Exabyte EXB-8500, EXB-8500c User Manual

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306216-000

Copyright

Copyright 1993 by Exabyte Corporation. All rightsreserved. This item
and the information contained herein are the property of Exabyte
Corporation. No part of this document may be reproduced,
transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into
any language or computer language in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, magnetic, optical, chemical, manual, or
otherwise, without the express written permission of Exabyte
Corporation, 1685 38th Street, Boulder, Colorado 80301.

Disclaimer

Exabyte Corporation makes no representation or warranties with
respect to the contents of this document and specifically disclaims any
implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular
purpose. Further, Exabyte Corporation reserves the right to revise this
publication without obligation to notify any person or organization of
such revisions or changes.

Trademark Notices

AMP is a trademark of AMP Incorporated. Beckman Industrial is a
trademark of Emerson Electric Company. Dale is a registered
trademark of Dale Electronics, Inc. dataMate is a registered trademark
of Methode Electronics, Inc. EXABYTE is a registered trademark and
EXATAPE is a trademark of Exabyte Corporation. Molex is a
registered trademark of Molex Incorporated. All other product names
are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

Revision History

Revision Date Description

000 December 1993 Initial release

Exabyte Corporation

1685 38th Street

Boulder, CO 80301

Phone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

306216-000

2 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 306261

Agency Standards

When properly installed with a shielded enclosure, shielded cable,
and adequate grounding the of the SCSI bus and the input power, the
EXB-8500 and EXB-8500c meet the following safety standards: UL
Standard 1950, 1st Edition, Information Technology Equipment;
CAN/CSA Standard C22.2 No. 950-M-89, Safety of Information
Technology Equipment; and IEC 950/EN60950, Safety of Information
Technology Equipment including Electrical Business Equipment
(TUV).

FCC Notice

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits
for a Class B digital device pursuant to Part 15 of FCC rules. These
limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates,
uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and
used in accordance with the instructions, may cause interference to
radio and television communications. There is no guarantee, however,
that interference 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 off and on, the
user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of
the following measures:

■

Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

■

Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

■

Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from
that to which the receiver is connected.

■

Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for
help and for additional suggestions.

Changes or modifications not expressly approved by Exabyte
Corporation could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

CDC Notice

This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class B limits for radio
noise emissions from digital apparatus set out in the Radio
Interference Regulation of the Canadian Department of
Communication.

December 1993 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 3

Product Warranty Caution

The EXB-8500 and EXB-8500c 8mm Cartridge Tape Subsystems (tape
drives) are warranted to be free from defects in materials, parts, and
workmanship and will conform to the current product specifications
upon delivery. For the specific details of your warranty, refer to your

sales contract or contact the company from which the tape drive was
purchased.

The warranty for the tape drive shall not apply to failures caused by:

■

Physical abuse or use not consistent with the operating
instructions or product specifications provided by Exabyte’s
personnel or agent for the applicable equipment.

■

Modifications by other than Exabyte’s personnel or agent in any
way other than those approved by Exabyte, provided the
warranty shall not be voided by the repair or replacement of
parts or the attachment of items in the manner described in
maintenance or installation instructions provided by Exabyte.

■

Repair by other than Exabyte’s personnel or agent in a manner
contrary to the maintenance instructions provided by Exabyte.

■

Removal of the Exabyte serial number tag.

■

Physical abuse due to improper packaging of returns.

CAUTION

Returning the tape drive in unauthorized packaging may
damage the unit and void the warranty. Refer to the packing
instructions in this book for information.

If problems with the EXB-8500 or EXB-8500c occur, contact your
vendor; do not void the product warranty by allowing untrained or
unauthorized personnel to attempt repairs.

4 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 306261

Contents

Welcome............................7

AboutThisGuide.........................8

ConventionsUsedinThisGuide.................8

ForMoreInformation.......................8

1InstallingtheTapeDrive..................9

Unpacking the Tape Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

EnsuringESDProtection.................... 10

SettingtheSCSIID....................... 11

Preparing the Tape Drive for the SCSI Bus . . . . . . . . . . 14

Installing the Tape Drive in a PC Drive Bay . . . . . . . . . . 17

PerformingtheInitialPowerOn ................ 20

2OperatingtheTapeDrive ................ 23

Reading the LEDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

SelectingDataCartridges ................... 25

SettingtheWrite-ProtectSwitch ................ 26

Loading a Data Cartridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

UnloadingaDataCartridge................... 27

3PreventiveMaintenance ................. 29

Determining When to Clean the Tape Drive . . . . . . . . . . 29

Usingthe8mmCleaningCartridge............... 30

Caring for Data Cartridges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

ReplacingDataCartridges................... 32

4PackingtheTapeDrive.................. 33

PackingtheTapeDriveforShipment ............. 34

Environmental Requirements for Shipment . . . . . . . . . . 35

Appendix A Installation Requirements .......... 37

SCSI Cable Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

SCSI Cable Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

AttachingtheTapeDrivetoaFrame.............. 38

Chassis Grounding (optional) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Power Cable Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

AppendixBTapeDriveSpecifications .......... 42

Index............................. 43

December 1993 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 5

6 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 306261

W

elcome

Thank you for selecting the EXABYTE®EXB-8500 or
EXB-8500c 8mm Cartridge Tape Subsystem (tape drive).
The EXB-8500 and the EXB-8500c (shown below) are
high-capacity, high-performance, and highly reliable
streaming tape drives for PC, super-mini, and mainframe
computer systems. Packaged in a standard 5.25-inch
form-factor, the EXB-8500c and EXB-8500 are identical on
the outside except for the letter “c” on the EXB-8500c’s
front panel unload button.

The EXB-8500 provides up to 5.0 GBytes of data storage
capacity on a single, standard 112m EXATAPE™ 8mm
Data Cartridge. Using an average data compression ratio
of 2:1, the EXB-8500c can store up to 10.0 GBytes of data
on an 8mm data cartridge.

The tape drive incorporates a single-ended or differential
Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) controller and is
ideally suited for back-up and restore tasks, data
archiving, and data file interchange.

December 1993 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 7

About This Guide

Use this guide as you install and operate the tape drive.
In addition to instructions for installation and operation,
this guide provides information about selecting and
maintaining data cartridges, cleaning the tape drive, and
packing the tape drive for shipment.

Conventions Used in This Guide

This guide uses the following conventions to highlight
special information:

Note: Notes provide hints or suggestions about the topic

or procedure being discussed.

Important

Information in Important boxes will help you
successfully complete a procedure or avoid
additional steps in a procedure.

CAUTION

Information in Caution boxes explains how to avoid
damaging the tape drive, the data cartridge, other
equipment, or data recorded on tape.

For More Information

Fortapedrivespecifications,refertotheEXB-8500 and
EXB-8500c 8mm Cartridge Tape Subsystems Product
Specification (510200). For information about

programming SCSI commands for the tape drive, refer to
the EXB-8500 8mm Cartridge Tape Subsystem User’s Manual
(510201) or the EXB-8500c 8mm Cartridge Tape Subsystem
User’s Manual (510209).

8 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 306261

1 Installing the Tape Drive

This section provides instructions for the following tasks:

■

Unpacking the tape drive and ensuring ESD
protection (page 10)

■

Setting the SCSI ID (page 11)

■

Preparing the tape drive for the SCSI bus (page 14)

■

Installing the tape drive in a PC drive bay (page 17)

■

Connecting the tape drive to the power supply (page

20)

■

Performing the initial power o n (page 20)

Table 1 lists the tools and equipment you will need.

Table 1 Tools and equipment for installing the CTS

Required Tools and Equipment

SCSI cable
(not provided)

Power cable See page 40 for power cable requirements.
Power supply See page 42 for power specifications.

Optional Tools and Equipment

SCSI ID jumpers or
remote switch

External SCSI
bus terminator
(not provided)

Mounting frame
or brackets, four
#6-32 screws, screwdriver

Flat-nose
wiring pliers

See page 37 for SCSI cable requirements.

Use a female Molex®22-55-2061 (or
equivalent) cable connector on the remote
switch cable.

Differential tape drive: If the tape drive
terminates the SCSI bus, use a Methode
Electronics, Inc. dataMate®DM103-01-0 (or
equivalent) differential external terminator.
Single-ended tape drive: If the tape drive
terminates the SCSI bus, you can remove
the tape drive’s internal terminators (R-packs)
and use a dataMate DM103-02-0 (or equi­valent) single-ended external terminator.

Depending on your installation requirements,
can be used to mount the tape drive.

Can be used to remove the R-packs from a
single-ended tape drive. See page 15.

December 1993 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 9

1

⁄4-inch female spade

connector or M3-0.5 6
mm self-tapping screw

Can be used for additional chassis
grounding.

Unpacking the Tape Drive

The tape drive’s packaging is designed to protect the tape
drivefromshock,vibration,moisture,andelectrostatic
discharge (ESD). Save all original packaging in case you
need to repack or ship the tape drive.

CAUTION

If the temperature of the room in which you are
unpacking the tape drive differs from the storage
location by 15° C(27° F) or more, let the tape drive
acclimate in its packaging to the room environment
for at least 12 hours before opening the box. This
helps prevent condensation damage to the drive.

Afteryouunpackthetapedrive,checkthecontentsofthe
carton against the packing list and inspect the tape drive
for possible damage. If a part is missing or the tape drive
is damaged, notify the carrier and your vendor
immediately.

Note: If the tape drive has been stored for more than six

months, follow the instructions on page 21 when
applying power for the first time. (Check the
MLCH label on the top of the tape drive to find
out when the tape drive was manufactured.)

Ensuring ESD Protection

Follow these procedures to protect the tape drive from
electrostatic discharge (ESD):

■

Leave the tape drive in its antistatic bag until you are
ready to install it.

■

Use an antistatic mat and grounded static protection
wristband. If a mat and wristband are unavailable,

10 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 306261

discharge static electricity from your body before
handling the tape drive. (Touch a known grounded
surface, such as your computer’s metal chassis.)

■

If you must lay the tape drive down, place it into or
on top of the antistatic bag.

Setting the SCSI ID

Afterunpackingthetapedrive,youcanchangethetape
drive’s default SCSI ID, if necessary. Do not use SCSI ID

7. This SCSI ID is used by your SCSI adapter card.

YoucanuseanyofthefollowingmethodstosettheID:

■

Set the DIP switches on the rear of the tape drive.

■

Attach jumpers (shunts) to the pins on the tape
drive’s SCSI ID jumper block. Jumpers are already
installed on the jumper block when the tape drive is
shipped.

■

Connect a remote switch to the SCSI ID jumper block
on the back of the tape drive.

These methods are explained in the following sections.

Important

If you are using a remote switch or jumpers to set
the SCSI ID, make sure that the DIP switches are set
to SCSI ID 0 (the default). Similarly, if you are using
theDIPswitchestosettheSCSIID,makesurethat
the remote switch or jumpers are set to SCSI ID 0.

If you set both the DIP switches and the remote
switch to a particular SCSI ID, the actual SCSI ID
will be the logical OR of the two settings. For
example, if the remote switch is set for SCSI ID 1
and the DIP switches are set for SCSI ID 2, the
actual SCSI ID will be 3.

December 1993 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 11

Setting the SCSI ID with the DIP Switches

To set the SCSI ID using the DIP switches, follow these
steps:

1. Locate the SCSI ID DIP switches on the back of the

tape drive, as shown in Figure 1.

2. Change the DIP switch settings to the correct SCSI

IDforyourconfiguration.Figure2showsthe
settings for SCSI IDs 0 through 7.

3. Make sure that the remote switch or jumpers are set

to SCSI ID 0.

Figure 1 SCSI ID DIP switches and jumper block

12 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 306261

On
Off

On
Off

Figure 2 DIP switch settings for the tape drives’s SCSI

Setting the SCSI ID with Jumpers

To set the SCSI ID using jumpers, follow these steps:

1. Locate the SCSI ID jumper block on the back of the

tape drive, as shown in Figure 1.

2. Install the jumpers on the jumper block to obtain

the correct SCSI ID for your configuration. Figure 3
shows how to position the jumpers for SCSI IDs 0
through 7.

3. Make sure that the DIP switches are set to SCSI ID 0.

Figure 3 Jumper settings for the tape drive’s SCSI ID

December 1993 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 13

Setting the SCSI ID with a Remote Switch

If you want to set the SCSI ID remotely, you can attach a
remote switch assembly (not provided with the tape
drive) to the tape drive’s SCSI ID jumper block. To set the
SCSI ID with a remote switch, follow these steps:

1. Locate the SCSI ID jumper block on the back of the

tape drive, as shown in Figure 1.

2. If necessary, remove the jumpers from the pins.

3. Connect a remote switch to the jumper block.

Ensurethattheremoteswitchisnomorethan

30.5 cm (12 inches) from the jumper block. See
Table 1 on page 9 for connector requirements.

4. Make sure that the DIP switches (Figure 1) are set

toaSCSIIDof0.

5. Change the settings on the remote switch to the

correct SCSI ID for your configuration. The switch
settings should emulate the jumper positions shown
in Figure 3.

Note: Forspecific information about pin

assignments for the SCSI ID jumper block,
refer to the EXB-8500 and EXB-8500c Product
Specification.

Preparing the Tape Drive for the SCSIBus

The SCSI bus that you attach the tape drive to must be
terminated correctly to ensure proper operation. The
devices that are physically located at each end of the SCSI
cable must have terminators installed. All other devices
on the SCSI cable must not have terminators installed.

If the tape drive will be located at the end of the SCSI bus,
you must terminate the tape drive. The procedure you
use depends on whether the tape drive uses a
single-ended or a differential SCSI configuration.

14 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 306261

Terminating a Single-Ended Tape Drive

The single-ended tape drive includes two single in-line
package resistor terminators (R-packs) that can be left in
place if the tape drive terminates the SCSI bus.

CAUTION

The R-packs must be removed if the tape drive does
not terminate the SCSI bus or if you plan to use an
external SCSI bus termination.

Optional External Termination

If desired, you can terminate the single-ended tape drive
externally by removing the R-packs from the back of the
tape drive and installing an external terminator. Exabyte
recommends a Methode Electronics, Inc. dataMate
DM103-02-0 single-ended external terminator.

Removing the R-Packs

To remove the R-packs, follow these steps:

1. Locate the two R-packs on the back of the tape

drive, as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4 Location of R-packs (single-ended

configuration)

December 1993 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 15

2. Using a pair of flat-nose wiring pliers, grasp each

R-pack at the center and pull it straight out. Be
careful not to squeeze the pliers too tightly or you
may break the R-pack.

Replacing the R-Packs

If you need to put the R-packs back in the tape drive,
make sure that pin 1 of each R-pack is aligned with pin 1
of the socket and that no pins are bent. As shown in
Figure 4, the writing on the R-pack should face upward.
Pin 1 of the R-pack is marked with a colored line or dot
and should line up with the right side of the socket.

CAUTION

If you replace an R-pack, be sure to use the correct
type to avoid damaging the tape drive. The tape
drive uses two 10-pin, 9-resistor R-pack
terminators, rated at 110 ohms. Replacement
R-packs are available from Exabyte (part number

002228).

Terminating a Differential Tape Drive

The differential tape drive does not include in ternal
terminators. If a differential tape drive terminates the
SCSI bus, it must be terminated externally. See page 9 for
information about the recommended terminator.

Connecting the SCSI Cable

The tape drive uses a standard 50-pin single-ended SCSI
cable connector. Push the keyed connector on the SCSI
cable on to the SCSI connector on the back of the tape
drive. The connector is keyed so that it can be connected
only one way.

Figure 5 shows the location of the SCSI connector.

Note: TheSCSIcableforconnectingthetapedriveto

the host is n ot provided with the tape drive. Refer
to page 37 for information about the requirements
for the SCSI cable.

16 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 306261

Figure 5 Location of SCSI connector

Installing the Tape Drive in a PC Drive Bay

If you are planning to mount the tape drive in a full-high
PC drive bay, follow the guidelines in this section.
Otherwise, refer to Appendix A for installation
requirements, then resume reading on page 20,
“Performing the Initial Power On.”

Before beginning, prepare your computer as follows:

1. Turn off the computer and attached devices.

2. Unplug the power cord.

3. Remove the computer’s cover as described in your

computer owner’s manual.

4. Remove the cover plate(s) from the drive bay(s) you

intend to use. Refer to your computer owner’s
manual for instructions.

Note: Forsomecomputersyoumayneedtousetwo

half-high drive bays to accommodate the tape
drive.

December 1993 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 17

5. If necessary, remove one of the floppy disk drives

to provide an empty full-high drive bay for the tape
drive.

CAUTION

If you remove floppy disk drive B to install the tape
drive, be sure to change your system configuration
to reflect this. Refer to your computer owner’s
manual for details on running the system’s setup
program.

Mounting Procedure

Follow these steps to mount the tape drive:

1. Check for the presence of a load resistor in the

computer. If it is present, disconnect the load
resistor cable from the power supply. Refer to your
computer owner’s manual for more information.

2.

Use #6 32 screws to attach two slide rails to the
sides of the tape drive (see Figure 6). The tapered
end of each rail should point toward the rear of the
tape drive.

Figure 6 Attaching the slide rails to the tape drive

18 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 306261

3. From the front of the computer, thread the SCSI

cable into the computer through the open bay. Slide
the tape drive into the bay until the faceplate is
flushwiththefrontofthebay.

4. Secure the tape drive to the drive bay as instructed

in your computer owner’s manual.

5. ConnecttheSCSIcabletoyourSCSIadaptercard

(seeFigure7).

Figure 7 Inserting the drive into the drive bay and

connectingtheSCSIcabletotheSCSI

6. If you need additional chassis grounding, connect a

1

grounding wire fitted with a
connector to the ground tab on the back of the tape
drive. Or, use an M3-0.5 6 mm self-tapping screw
to connect the wire to the grounding hole. The
ground tab and grounding hole are shown in
Figure 8.

⁄4-inch female spade

December 1993 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 19

Figure 8 Location of grounding tab, grounding hole,

and power connector

7. Connect power cable from the p ower supply to the

4-pin power connector on the back of the tape drive.

CAUTION

■ Make sure that the PC power is off before you

connect the cable.

■ Do not force the plug into the connector. The keyed

edges of the plug and the connector must match.

8. Replace the computer’s cover.

Performing the Initial Power On

Theprocedureyouusetoperformtheinitialpoweron
depends on how long the tape drive has been stored. If
youarenotsurehowlongthetapedrivehasbeenstored,
check the MLCH (machine level control history) label on
the top of the tape drive to find out when the tape drive
was manufactured. Although the tape drive may have
been operated since it was manufactured, for the purpose
of the initial power on, assume that it has been stored
throughout this period.

Tape Drive Stored for Less Than Six Months

If the tape drive has been stored for less than six months,
the only step y ou need to perform for the initial
power-on is to apply power to the tape drive.

20 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 306261

When power is applied, the tape drive performs its
power-on initialization and self-test (POST). Assuming
that no data cartridge is loaded and that the tape drive is
connected correctly, POST takes about 65 seconds, as
follows:

■

During the first part of POST, both the amber and
green LEDs are lit.

■

During the second part of POST, various
combinations of the LEDs may be lit, depending on
whether the tape drive is connected to the SCSI bus
and whether a data cartridge is loaded.

■

After the power-on initialization and self-test have
completed, both LEDs will be turned off if there is no
data cartridge loaded. If a data cartridge is loaded,
the green LED will remain on.

Important

If the amber LED does not go out after the
power-on initialization and self-test are complete,
an error has occurred. Contact your vendor.

When POST completes, the tape drive is ready for normal
operation.

Tape Drive Stored for Six Months or More

If the tape drive has been stored for six months or more,
perform the following steps using your backup software
to ensure that the tape drive’s internal lubrication is
properly distributed:

1. Apply power to the tape drive. The tape drive

performs its POST as on page 20.

2. Locate a data cartridge that does not contain any

valuable information. Set the write-protect switch
to write enabled (see page 26).

3. Press the unload button on the front of the tape

drive. Insert the data cartridge with the label side
up and the write-protect switch facing you.

December 1993 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 21

4. Push the door shut and wait while the tape drive

loads the tape and positions it at LBOT. When the
amber LED is off and the green LED is on, the tape
is loaded and the tape drive is ready.

5. Write approximately 500 MBytes of data to the tape.

6. Read the data written in step 5.

7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 at least two times or for two

hours (whichever is greater).

Note: Iferrors occur, reset the tape drive and

repeat steps 5 though 7 as appropriate. If the
error recurs, contact your vendor.

When you have completed step 7, the tape drive is ready
for normal operation.

22 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 306261

2 Operating the Tape Drive

This section includes information about the following:

■

Reading the tape drive’s LEDs

■

Setting the write-protect switch on the data cartridge

■

Loading and unloading a data cartridge

Figure 9 shows the controls and indicators on the front
panel of the EXB-8500c. (The front p anel of the EXB-8500
is the same except that it has no “c” on the unload
button.)

Figure 9 Unload button and LEDs

Reading the LEDs

The tape drive uses two LEDs to indicate its operating
states. The LEDs indicate the following general
conditions:

■

The green LED indicates that the tape drive can
accept a tape access c ommand.

■

The amber LED indicates SCSI bus activity and tape
drive error conditions

December 1993 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 23

Table 2 shows specific combinations of LEDs that may
occur during tape drive operation. You may occasionally
observe LED combinations and sequences not described
in Table 2. These other combinations represent special or
unusual conditions that are beyond the scope of this
table. (For example, a fairly complex LED sequence
occurs when you load new microcode from tape.)

Table 2 Tape drive states indicated by the LEDs

Tape Drive

State

(n=On

o

LEDs

=Off

ª

= Flashinga)

Amber LED Green LED

b

POST

POST (passed)

c

Ready (tape loaded)
Normal tape motion

High-speed search/rewind fast

Servo error

CRC fail

Unrecoverable fault

e

f

f

Failed POST

Unload button fail ■ or

a

Slow flash = 1 flash/second (0.94 Hz).
Fast flash = 4 flashes/second (3.76 Hz).

b

The tape drive is performing power-on self-test diagnostics. This takes

about

65 seconds.

c

The green LED may go off before the amber LED if no tape is loaded.

d

The amber LED is on (■) during data transfer over the SCSI bus.
The amber LED is off (
combination of on and off may appear as an irregular flash.

e

Refer to page 27 for information about clearing servo errors.

f

CRC failures occur only within the first two seconds after a power-on reset.
An unrecoverable fault can occur anytime during operation.

o

) when no data transfer is occurring. The

■■

oo

■ or

o

o

d

slow

■

ª

ª

■ oroor
slow

fast

ª

ª

ª

fourªs then

■ or

o

o

o

o

24 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 306261

Selecting Data Cartridges

By selecting high-quality data cartridges and storing
them properly, you can expect a long shelf-life and
optimal data integrity from them. High quality tapes also
help maintain tape drive reliability by minimizing wear
on the recording heads.

Choosing High-Quality Data Cartridges

Available from Exabyte, EXATAPE™ 8mm Data
Cartridges are formulated specifically for use in Exabyte
products. EXATAPE data cartridges reduce head and
tape path wear and have a shelf life exceeding 30 years
when used according to recommendations. Available in
three sizes (112m, 54m, and 15m), EXATAPE data

cartridges are the only data cartridges recommended for
use with all Exabyte products.

CAUTION

Exabyte strongly recommends that you use
EXATAPE data-grade metal-particle media in the
tape drive.

Never use video-grade tape for data storage.
Video-grade tape can be less accurate than
data-grade tape when recording high-density data
andmoreabrasivetotapedriverecordingheads.In
particular, Exabyte strongly discourages use of the
following types of video-grade tapes:

✗ “Extended length” (such as 135-, 140-, and

150-minute tapes)

✗ Hi-8 metal particle (MP), metal evaporative

(ME), or barium ferrite (BaFe) tapes. These tapes

will be ejected automatically by the tape drive.

December 1993 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 25

Setting the Write-Protect Switch

EXATAPE™ 8mm data cartridges are equipped with a
write-protect switch, shown in Figure 10, to prevent data
on the tape from being unintentionally overwritten.
Before loading a data cartridge in the tape drive, ensure
that the write-protect switch is set correctly for the
desired operation. You can use a ball-point pen or similar
instrument to set the write-protect switch as follows:

■

To write protect the data cartridge, move the
write-protect switch away from the edge of the data
cartridge. If the red tab is visible, the cartridge is
write protected and cannot be written to or erased.

■

To write enable the data cartridge, move the
write-protect switch toward the edge of the data
cartridge. If the red tab is not visible, the data
cartridge is write enabled and can be written to or
erased.

Figure 10 Write-protect switch on an EXATAPE 8mm

data cartridge

26 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 306261

Loading a Data Cartridge

To load a data cartridge into the tape drive, follow these
steps:

1. Ensure that the write-protect switch has been set

correctly for the desired operation, as explained on
page 26.

2. Ifyouhavejustpoweredonthetapedrive,besure

that the green LED is off, indicating that the tape
drive has passed its power-on self-test and is ready
to load the data cartridge.

3. If necessary, press the unload button to open the

door on the tape drive.

4. Insert the data cartridge into the tape drive with the

labelsideupandthewrite-protectswitchfacing
you.

5. Gently close the door. The tape drive automatically

loads the data cartridge and indicates ready status
(green LED on).

Note: Most tape drives load the data cartridge

automatically. However, your application
software may disable the autoload function. If the
data cartridge does not go to the ready state after
you close the door, consult your software
documentation for information.

Unloading a Data Cartridge

Unload Button

The unload button is the only operator control on the
tape drive. It is used to unload the tape from the tape
drive.

The unload button can also be used to clear servo and
other errors. If a servo or hardware error occurs, press the
unload button to reset the tape drive. Then, if necessary,

December 1993 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 27

wait a few seconds and press the button again to eject the
tape.

To unload a data cartridge, press the unload button on
the tape drive’s front panel. The tape drive completes the
current operation, writes any buffered data to tape,
unloads the tape from the tape path, and ejects the
cartridge.

Note: Some tape drives are configured to eject the tape

immediately when the unload button is pressed.
Refer to the EXB-8500 and EXB-8500c Product
Specification ifyouhaveatapedriveconfiguredin
this way.

Error During Unload Procedure

If an error exists before or during the unload procedure,
the unload sequence will be suspended and the amber
LED will flash. If the unload button is pressed again, the
unload sequence will be reattempted; however,
unwritten data in the buffer will not be written to tape.
The buffer and errors will be cleared.

28 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 306261

3 Preventive Maintenance

The only routine maintenance required by the tape drive
is regular cleaning of the tape drive heads and tape path.
Use only an Exabyte or Exabyte-approved 8mm Cleaning
Cartridge. Proper storage and maintenance of your data
cartridges will maximize the shelf life of your tapes and
assure data integrity.

Important

Using a cleaning method other than the Exabyte
8mm Cleaning Cartridge or an Exabyte-approved
cleaning cartridge will void the warranty for the
tape drive and can lead to premature head wear.

Determining When to Clean the Tape Drive

You should clean the tape drive’s heads and tape path
after every 30 tape motion hours.Thiscleaning
frequency is independent of the format in which you
writeandreaddata.However,ifyouareusingthetape
drive in a particularly dirty environment, or if you
operate it infrequently, you may want to clean the tape
drive more often than every 30 tape motion hours.

Some backup software programs may notify you when
the tape drive needs cleaning. Refer to the documentation
for your backup software for more information.

Note: The tape drive keeps track of its tape motion

hours internally. To determine when the tape
drive needs to be cleaned, issue a REQUEST
SENSE (03h) command and look at the setting of
the CLN and CLND bits (byte 21, bits 3 and 4). If
the CLN bit is set to 1, the tape drive needs to be
cleaned. This bit is reset to 0 when you perform a
successful cleaning cycle. The CLND bit is set to 1
when the tape drive has been cleaned and is reset
to 0 when the next REQUEST SENSE command is
received.

December 1993 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 29

Using the 8mm Cleaning Cartridge

CAUTION

To prevent contamination of the tape drive and
damage to the heads, do not use the cleaning

cartridge for more than the number of cleaning
cycles specified on the cartridge label.Reusingthe

material in the cleaning cartridge will redistribute
contaminants previously removed from the tape
path.Discardthecleaningcartridgeafteryouhave
used it for the specified number of cleaning cycles.

To use the cleaning cartridge, follow these steps:

1. Apply power to the tape drive. When the power-on

self-test is complete, press the unload button and
remove any data cartridge from the tape drive.

2. Check the usage record on the label of the cleaning

cartridge to make sure that there is at least one
cleaning cycle remaining (see Figure 11). If there are
no cleaning cycles remaining, discard the cleaning
cartridge and use a new one.

Figure 11 Exabyte 8mm Cleaning Cartridge with label

showing cleaning cycles left

30 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 306261

3. Insert the cleaning cartridge in the tape drive and

close the door.

4. The cleaning cycle is performed automatically by

the tape drive and takes approximately 38 seconds.
When the cleaning cycle is complete, the cleaning
cartridge is automatically unloaded and ejected
from the tape drive.

Important

If there are no more cleaning cycles remaining for
the cleaning cartridge, the tape drive ejects it
without completing the cleaning cycle.

Note: Toconfirm that a cleaning was done, issue a

REQUEST SENSE (03h) command and c heck
the setting of the CLND bit. If set to 1, this bit
indicates that the cleaning was successful. A
setting of 0 indicates that the cleaning was
not done.

5. If the cleaning cycle was successful, record the date

the cleaning was performed on the cleaning
cartridge label. Store the cleaning cartridge for
future use if it still has cycles remaining. Or,
discard it if no more cleaning cycles remain.

Caring for Data Cartridges

To maximize the shelf life of your tapes and assure data
integrity, follow these guidelines when storing data
cartridges:

■

Place a label or other reference information on the
cartridge adjacent to the write-protect switch.

■

Store cartridges in a cool, non-magnetic environment.

Follow the cartridge manufacturer’s specifications
for storage temperature and other environmental
requirements. Do not allow the temperature and
humidity in the storage environment to fluctuate.

December 1993 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 31

■

Keep the storage location as free of airborne
particulates as possible. To eliminate obvious

sources of particulates, do not permit anyone to smoke,
eat,ordrinknear the storage area, and do not store
cartridges near a copier or printer that may emit
toner and paper dust.

■

Store data cartridges as soon as possible after you
have written data to them.mmediatestoragehelps

avoid many of the conditions that can damage tapes,
such as temperature and humidity fluctuation,
particulate contamination, and excessive handling.

■

Store data cartridges with the write-protect switch
in the protected position. See page 26.

■

Store each cartridge on one of its long edges, not
flat on its side (see Figure 12). When a data cartridge

is stored on its side, the tape inside the cartridge is
actually on its edge. In this position, stress is placed
on the tape edges and can lead to tape damage. For
the same reason, never stack cartridges on top of
eachotherorleanthematanangleforextended
periods of time.

Figure 12 Do not store a data cartridge on its side

32 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 306261

Replacing Data Cartridges

Approximately once each year, you may want to run
each tape through a full pass and check its error statistics.
If errors have increased significantly since the previous
test or if they exceed a certain predetermined threshold,
you should re-archive the data to a new tape and discard
the old tape.

December 1993 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 33

Notes:

34 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 306261

4 Packing the Tape Drive

You can ship the tape drive with either one drive per
carton (single-pack) or with four drives per carton
(four-pack). Figure 13 on page 34 shows the single-pack
carton and packing materials.

CAUTION

■

To avoid damaging the tape drive and voiding

your

warranty, be sure to use the original shipping
materials (or replacement materials obtained
from Exabyte) when repacking and shipping
thetapedrive.

■

To ensure that the packaging meets the required
specifications, do not modify the packaging in
any way. The shipping carton and packing
materials are not intended to be used for shipping
items other than or in addition to a tape drive.

Table 3 shows the dimensions and weights of the
single-pack and four-pack shipping cartons.

Table 3 Dimensions and weights of CTS shipping cartons

Size Dimensions Weight (with tape drive)

34.3 cm long

Single-pack

Four-pack

27.3 cm wide

22.2 cm high

(13.5 10.75

8.75 inches)

58.4 cm long

34.9 cm wide

29.8 cm high

(23.0 13.75

11.75 inches)

1tapedrive: 3.6 kg (8.0

lbs)

4tapedrives: 10.4 kg

(23.0 lbs)

December 1993 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 35

Packing the Tape Drive for Shipment

To pack the tape drive for shipment, follow these steps:

1. Obtain the original shipping carton or contact y our

vendor to receive a new one.

2. Assemble the carton and tape it shut at the bottom

with two-inch (51 mm) packing tape.

3. Place each tape drive in an antistatic bag. Tape the

bag shut.

4. Place the bottom packing cushion in the carton,

with the fitted area for the tape drive or tape drives
facing up.

5. Single-pack shipping carton (Figure 13):
a. Place the tape drive into the fitted area in the

packing cushion.

b. Place the top packing cushion over the tape

drive, with the cardboard side facing down.

36 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 306261

Figure 13 Single-pack carton and packing materials

6. Four-pack shipping carton:

CAUTION

Do not use the four-pack shipping carton for fewer
than four tape drives. If you are shipping one, two,
or
three tape drives, use a single-pack carton for each
tape drive.

a. Place four tape drives in the bottom packing

cushion’s slots. You can place the tape drives
in the packing cushion so that either the front
or rear panel faces up.

b. Place the top packing cushion over the tape

drives.

7. Close the carton and tape the top seam so that the

carton is completely closed.

December 1993 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 37

Environmental Requirements for Shipment

When shipping a tape drive, be sure to comply with the
environmental specifications shown in Table 4.

Table 4 Environmental specificatio ns for shipping the tape drive

Temp. Range
Temp.

Variation
Rel. Humidity 10% to 90% non-condensing

Wet Bulb
Altitude –304.8 m to +12,192 m (–1,000 ft to +40,000 ft)

–40° Cto+60° C (–40° F to +140° F)
1° C per minute up to a maximum of 20° C per hour

(2° F per minute up to a maximum of 36° F per hour)

26° Cmax(79° F max)

38 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 306261

Appendix A Installation Requirements

This appendix provides specific installation requirements
for the tape drive. It also provides guidelines for the
following tasks:

■

Selecting the correct SCSI cable and connector (pages
37 and 38)

■

Attaching the tape drive to a frame (page 38)

■

Providing chassis grounding (page 40)

■

Connecting the tape drive to the power supply (page

40)

If you have already installed the tape drive in a PC, you
can skip this appendix.

SCSI Cable Requirements

The SCSI cable for connecting the tape drive to the host is
not provided with the tape drive. You must provide a
cable that complies with the appropriate safety and
regulatory agency requirements. To comply with FCC,
Canadian DOC, and VDE limits, the tape drive requires
shielded cables when the cables are external to the
mounting enclosure.

General Requirements

Use a 50-conductor flat cable or 25-signal twisted pair
cable. A minimum conductor size of 28 AWG is
recommended to minimize noise effects and ensure
proper distribution of terminator power.

Ideally,tomatchthecableterminators,thecableshould
have a characteristic impedance of 122 ohms (differential)
or 132 ohms (single-ended). However, since cables with
this high of a characteristic impedance are not generally
available, somewhat lower impedances are acceptable. A
characteristic impedance of 100 ohms ± 10% is
recommended for unshielded flat or twisted-pair ribbon
cable. A characteristic impedance greater than 90 ohms is
recommended for shielded cables.

December 1993 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 39

Note: To minimize discontinuities and signal

reflections, ensure that cables used on the same
bus have the same impedances.

Cable Length Requirements for Differential
Configurations

For differential SCSI configurations, ensure that the sum
of all the SCSI cable lengths does not exceed 25.0 meters
(82.02 feet). A stub length of no more than 0.2 meters
(8 inches) is allowed off the mainline interconnection
within any connected equipment. The stub length within
the tape drive is less than 50 mm (1.97 inches).

Cable Length Requirements for Single-Ended
Configurations

For single-ended SCSI configurations, ensure that the
sum of all the SCSI cable lengths does not exceed 6.0
meters (19.68 feet). A stub length of no more than 0.1
meters (4 inches) is allowed off the mainline
interconnection within any connected equipment. The
stub length within the tape drive is less than 50 mm
(1.97 inches).

SCSI Cable Connector

To connect the tape drive to the SCSI bus, use a 50-pin
female ribbon cable connector (AMP™ No. 1-746285-0 or
equivalent). The tape drive’s SCSI connector is located at
the rear of the tape drive. The connector is a 50-pin male
ribbon cable connector, consisting of two rows of 25 pins
with adjacent pins 2.54 mm (0.1 inch) apart. For
information about the specific SCSI connector pin
assignments for differential and single-ended tape drives,
refer to the EXB-8500 and EXB-8500c Product Specification.

Attaching the Tape Drive to a Frame

The main housing of the tape drive includes two sets of
mounting holes (one set on the sides and one set on the
bottom, as shown in Figures 14 and 15) to allow for a
number of mounting positions. These mounting holes
accommodate #6-32 screws. Refer to the EXB-8500 and

40 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 306261

EXB-8500c Product Specification for detailed information
about the spacing of these mounting holes.

When mounting the tape driv e, follow these guidelines:

■

The mounting location must meet the environmental
requirements discussed in the EXB-8500 and
EXB-8500c Product Specification. These requirements
specify limits for operating temperature, humidity,
airflow, particulate contamination, shock, and
vibration.

■

The tape drive must be mounted solidly and
securely. To assure reliability, there must be no
distortion of the tape drive’s metal housing. Do not
install the tape drive in such a way that its frame is
unsupported. For example, do not hang the tape
drive by an edge.

■

Use either the four mounting holes on the sides or the
four mounting holes on the bottom (“A” or “B,” as
shown in Figures 14 and 15). Using combinations of
mounting holes from different sets may distort the
frame.

■

Objects such as screw heads, cables, or adjacent
devices must not press against the frame of the tape
drive.

■

The ventilation slots at the sides and top of the tape
drive must be free of obstruction so that adequate
airflow is provided.

■

There must be sufficient space to access and operate
the front panel controls.

December 1993 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 41

Figure 14 Mounting holes on the sides of the tape drive

Figure 15 Mounting holes on the bottom of the tape

drive

Chassis Grounding (optional)

If additional chassis grounding is desired, connect a

1

⁄4-inch female spade connector to the ground tab at the

rear of the tape driv e. Or, connect an M3-0.5 6 mm
self-tapping screw to the grounding hole. The ground tab
and grounding hole are shown in Figure 8 on page 19.

42 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 306261

Note: The power supply returns are connected to the

chassis, so you cannot isolate logic common
ground from chassis ground.

Power Cable Connector

The tape drive operates from standard +5 VDC and +12
VDC supply voltages; it cannot use external AC power.
Safety agency certification requires that the supplied
voltage be from a Safety Extra-Low Voltage source (per
IEC 950). Refer to Appendix B for tape drive power
specifications.

CAUTION

The tape drive does not provide any overvoltage or
over current protection. For this reason, be certain
that the power is off before connecting the tape
drivetoapowersupply.

The power connector used in the tape drive is compatible
with power connectors used for standard 5.25-inch
devices. To connect the tape drive to a power cable, use
an AMP 1-480424-0 series or equivalent female connector.
For information about the specific power connector pin
assignments, refer to the EXB-8500 and EXB-8500c Product
Specification.

December 1993 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 43

Notes:

44 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 306261

Appendix B Tape Drive Specifications

General

Front panel Unload button, LED indicators for

Back panel SCSI cable connector, power

Interface SCSI-1 and SCSI-2, single-ended or

Physical Characteristics

Form factor 5.25-inch full-high

Weight 1.2 kilograms (2.6 pounds)

Operating temperature

Non-operating temperature

Operating rel. humidity 20% to 80%

Non-operating rel. humidity 10% to 90%

Sustained Data Transfer Rate

8200 format 262.5 KBytes/sec

8200caformat (EXB-8500c) 500 KBytes/sec

8500 format 500 KBytes/sec

8500caformat (EXB-8500c) 1 MByte/sec

Capacity of EXATAPE 112m Data Cartridge

8200 format 2.5 GBytes

8200caformat (EXB-8500c) 5.0 GBytes

8500 format 5.0 GBytes

8500caformat (EXB-8500c) 10.0 GBytes

Power and Reliability

Supply voltages

Tolerance 125 mVpp max.

Maximum current 2.09 Amps at +5 VDC;

Maximum power

consumption

Mean time between failure 40,000 hours @ 10% duty cycle

SCSI activity, tape motion,and errors
connector, jumper block and DIP

switch for SCSI ID, SCSI terminator
R-packs (single-ended configuration)

differential

Size

82.5 mm (3.25 inches) high

146.0 mm (5.75 inches) wide

203.2 mm (8.00 inches) deep

Environmental

+5°Cto+40°C(+41°F to +104°F)
–40°Cto+60°C (–40°Fto+140°F)

Standard +5 VDC and +12 VDC ±5%

0.75 Amps at +12 VDC

10.45 watts at +5 VDC;

9.1 watts at +12 VDC

b

a

Assuming an average compression ratio of 2:1.

b

The ripple voltage is included in the total voltage tolerance.

December 1993 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 45

Notes:

46 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 306261

Index

A

agency standards 3

C

cable requirements

power cable 40
SCSI cable 37 – 38

cartridges

see data cartridges
chassis grounding 19, 40
cleaning the tape drive

frequency 29

instructions 30 – 31
condensation 10

D

data cartridges

care of 31 – 32

loading 27

replacing 32

storing 31 – 32

unloading 27– 28

write-protect switch 26
differential SCSI

cable requirements 38

termination 9, 16
DIP switches for setting SCSI ID 12

E

electrostatic discharge 10
EXATAPE 8mm Data Cartridge 25

G

grounding, chassis 19, 40

H

handling the tape drive 10

I

installation

attaching to a frame 38 – 39

cable requirements 37 – 38

connecting the power supply 20

connecting to the SCSI bus 14, 16

grounding 19, 40

power cable requirements 40

setting the SCSI ID 11

J

jumpers for setting SCSI ID 13

L

LEDs

location 23

states indicated by 23 – 24
load procedure 27

M

maintenance

see preventative maintenance

mounting requirements 38 – 39

O

operating the tape drive 23 – 24, 27 – 28

P

packing the tape drive 33– 35
power cable requirements 40
power supply

connecting tape drive to 20, 40

preventive maintenance 29 – 31

R

R-packs 15– 16
remote switch for setting SCSI ID 14
resistor terminators 15 – 16

S

SCSI bus

cable requirements 37 – 38
connecting the tape drive to 14, 16
differential SCSI 38
single-ended SCSI 38
stub length 38
termination 9, 15 – 16

SCSI ID

requirements for setting 11
setting with DIP switch 12
setting with jumpers 13

setting with remote switch 14
shipping the tape drive 33 – 35
single-ended SCSI

cable requirements 38

termination 15 – 16

T

tape drive

cleaning 29 – 31

controls and indicators 23 – 24

installation 9 – 21, 38 – 40

loading a data cartridge 27

packing and shipping 33 – 35

providing chassis grounding 19

unloading a data cartridge 27 – 28

unpacking 10
terminators for SCSI bus 9, 15 – 16

U

unload button

location 23

operation 27
unload procedure 27 – 28
unpacking instructions 10

W

write-protect switch 26

December 1993 EXB-8500/EXB-8500c 47

Exabyte Corporation

1685 38th Street

Boulder, Colorado USA 80301