9
Table 2. LED Flash Codes.................................................................................... 24
Table 3. Cartridge Status LED .............................................................................. 25
Table 4. Drive Configuration Settings.................................................................... 26
Table 5. Inquiry Strings ....................................................................................... 27
Table 6. DAT24 PRTNO Value............................................................................. 27

9
1 Introduction
The Certance DAT24 is a digital audio tape (DAT) drive that supports the Digital Data Storage (DDS-
3) tape format. The DAT24 drive provides a typical capacity of 24 Gbytes, assuming 2:1 data com-
pression (native capacity is 12 Gbytes).
The DAT24 tape drive can connect to a standard, single-ended SCSI or SCSI-2 interface. You can
use a 50-conductor flat cable or a 25-signal twisted-pair cable to connect the drive to a SCSI host
adapter. The cable should not exceed 6 meters (19.5 feet).
The DAT24 drive is offered as internal and desktop versions:
•The internal version is available as a 3.5-inch or 5.25-inch tape drive. It provides a 50-pin,
dual-row single-ended SCSI connector at the back of the drive.
•The desktop version provides two 50-pin, shielded connectors (ANSI Alternative 2) on the
back panel. These connectors consist of two rows of ribbon contacts spaced 2.16 mm
(0.085 in) apart. Either connector can be used as a SCSI IN or SCSI OUT connection.
Table 1 on page 9 identifies the Certance DAT24 drive models and model numbers covered by this
User’s Guide.
Table 1. DAT24 Models Covered in This User’s Guide
Model Model Number
3.5-inch internal model STD124000N
5.25-inch internal model STD224000N
Desktop model STD624000N

10
2 Installation
Introduction
This chapter explains how to install the internal and desktop DAT24 tape drives.
Topics covered in this chapter are:
•“Unpacking and Inspection” on page 10
•“Installing an Internal DAT24 Drive” on page 10
•“Installing the Desktop DAT24 Drive” on page 18
Unpacking and Inspection
Although drives are inspected and carefully packaged at the factory, damage may occur during
shipping. Follow these steps for unpacking the drive.
1. Visually inspect the shipping containers and notify your carrier immediately of any damage.
2. Place shipping containers on a flat, clean, stable surface; then carefully remove the contents. If
the equipment is damaged, notify your Certance representative.
3. Always save the containers and packing materials for any future reshipment.
Installing an Internal DAT24 Drive
Installing the internal DAT24 drive involves the following steps:
1. Observe the guidelines and cautions for handling internal tape drives. See “Internal Tape
Drive Guidelines and Cautions” on page 11.
2. Configure the drive. See “Configuring the Internal DAT24 Drive” on page 11.
3. Mount the drive. See “Mounting an Internal DAT24 Drive” on page 15.
4. Connect the power and interface cables. See “Connecting Power and Interface Cables” on
page 17.
5. Registering the tape drive. After you install the DAT24, register it. Registering it ensures that
you will receive the latest information about the drive, as well as other product, service, and
support information. For your convenience, you can register the DAT24 through our Web site
at http://register.certance.com.
NOTE: Internal drives come in two mounting configurations. Drives configured for 5.25-inch
bays are identical to those designed for 3.5-inch bays, except that drive-mounting brackets have
been added on each side of the drive. Installation procedures are the same for both drive
configurations.

Installation Installing an Internal DAT24 Drive
11
Internal Tape Drive Guidelines and Cautions
The following guidelines and cautions apply to handling and installing the internal DAT24 tape
drive. Keep them in mind as you install the internal drive.
•Handle the drive by the sides rather than by the top cover to reduce the risk of dropping the
drive or damaging it during installation.
•Internal drives contain some exposed components that are sensitive to static electricity. To
reduce the possibility of damage from static discharge, the drives are shipped in a protective
antistatic bag. Do not remove the drive from the antistatic bag until you are ready to install it.
•Before you remove the drive from the antistatic bag, touch a metal or grounded surface to dis-
charge any static electricity buildup from your body.
•Always lay the drive either on top of the antistatic bag or place it inside of the bag to reduce
the chance of damage from static discharge.
Configuring the Internal DAT24 Drive
Before you install the internal DAT24 tape drive in your computer, you may need to set the drive's
SCSI ID or other drive features. Most features are set using a bank of dip-switches on the underside
of the drive (see Figure 1 on page 11). To control SCSI termination and terminator power, or to con-
figure the drive for remote SCSI address selection, use the jumpers on the back of the drive, above
the interface and power connectors.
Figure 1. DIP Switches and Jumpers for Internal DAT24 Tape Drives
The default settings for internal DAT24 tape drives are:
•SCSI ID is 0.
•Drive reads and writes both MRS and non-MRS 4-mm media.
•Parity checking is disabled.
•Data compression is enabled.
•Power-on self-test diagnostics are disabled.
•SCSI termination is disabled.
If the default settings are appropriate for your computer system, skip ahead to “Mounting an Internal
DAT24 Drive” on page 15. Otherwise, proceed to “Changing DIP Switch Settings” on page 12.
Note:
Drive is shown upside down
Dip switches
SCSI jumper block

Installation Installing an Internal DAT24 Drive
12
Changing DIP Switch Settings
Figure 2 on page 12 shows the location of DIP switches on the underside of the internal DAT24
drive. Factory-default settings for each switch are also shown in Figure 2 on page 12. These settings
are described in detail on the following pages.
Figure 2. DIP Switch Settings for Internal DAT24 Drives
SCSI ID Switches (Switches 1 through 3)
Switches 1, 2, and 3 correspond to the SCSI device address identification bits 0 (least-significant
bit), 1, and 2 (most-significant bit), respectively. The default setting is SCSI ID 0 (all three switches
OFF).
NOTE: If you change a DIP switch setting, the new setting does not take effect until you restart
the drive or send a SCSI Bus Reset to the drive.
NOTE: Each SCSI device on a bus must have a unique SCSI ID. The SCSI host controller gener-
ally uses ID 7. In some systems, the boot drive uses ID 0.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10
O
F F
Block of 10 dip switches
S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7* S8
OFF
ON
OFF
SCSI ID
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
S9 S10
Note:
Drive is shown upside down
Default dip-switch settings:
Inquiry
String
Data
compression Self-test
Parity
MRS
Mode
Enable
Disable
Disable
Enable
Enable
Disable
All
MRS
only
SCSI ID Selection
OFF
ON
OFF
ON
OFF
ON
OFF
ON
OFF
OFF
ON
ON
OFF
OFF
ON
ON
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
ON
ON
ON
ON
S1
ON
UNIX
Configuration
Seagate
Archive
see text
Key to dip-switch settings:
*Some drives may be factory-configured to
use the Archive inquiry string.

Installation Installing an Internal DAT24 Drive
13
Media Recognition System (Switch 4)
•Switch 4 ON = Media Recognition System mode disabled (default)
•Switch 4 OFF = Media Recognition System mode enabled
The media-recognition system allows the drive to determine whether a DAT tape supports the DDS
standard. Using non-DDS media may appear to give satisfactory results, but the inferior specifica-
tions of such media can cause data-integrity problems.
Switch 4 enables or disables Media Recognition System (MRS) mode. If switch 4 is ON (the default
setting), the drive reads or writes both MRS and non-MRS 4-mm media. If switch 4 is OFF, the drive
reads and writes to MRS media, and reads from but does not write to 4-mm media.
Parity Check (Switch 5)
•Switch 5 ON = Parity checking enabled
•Switch 5 OFF = Parity checking disabled (default)
Switch 5 enables or disables parity checking for the SCSI bus. If switch 5 is ON, parity checking is
enabled. If switch 5 is OFF (the default setting) parity checking is disabled, but parity is still gener-
ated by the drive.
DDS Pass-through Mode (Switch 6)
•Switch 6 ON = DDS pass-through data compression disabled
•Switch 6 OFF = DDS pass-through data compression enabled (default)
If switch 6 is OFF (the default setting), DDS pass-through data compression is enabled. If switch 6 is
ON, data compression is disabled.
Inquiry String (Switch 7)
•Switch 7 ON = Drive identifies itself as a Seagate DAT drive (default)
•Switch 7 OFF = Drive identifies itself as an Archive Python drive
If switch 7 is ON, the drive generates a SCSI inquiry string that identifies it as a Seagate DAT drive.
For compatibility with older software and operating systems, the drive can be configured as an
Archive Python drive by setting switch 7 to OFF.
NOTE: The setting of switch 6 can be overridden if the host computer issues the appropriate
SCSI Mode Select command.

Installation Installing an Internal DAT24 Drive
14
Power On Self Test (Switch 8)
•Switch 8 ON = Drive performs Power On Self Test
•Switch 8 OFF = Drive does not perform Power On Self Test (default)
Switch 8 enables or disables execution of Power On Self Test (POST) diagnostics when powered on.
If switch 8 is OFF (the default setting), the drive does not perform a POST. If switch 8 is ON, the
drive responds to SCSI commands only after successful completion of the POST (about 5 seconds).
UNIX Operating Systems (Switches 9 and 10)
Switches 9 and 10 configure the DAT24 tape drive for use with UNIX operating systems. For more
information, see Chapter 4, “UNIX Settings” on page 26.
Jumper Settings
Configuration jumpers on the back of the drive control SCSI bus termination and terminator power.
The jumpers can also be used for remote SCSI address selection. Figure 3 on page 14 shows the
locations of the jumper block and jumper settings for the internal DAT drive.
Figure 3. Location of Jumper Blocks on Internal DAT2 Drives
Settings for each jumper described in detail in the following pages. The default settings are:
•Terminator power is disabled.
•Active termination is disabled.
10
9 7
6
5
4
3
2
1
12
11
14
13
16
15
8
Remote SCSI ID
SCSI Termination
(Jumper on pins 11-12
enables active termination)
Termination Power
(Jumper on pins 15-16
enables termination power)
Jumper ON Jumper OFF
Pins
5-6
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
ON
ON
ON
ON
Pins
3-4
OFF
OFF
ON
ON
OFF
OFF
ON
ON
Pins
1-2
OFF
ON
OFF
ON
OFF
ON
OFF
ON
SCSI
ID
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Jumper Block

Installation Installing an Internal DAT24 Drive
15
Enabling SCSI Termination
Active SCSI termination is disabled as the factory default. If the drive is the only device on the SCSI
bus, or if it is the last device on the bus, enable active termination by placing a jumper across pins
11 and 12.
Terminator Power
You can enable terminator power if needed for terminators or other SCSI devices through a jumper
placement. The factory default for internal drives is that terminator power is disabled. To enable ter-
minator power, place a jumper across pins 15 and 16, as shown in Figure 3 on page 14.
The drive contains a terminator power fuse to prevent damage to drive components in case the termi-
nator power is shorted. If terminator power is enabled and the SCSI cable is connected upside
down, for example, this fuse may blow to prevent damage to the drive. If this occurs, the drive will
no longer supply terminator power to the bus. To replace the fuse, return the drive to an authorized
repair facility.
Remote SCSI Address Selection
Use pins 1 through 6 to select the SCSI address remotely. To do so, connect a remote SCSI ID switch
to pins 1 through 6.
•Pins 1 and 2 configure SCSI ID bit 0.
•Pins 3 and 4 configure SCSI ID bit 1.
•Pins 5 and 6 configure SCSI ID bit 2.
Mounting an Internal DAT24 Drive
You can install the internal DAT24 drive horizontally or vertically (on its side).
Mounting the Drive in a 3.5-inch Drive Bay
To mount the drive in a 3.5-inch drive bay, mount the drive using two M3.0 metric screws on each
side of the drive. Do not use screws longer than 4 mm or you may damage the drive. The 3.5-inch
drive has four screw holes on the bottom and five on each side (see Figure 4 on page 16).
Caution. If the jumper is installed, be careful not to short the TERMPWR signal to ground.
NOTE: If you use remote SCSI ID selection, set switches 1 through 3 to the OFF position (see
Figure 1 on page 11).

Installation Installing an Internal DAT24 Drive
16
Figure 4. Mounting Holes for Internal DAT24 Drive in a 3.5-inch Configuration
(no mounting brackets)
Mounting the Drive in a 5.25-inch Drive Bay
To mount the drive in a 5.25-inch drive bay, use a drive with mounting brackets. The 5.25-inch drive
brackets have four screw holes on the bottom and six on each side (see Figure 5 on page 16).
Figure 5. Mounting Holes for Internal DAT24 Drive in 5.25-inch Configuration
(with mounting brackets)
M3.0 X
4 DEEP MIN.
4 PLACES
94.0 mm
(3.70 in)
3.8 mm
(.15 in)
2 PLACES
31.0 mm
(1.22 in)
70.0 mm
(2.76 in)
8.0 mm
(.31 in)
2 PLACES
M3.0 X
4 DEEP MIN.
10 PLACES
5.0 mm
(.20 in)
2 PLACES
35.0 mm
(1.38 in)
2 PLACES
60.0 mm
(2.36 in)
2 PLACES
21.0 mm
(.83 in)
2 PLACES
30.0 mm
(1.18 in)
2 PLACES
Side View Bottom View
104.1 mm
(4.10 in)
45.0 mm
(1.77 in)
6 mm
(.24 in)
2 PLACES
152 mm
(5.98 in)
101.6 mm
(4.00 in)
41.2 mm
(1.62 in)
28.3 mm
(1.11 in)
2 PLACES
41.3 mm
(1.63 in)
M3.0 X
4 DEEP MIN.
4 PLACES
139.7 mm
(5.50 in)
47.6 mm
(1.87 in)
79.4 mm
(3.13 in)
M3.0 X
4 DEEP MIN.
12 PLACES
79.4 mm
(3.13 in)
2 PLACES
47.6 mm
(1.87 in)
2 PLACES
148.5 mm
(5.84 in)
6 mm
(.24 in)
2 PLACES
180.6 mm
(7.11 in)
146 mm
(5.74 in)
41.2 mm
(1.62 in)
21.8 mm
(.86 in)
2 PLACES
31.5 mm
(1.24 in)
2 PLACES
41.3 mm
(1.63 in)
9.9 mm
(.39 in)
2 PLACES
Side View Bottom View

Installation Installing an Internal DAT24 Drive
17
Connecting Power and Interface Cables
Attach the power and SCSI interface cables to the appropriate connectors on the back of the drive.
Figure 6 on page 17 shows the locations of these connections.
Connecting the SCSI Interface Cable
Turn off all power to the drive and host computer. Attach the SCSI cable, making sure to align pin 1
on the cable with pin 1 on the drive. Pin 1 on the SCSI connector is to your right as you look at the
back of the drive (see Figure 6). Your SCSI cable should have pin 1 highlighted by a colored stripe.
Connecting the Power Cable
Attach a 4-pin power connector from the system power supply to the connector on the back of the
drive. The recommended 4-pin power connector for the internal drive is an AMP 1-48024-0 housing
with AMP 60617-1 pins or equivalent.
Figure 6. Locations of SCSI Interface and Power Connectors on the Internal Drive
4-pin
power
connector
SCSI pin 1
SCSI connector

Installation Installing the Desktop DAT24 Drive
18
Installing the Desktop DAT24 Drive
The desktop DAT24 tape drive is a compact external unit that connects to the host computer as a
turnkey subsystem. Installing the external drive involves the following steps:
1. Configure the drive. See “Configuring the Desktop DAT24 Drive” on page 18.
2. Set the SCSI ID. See “Setting the SCSI ID” on page 18.
3. Connect the SCSI interface cable. See “Connecting the SCSI Interface Cable” on page 19.
4. Connect the power cord. See “Connecting the Power Cord” on page 19.
5. Registering the tape drive. After you install the DAT24, register it. Registering it ensures that
you will receive the latest information about the drive, as well as other product, service, and
support information. For your convenience, you can register the DAT24 through our Web site
at http://register.certance.com.
Configuring the Desktop DAT24 Drive
The following is the default configuration for desktop DAT24 tape drive:
•Drive reads and writes both MRS and non-MRS 4-mm media.
•Parity checking is disabled.
•DDS-DC data compression is enabled.
•POST is disabled.
•Termination power is supplied to the SCSI bus.
Setting the SCSI ID
Be sure the drive is turned off; then set the SCSI ID for the drive using the push-button switch on the
back of the external drive. Figure 7 on page 19 shows this switch, as well as the two SCSI interface
connectors, the on/off switch, and the power-cord connector.
NOTE: Some configuration settings can be changed using the SCSI Mode Select command.
SCSI command information for Certance DAT drives is provided in the product description
manual.
NOTE: The drive must be restarted, or a SCSI bus reset must be issued to have the new SCSI ID
take effect.

Installation Installing the Desktop DAT24 Drive
19
Figure 7. Rear Panel of the Desktop Drive
Connecting the SCSI Interface Cable
The desktop DAT24 tape drive has two SCSI connectors to allow daisy chaining (see Figure 7 on
page 19. You can use either connector to attach the drive to the host computer or to another SCSI
device.
If the desktop drive is the last device or the only device in a SCSI chain, install a terminating plug on
the unused SCSI connector. Figure 8 on page 19 shows two SCSI termination examples.
Figure 8. SCSI Termination Examples
Connecting the Power Cord
Attach the power cord securely to the power connector on the back of the drive. Figure 7 on
page 19 shows the location of the power connector.
NOTE: Turn off all power before connecting or disconnecting SCSI cables or terminating plugs.
6
Power
Connector
ON/OFF
Switch
Push-button
Switch
SCSI
Connectors
Example 1: SCSI termination
in a system that has only
external SCSI devices.
Example 2: SCSI termination
in a system that has both
internal and external SCSI devices.
Internal SCSI device
Internal SCSI device
(termination enabled)
External SCSI device
(termination enabled)
External SCSI device
SCSI Controller
External SCSI device
External SCSI device
(termination enabled)
SCSI Controller
(termination enabled)

20
3 Operation
Introduction
This chapter describes how to use your internal or external DAT24 tape drive.
Topics covered in this chapter are:
•“Loading a Cartridge” on page 20
•“Unloading a Cartridge” on page 21
•“Initializing a Blank DAT Cartridge” on page 21
•“DAT Cartridge Compatibility” on page 22
Loading a Cartridge
The DAT24 tape drive has a front-loading cartridge bay for easy operation. The drive-bay door
opens automatically when a cartridge is inserted. Figure 9 on page 20 shows a cartridge being
inserted into a 3.5-inch internal drive. After you insert the cartridge, there will be a brief delay while
the drive identifies the cartridge type and state and moves the tape to the data area.
Figure 9. Loading a DAT Tape Cartridge (3.5-inch drive)
Caution. To avoid data loss, clean the drive heads using a DDS head-cleaning cartridge after
every 25 hours of read/write operation, or whenever the green cartridge-status LED flashes dur-
ing operation. See page 23 for cleaning procedure.