Digital Equipment SA106 Technical manual

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SA106/TA867 Storage Subsystem
User and Installation Guide
EK–SA106–IM–001
Digital Equipment Corporation

First Edition, August 1992
The information in this document is subject to change without notice and should not
be construed as a commitment by Digital Equipment Corporation. Digital Equipment
Corporation assumes no responsibility for any errors that may appear in this document.
Copyright © Digital Equipment Corporation 1992
All Rights Reserved.
Printed in U.S.A.
FCC NOTICE: The equipment described in this manual generates, uses, and may emit
radio frequency energy. The equipment has been type tested and found to comply with
the limits for a class A computing device pursuant to Part 15 of FCC Rules, which are
designed to provide reasonable protection against such radio frequency interference when
operated in a commercial environment. Operation of this equipment in a residential area
may cause interference, in which case the user at his own expense may be required to
take measures to correct the interference.
The following are trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation: CompacTape, TK, TZ,
VAX, VMS, and the DIGITAL logo.

Contents
Preface v
1 User Information
1.1 Introduction...................................... 1–1
1.2 Specifications..................................... 1–3
1.3 Related Documentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–3
2 Physical Installation
2.1 SitePlanning..................................... 2–1
2.1.1 Space Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–1
2.1.2 Power Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–1
2.1.3 Environmental Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–1
2.1.4 STI Interconnect Cabling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–2
2.1.5 STICables..................................... 2–2
3 Acceptance Testing
3.1 Power-on Self-test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–1
3.2 Diagnostics....................................... 3–1
4 Operation
4.1 Controls and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–1
Figures
1–1 SA106 Storage Subsystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–2
2–1 SA106RearView.................................. 2–4
4–1 SA106 and TA867 Controls and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–3
iii

iv Contents
Tables
1–1 Specifications..................................... 1–3
2–1 STI Interconnect Cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–3
4–1 SA106 and TA867 Controls and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–2

Preface
This manual includes four chapters that provide the following information
about the SA106-AA/AB and TA867-AA/AB Storage Subsystem.
• User Information
• Physical Installation
• Acceptance Testing
• Operation
v

1
UserInformation
1.1 Introduction
The SA106 storage subsystem (Figure 1–1):
• Can be added to any installation that uses conventional ac power
• Does not require any special site preparation
The SA106 storage subsystem contains two compartments:
• Upper compartment with one factory installed magazine tape
subsystem
• Lower compartment with the SCSI/STI adapter assembly
The TA867 Kit is installed in an existing cabinet. See the installation
instructions in the TA867 Kit for information.
The TA867 storage subsystem includes:
• Magazine tape subsystem
• SCSI/STI adapter assembly
• Mounting hardware kit
1–1

1–2 User Information
Figure 1–1 SA106 Storage Subsystem
SHR-X0177_91-DG

User Information 1–3
1.2 Specifications
Table 1–1 lists the specifications of the SA106/TA867 storage subsystem.
Table 1–1 Specifications
Characteristic SA106/TA867 Storage Subsystem
Data backup
capacity 42.0 GB
Performance 800 KB/s sustained data rate
Power requirements 100-120/220-240 Vac (50/60 Hz)
Weight 86.184 kg (190 lb) (SA106 only)
Height 71.12 cm (28 in) (SA106 only)
Width 43.18 cm (17 in) (SA106 only)
Length 86.36 cm (34 in) (SA106 only)
Communications
interface STI bus
Environmental
standard (operating) 10°C to 40°C
20 to 80% RH
Environmental
standard
(nonoperating)
–40°C to 66°C
10 to 90% RH
EMI certification Meets applicable FCC standards for Class A devices
Safety certification Meets UL, CSA, and IEC standards
Power consumption 175 W
1.3 Related Documentation
See the Tx867 Series Magazine Tape Subsystem Owner’s Manual (EK–
TX867–OM) for information on the magazine tape subsystem contained in
the SA106 subsystem.

2
PhysicalInstallation
2.1 Site Planning
Follow the requirements in this section to prepare a site for the SA106
and TA867 subsystems.
2.1.1 Space Requirements
Leave enough space to remove the magazine tape subsystem from the
front of the cabinet (about 1 meter). Also leave enough space to remove
the SCSI/STI adapter assembly from the rear of the cabinet (about 1
meter).
2.1.2 Power Requirements
The subsystem can operate from 100 to 120 Vac at 60 Hz, or from 220 to
240 Vac at 50 Hz.
2.1.3 Environmental Requirements
The SA106 and TA867 conform to a modified class A environment (general
offices and workstations).
• When the SA106 and TA867 are operating, the temperature should
range from 10°C to 40°C with relative humidity of 20 to 80%
noncondensing
• When the SA106 and TA867 are not operating, the temperature
should range from –40°C to 66°C with relative humidity of 10 to 90%
2–1

2–2 Physical Installation
2.1.4 STI Interconnect Cabling
1. Connect the STI cable(s) to the rear of the SA106 chassis (Figure 2–1).
Each cable is secured with two captive screws. For cabling of the
TA867, see the documentation in the TA867 Kit.
2. Connect the HSC cable(s) to the K.SI module.
NOTE
K.STI modules do not support the SA106 and TA867 storage
subsystems.
3. Assign a unique unit number to the magazine tape subsystem. The
unit number is a decimal number between 0 and 255. To assign the
unit number, use the push buttons on the side of the unit number
switch to increase or decrease the number.
Transport numbers are always assigned in groups of four to each
formatter. Transports are assigned the following unit numbers:
• 0 to 3 for the first formatter
• 4 to 7 on the second formatter of a system with two or more
formatters
• 8 to 11 on the third formatter, and so on
4. Place a decal identifying the transport unit number just below the
loader fault indicator on the magazine tape subsystem .
2.1.5 STI Cables
The SA106 storage subsystem will contain one, 25-foot STI cable. You will
need a second cable for dual applications.

Physical Installation 2–3
Table 2–1 lists part numbers and lengths of cables that can be connected
to an SA106 storage subsystem:
Table 2–1 STI Interconnect Cables
Part numbers Length
BC26V–03 .914 m (3 ft)
BC26V–06 1.828 m (6 ft)
BC26V–12 3.657 m (12 ft)
BC26V–25 7.62 m (25 ft)
BC26V–50 15.519 m (50 ft)
BC26V–6D 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
BC26V–7L 2.387 m (7 ft 10 in)
BC26V–80 24.663 m (80 ft)

2–4 Physical Installation
Figure 2–1 SA106 Rear View
SCSI
BUS
A PORT B PORT
(STI
CABLE)
SHR-x0172_92.epsf

3
AcceptanceTesting
3.1 Power-on Self-test
See the Tx867 Series Magazine Tape Subsystem Owners Manual (EK–
TX867–OM) for information on power-on self-test (POST) for the magazine
tape subsystem.
3.2 Diagnostics
The two diagnostic tests for the SA106 and TA867 subsystems are
ILTAPE and ILEXER:
•In-Line Tape Diagnostic (ILTAPE)–A canned sequence diagnostic
that tests the SA106 and TA867 functions by using the basic tape
commands.
•In-Line Exerciser (ILEXER) — This diagnostic exercises from 1 to
10 units in any combination of disk and drives connected to an HSC.
Logic is tested by writing and reading predetermined data patterns
and recording modes.
ILTAPE and ILEXER are run from the HSC ASCII port. See the
appropriate HSC user documentation for more information.
To test the SA106 or TA867:
1. Run ILTAPE for three passes. No errors are allowed. (When both
STI ports are used, run ILTAPE through the second port for one pass
also.)
2. Run ILEXER for 15 minutes. (When both STI ports are used, run
ILEXER through the second port for 15 minutes also.)
3–1

4
Operation
4.1 Controls and Indicators
The following are the indicators and switches on the SCSI/STI adapter
module:
• Port select
• Fault
• Ready
• Unit number
4–1

4–2 Operation
Table 4–1 lists the function and state of each control/indicator:
Table 4–1 SA106 and TA867 Controls and Indicators
Control
/Indicator Function/State
Port Select A In the enable (in) position, PORT SELECT A allows the HSC to
access port A. Under microprogram control, the HSC can then
cause port A to go on line.
Placing Port Select A in the disable (out) position with port A on
line causes serious errors at the HSC.
Port Select A lights when port A is on line (ready to receive any
command or data).
Port Select B The definition of Port Select B for port B is the same as the
definition of Port Select A for port A.
Fault The fault indicator lights when a potentially fatal error has been
detected in the formatter. Even though an error has occurred, the
formatter still attempts to communicate with the HSC.
With a fatal error present, press the Fault switch to clear the
error.
Ready The ready indicator lights after the SCSI/STI adapter successfully
completed its power-on self-tests (POST).
Unit number DSA unit number
TZ867 See the Tx867 Series Magazine Tape Subsystem Owner’s Manual
Figure 4–1 shows the SA106 configuration.

Operation 4–3
Figure 4–1 SA106 and TA867 Controls and Indicators
INDICATOR
FAULT
B PORT
A PORT
UNIT
NUMBER
SHR-X0170_91-DG

4–4 Operation
NOTE
The TA867 configuration will depend on your cabinet installation.
Controls and indicators on the SA106 and TA867 subsystems are
identical.
See the Tx867 Series Magazine Tape Subsystem Owner’s Manual (EK–
TX867–OM) for information on operating the magazine tape subsystem.