SONY SDX-420, SDX-520 User Manual

AIT Drive

User’s Guide

4-658-215-03(1)

SDX-420 Series
SDX-520 Series

2000 Sony Corporation

This document contains proprietary
information which is protected by
copyright.

All rights reserved. No part of this
document may be photocopied,
reproduced or translated to another
language without prior written consent
of Sony.

The information contained in this
document is subject to change without
notice.

SONY MAKES NO WARRANTY
OF ANY KIND WITH REGARD TO
THIS DOCUMENT.

Sony shall not be liable for error
contained herein, indirect, special,
incidental or consequential damages in
connection with the furnishing,
performance or use of this document.

VORSICHT

Diese Ausrüstung erfüllt die
Europäischen EMC-Bestimmungen für
die Verwendung in folgender /
folgenden Umgebung(en):

• Wohngegenden

• Gewerbegebiete

• Leichtindustriegebiete
(Diese Ausrüstung erfüllt die

Bestimmungen der Norm EN55022,
Klasse B.)

Contents

Introduction .......................................4

Product Features........................4

Precautions ................................5

Installation .........................................6

Jumper Setting...........................6

Option Switches (DIP Switch) ..7

Mounting Holes........................8

Remodeling from 5.25" Model

to 3.5" Model .......................10

Orientation...............................10

Operation .........................................11

Location of 3 LEDs ................. 11

LED Indication for

Drive Status .........................12

Drive Operation.......................13

Emergency Tape Removal

Procedure .............................14

Interface Implementation.................17

Supported ATA Commands ....17

Supported ATAPI Packet

Commands ........................... 17

Specification ....................................18

Product Specifications.............18

Third Party Support Contacts

(In the USA) ...............................20

Sony Contacts .................................. 22

2

SDX-420/SDX-520 Tape Drive

The Sony SDX-420/SDX-520 series drive is a high capacity data storage
device using Advanced Intelligent tape (AIT) technology. The SDX-420
series/SDX-520 series drive achieves high data reliability through Read­After-Write, an additional level of Error Correction Code, and other
features.

The Sony SDX-420 series/SDX-520 series drive stores data on tape using a
standard format called AIT (Advanced Intelligent Tape) and ALDC
formats.

3

Introduction

Product Features

SDX-420 series SDX-520 series

Data Capacity

Transfer Rate
(sustained)

* Assuming a 2.6 : 1 compression ratio.

(The compression ratio varies according to the type of data.)

• Supported Format : AIT-1 (SDX-420 series)

• Burst Transfer Rate 66 MB/s Ultra DMA (mode 4)

• Large 10 MB Buffer Memory

• 3.5” Standard Height, 5.25” Half Height

• ATA/ATAPI-5 Interface

• Support Fixed Record Length Only

• Frame Rewrite Function

• Three levels of Error Correction Code (ECC)

• High Speed search (120 times normal Read/Write speed)

• Random Read, Append Write

35 GB uncompressed 50 GB uncompressed
(with AIT-1 230 m tape) (with AIT-2 230 m tape)
91 GB compressed* 130 GB compressed*
(with AIT-1 230 m tape) (with AIT-2 230 m tape)

4 MB/s uncompressed 6 MB/s uncompressed

: AIT-1, AIT-2 (SDX-520 series)

4

Precautions

Installation

Avoid placing the drive in a location subject to:
– high humidity
– high temperature
– mechanical shock and vibration
– direct sunlight

Operation

• Do not move the drive while it is operating. It may cause malfunction.

• Avoid exposing the drive to sudden changes from a low to high in
temperature. This may cause water condensation to collect inside the
drive. If the ambient temperature should suddenly rise while the drive is
turned on , wait at least one hour before turning on the drive. If you
attempt to operate the drive immediately after a sudden increase in
temperature, a malfunction may occur.

• Turning off the power to the drive while it is writing to tape may cause
the tape to become unreadable. All previously negotiated parameters will
be lost, whenever power to the drive is cycled.

Transportation

• Keep the original packing materials to facilitate transportation of the
drive.

• Always remove the tape before moving the drive. After removing the
drive from the computer, repack the drive into its original packing.

5

Installation

Jumper Setting

IDE Interface Connector

Master
Slave
Cable Select
No Connection

Jumpers Drive Setting

Master

Slave

Cable Select

Power Connector

4 3 2 1

5V GND GND 12V

6

Option Switches (DIP Switch)

DIP Switch Positions

DIP Switch

ON

12345678

1 Reserved (OFF)
2 Reserved (OFF)
3 Reserved (OFF)
4 Reserved (OFF)
5 Reserved (OFF)
6 Reserved (OFF)
7 DC Control (1) (ON)
8 DC Control (2) (OFF)

Data Compression Control DIP switch

Data compression can be selected by DIP switches. Data compression is
enabled while position 7 [DC Control (1)] is ON. Control by host can be
disabled when position 8 [DC Control (2)] is ON.

7

Mounting Holes

For 3.5" Standard Height (SDX-420C, SDX-520C)

95.5 mm (3.76 in)

155.0±0.5 mm (6.10±0.02 in) 7.6±0.5 mm (0.30±0.02 in)

94.0±0.3 mm (3.70±0.01 in)

101.6±0.5 mm (4.00±0.02 in)

7.0±0.5 mm (0.28±0.02 in)

5.53±0.5 mm
(0.218±0.02 in)

3-M3 (depth

2.5 mm (0.10 in) max.)

6-M3 (depth

2.5 mm (0.10 in) max.)

70.0±0.3 mm

(2.76±0.01 in)

42.0±0.3 mm

(1.65±0.01 in)

31.0±0.3 mm

(1.22±0.01 in)

90.0±0.3 mm (3.54±0.01 in)

21.0±0.3 mm

(0.83±0.01 in)

8.45 mm (0.333 in)

60.0±0.3 mm (2.36±0.01 in)

5.0±0.3 mm
(0.20±0.01 in)

41.2±0.5 mm
(1.62±0.02 in)

7.4±0.5 mm

(0.29±0.02 in)

8

For 5.25" Half Height (SDX-420C/R, SDX-520C/R)

15.6±0.5 mm

(0.61±0.02 in)

18.4±0.5 mm

7.6±0.5 mm

(0.3±0.02 in)

(0.72±0.02 in)

35.9±0.5 mm

(1.41±0.02 in)

6-M3 (depth 2.5 mm max.)

(depth 0.10 in max.)

146±0.5 mm

(5.75±0.02 in)

95.5 mm
(3.76 in)

18.2±0.5 mm

(0.72±0.02 in)

4-M3

34.3±0.5 mm

(1.35±0.02 in)

4-M3

5.53±0.5 mm

(0.218±0.02 in)

8.45 mm

(0.333 in)

(6.1±0.02 in)

155.0±0.5 mm

7±0.5 mm

(0.28±0.02 in)

70.0±0.3 mm

(2.76±0.01 in)

42.0±0.3 mm

(1.65±0.01 in)

31.0±0.3 mm

(1.22±0.01 in)

94.0±0.3 mm
(3.7±0.01 in)

101.6±0.5 mm
(4±0.02 in)

139.6±0.5 mm

(5.5±0.02 in)

149.0±0.5 mm

(5.87±0.02 in)

79.2±0.3 mm

Cassette in ON point

41.0±1.0 mm

(1.61±0.04 in)

47.5±0.3 mm

46.5±1.5 mm

(1.83±0.06 in)

The cartridge eject distance

(3.12±0.01 in)

(1.87±0.01 in)

79.2±0.3 mm

(3.12±0.01 in)

47.5±0.3 mm

(1.87±0.01 in)

9.9±0.5 mm

(0.39±0.02 in)

21.8±0.5 mm
(0.86±0.02 in)

19.7±0.5 mm
(0.78±0.02 in)

41.2±0.5 mm
(1.62±0.02 in)

The cartridge eject distance

Cassette in ON point

57.5±1 mm
(2.26±0.04 in)

63.0±1.5 mm

(2.48±0.06 in)

9

Remodeling from 5.25" Model to 3.5" Model

You can remodel the SDX-420C/R and the SDX-520C/R (5.25" model) to
the SDX-420C and the SDX-520C (3.5" model) yourself.

1 Remove the 2 screws for each side rail.
2 Take the side rail off.

Side Rail (L)

Side Rail (R)

Orientation

10

10°

10° 10° 10°

10°

10°

10°

10°

Operation

Location of 3 LEDs

There are three LED indications (BUSY,TAPE and STATUS) and an
EJECT button on the front panel of the unit.

Front Panel (for 3.5" Standard Height)

Advanced
Intelligent
Tap e

BUSY TAPE STATUS

11

LED Indication for Drive Status

The LED indicators are defined as follows.

LED State

BUSY TAPE STATUS Activity Cartridge Other

None None None

IDE None None

Drive

Drive

None Loaded

None Loaded None

IDE Loaded None

IDE/Drive Loaded None

Independent ✽ Loaded Write Protected

Independent Independent ✽ Loaded Error Rate Warning

✽✽ ✽✽Cleaning Request

✽✽ ✽✽Self test Failure

✽✽✽ ✽Waiting for Reset

✽ ✽✽ ✽Waiting for Eject

1 pulse (3.5 sec on / 0.5 sec off)

1 pulse (0.25 sec on)

Loading/Unloading

Loading/Unloading

off

on

None

Write Protected

Cleaning Tape at EOM

✽ : Not defined.

12

2 pulses (0.25 sec on/0.5 sec off)

1 pulse (0.25 sec on / 0.25 sec off)

Drive Operation

Loading a Tape

Insert a cassette into the slot on the front panel with the arrow on the
cassette pointing towards the drive. As the cassette is inserted, the drive
takes it and automatically loads it into drive mechanism.

Unloading a Tape

The cassette can be removed from the SDX-420/SDX-520 either in
response to a ATAPI Packet Unload Command, or by pressing the eject
bottom.

By pressing Eject button, the tape goes to BOT, the drive unthreads it, and
ejects the cassette from the slot.

Write-protecting a Tape

Cassettes can be write-protected by sliding the tab on the back of the
cassette. In this state, data can be read from the tape but not written onto it.

AIT-1 AIT-2

Using your fingernail, push the switch in the
direction of the arrow to protect the tape from
writing or accidental erasure.

Return the switch to its original position to
re-enable writing.

Using a Cleaning Cassette

In case of SDX-420 series/SDX-520 series, a cleaning function is built into
the drive and hence the use of a c leaning cartridge is not needed. If
however the drive experiences excessive errors, the use of a cleaning
cartridge is recommended.

13

Emergency Tape Removal Procedure

1 Remove the drive from the chassis or enclosure to allow

access to the bottom and right side of the drive.

2 Remove the drive’s top cover.
3 Locate the small opening in the bottom of the drive and

insert the tip of a precision screwdriver so that the Threading
motor shaft can be rotated.

4 Rotate the motor shaft counterclockwise to bring the

threading mechanism back to the initial position. (Refer to
the photo-1 on page 16.)

5 Before manual eject procedure, tape slack must be removed

in order to prevent tape damage. Press and rotate the gear
mechanism located on the right side of the drive clockwise to
tighten the tape.

6 After the tape slack has been removed, turn the screw

located on the right side of the drive clockwise by a precision
screwdriver until the tape cartridge is lifted out of the drive
mechanism and is ejected.

14

7 Return the drive to Sony for repair.

3. Cassette Compartment Motor

2. Reel Motor

1. Loading Motor

15

A

tape guide surfa ce

tape guide surfa ce

C

B

Photo-1: The Initial Position of the Threading Mechanism

Caution

Stop rotating the motor shaft immediately, when the guide B (see detail A of Photo-1)
gets to the area below the line C-C (This line is defined by 2 circular tape guide surfaces
of the cartridge). Otherwise the gear of the drive can be damaged.

detail A

Cartridge

C

16

Interface Implementation

Supported ATA Commands

ATA commands supported:

– ATAPI SOFT RESET (0x08)
– EXECUTE DRIVE DIAGNOSTIC (0x90)
– ATAPI PACKET COMMAND (0xA0)
– ATAPI IDENTIFY DEVICE (0xA1)
– STANDBY IMMEDIATE (0xE0)
– IDLE IMMEDIATE (0xE1)
– CHECK POWER MODE (0xE5)
– SLEEP (0xE6)
– SET FEATURE (0xEF)

Supported ATAPI Packet Commands

Mandatory ATAPI command set:
Supporting most of all SCSI commands in SDX-400C/SDX-500C

– ERASE
– INQUIRY
– LOAD/UNLOAD
– LOCATE
– LOG SELECT
– LOG SENSE
– MODE SELECT
– MODE SENSE
– READ
– READ POSITION
– REQUEST SENSE
– REWIND
– SPACE
– TEST UNIT READY
– WRITE
– WRITE FILEMARK
– WRITE BUFFER

17

Specification

Product Specifications

Dimensions

SDX-420C, SDX-520C SDX-420C/R, SDX-520C/R
Height 41.2 mm (1.62 in) 41.2 mm (1.62 in)
Width 101.6 mm (4.0 in) 146.0 mm (5.75 in)
Depth 155.0 mm (6.1 in) 155.0 mm (6.1 in)

Altitude

Operating 0 to 10,000 feet

Vibration

Operating Swept Sine 5 to 500 Hz

Non-Operating Swept Sine 5 to 500 Hz

Acoustic Noise (A) curve weight

Streaming Write/Read 35 db (A)
Insert/Eject 60 db (A)

*0.25 G Peak 1 Octave/min.
3 axes, 3 directions

*0.5 G Peak 1 Octave/min.
3 axes, 3 directions

Note

The sound-meter on (A) scale is located 1m in front of
the center of the drive front panel.

Shock

Operating No Data Loss

Non-Operating No Device Damage

Half Sine
5 G Peak 3 ms
3 axes, 3 directions
*Interval 10 seconds

Half Sine
90 G Peak 3 ms
(30 G Peak 11 ms)
3 axes, 3 directions

18

Temperature and Humidity Range

Temperature

Operating 5 ˚C to 40 ˚C (∆T<10 ˚C/h)
Non-Operating (mech.) – 40 ˚C to 70 ˚C (∆T<20 ˚C/h)
Non-Operating (tape) – 40 ˚C to 45 ˚C (∆T<20 ˚C/h)

Humidity

Operating 20 to 80% RH, non-condensing

Maximum wet bulb temperature = 26 ˚C

Non-Operating (mech.) 5 to 95% RH (∆T<30%/h)
Non-Operating (tape) 20 to 80% RH (∆T<30%/h)

Power Requirements

Model Voltage Max Ripple

SDX-420 series

SDX-520 series

5 V +/– 5 % 100 mVp-p 1.4 A 2.5 A

12 V +/– 10 % 150 mVp-p 0.45 A 1.2 A

5 V +/– 5 % 100 mVp-p 1.5 A 2.5 A

12 V +/– 10 % 150 mVp-p 0.45 A 1.2 A

Suspended Particulate

Operating

Less than 150 microgram/m
Based Sampling period 24 hours

3

Current

Typical Maximum

ESD

Discharge < 15 kV: No operation failure
Voltage < 20 kV: No drive damage

Air-cooling Requirement

Surrounding temperature < 40 ˚C

Clean air flow is recommended to minimize the possibility of data loss.

19

Third Party Support Contacts (In the USA)

Host Adapter Vendors Phone Numbers

Adaptec 408-945-8600
ATTO 716-691-1999
Bus Logic 408-492-9090
DPT 407-830-5522
Future Domain 714-253-0400
Initio 408-988-1919
Qlogic 714-438-2200
Ultera Systems Inc. 714-367-8800

Operating Systems

DOS Arcada 407-333-7500

Macintosh Cheyenne 516-484-5110

OS/2 Cheyenne 516-484-5110

Windows Arcada 407-333-7500

Windows NT Arcada 407-333-7500

Windows NT Microsoft 206-882-8080
Advanced Server

Backup Software Vendors Phone Numbers

Cheyenne 516-484-5110
Columbia Data Products 407-869-6700
Corel 613-728-8200
NovaStor 805-579-6700
Palindrome 708-505-3300
ST. Bernard Sofware 619-676-2277
Sytron 508-898-0100
Tapedisk 715-235-3388

Corel 613-728-8200
Dantz 510-253-3000
NovaStor 805-579-6700

Corel 613-728-8200
IBM 800-426-3333
NovaStor 805-579-6700
Sytron 407-333-7500

Cheyenne 516-484-5110
Corel 613-728-8200
Creata 909-595-8811
NovaStor 805-579-6700
ST. Bernard Software 619-676-2277
Sytron 508-898-0100

Cheyenne 516-484-5110
Creata 909-595-8811
Microsoft 206-882-8080
NovaStor 805-579-6700
Avail Systems 303-444-4018

* All phone numbers listed are in the USA.

Add the country code (1) prior to those numbers when calling from
outside the USA.

20

Operating Systems

Windows 95 NovaStor 805-579-6700
DEC Unix Cheyenne 516-484-5110

SUN Unic Legato 415-812-6000

Solaris Unix Cheyenne 516-484-3150

SCO Unix Cheyenne 516-484-3150

NCR Unix NovaStor 818-707-9900

HP Unix Cheyenne 516-484-3150

AIX Unix Cheyenne 516-484-3150

Interactive Unix Sun Soft 310-348-8649
SGI Unix Software Moguls 612-933-8790

Novell UNIXware Novell 801-263-3500
Novell NLM Arcada 407-263-3500

Banyan Performance Tech 210-979-2110
Lantastic NovaStor 818-707-9900
Amiga Moonlighter 407-384-9484
RS6000 Legato 415-812-6000

Backup Software Vendors Phone Numbers

NovaStor 612-933-8790
Software Moguls 612-933-8790
Work Station Solutions 603-880-0080

NovaStor 818-707-9900
Software Moguls 612-933-8790
Sun Soft 310-348-8649
Work Station Solutions 603-880-0080

Legato 415-812-6000
NovaStor 818-707-9900
Software Moguls 612-933-8790
Sun Soft 310-348-8649
Work Station Solutions 603-880-0080

Legato 415-812-6000
Software Moguls 612-933-8790
Work Station Solutions 603-880-0080

Work Station Solutions 603-880-0080

NovaStor 818-707-9900
Work Station Solutions 603-880-0080

Legato 415-812-6000
NovaStor 818-707-9900
Software Moguls 612-933-8790
Work Station Solutions 603-880-0080

Work Station Solutions 603-880-0080

Avail Systems 303-444-4018
Cheyenne 516-484-3150
Columbia Data Products 407-682-0265
Creata 909-595-8811
Legato 415-812-6000
NovaStor 818-707-9900
Novell 801-419-5544
Palindrome 708-505-3300
Performance Tech 210-979-2110
ST. Bernard Software 619-676-2277
Symantec 310-449-4156
Sytron 508-898-0100

NovaStor 818-707-9900
Software Moguls 612-933-8790

21

Sony Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Sony Electronics Inc., Technical Support

3300 Zanker Road San Jose, CA95134, 1940. USA
TEL: [phone]
URL: http://sony.storagesupport.com/
E-mail: [email protected]

Sony Corporation
Electronic Devices Marketing Group, Product Marketing Div.
Computer Peripherals Dept. Tape Streamer Section

Osaki Gate City East Tower, 1-11-1, Osaki
Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 141-0032 Japan

TEL: [phone] FAX: [phone]

Sony of Canada Ltd., AV/IT Marketing Group
Computer Peripherals Product Marketing

115 Gordon Baker Road Toronto, Ontario, M2H 3R6 Canada
TEL: [phone] or (1) 800-961-7669
FAX: [phone]

Sony Computer Peripherals & Compornents Europe

URL: http://www.sonyisstorage.com/

Electronics Devices Marketing (Singapore)
(A division company of Sony Electronics (S) Pte. Ltd.)
Enterprise Storage Solutions Dept.

2 International Business Park, #01-10 Tower One,
The Strategy, Singapore 609930

TEL:[phone] FAX:[phone]

Sony Corporation of Hong Kong Ltd.
Computer Peripheral Sales & Marketing Division
Electronic Devices Marketing Hong Kong

45/F, The Lee Gardens, 33 Hysan Avenue, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
TEL: [phone] FAX: [phone]

Sony Corporation of Hong Kong Ltd. Beijing Rep. Office
Computer Peripheral Div.

Full Link Plaza Tower A 11/F., No.18 Chaoyangmenwai Ave., Beijing
100020 P.R.C.

TEL:[phone] FAX:[phone]
URL: http://www.sony.com.cn

22

Sony Corporation of Hong Kong Ltd. Shanghai Rep. Office

44F., HSBC Tower, 101 Yin Cheng East Road, Pudong, New Area,
Shanghai, P.R.C. Postcode 200120

TEL: [phone] FAX: [phone]

Sony Brasil Ltda.

Rua Inocéncio Tobias, 125-BlocoA, CEP01144-000, São Paulo -SP-Brasil
TEL: [phone] to 6598 FAX: [phone]
URL: http://www.sonybrasil.com

Sony Australia Ltd., Information Technology Products Division

P.O. Box 377, NSW 1670, Australia
TEL: [phone] FAX: [phone] A.C.N. 001 215 354
URL: http://www.sony.com.au/home.asp
E-mail: [email protected]

Sony Chile Ltda

Av. Kennedy 8017, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile
TEL: [phone] FAX: [phone]

Sony Taiwan Limited
Optical Devices Storage Dept. Data Storage Section

5F, 145 Changchun Road, Taipei 104, Taiwan
TEL: [phone] FAX: [phone]

Sony Korea Corporation EDMK CP Sales & Marketing Team

34F, ASEM Tower, World Trade Center, 159-1, Samsung-Dong,
Kangnam-Ku, Seoul, 135-798, Korea

TEL: [phone] FAX: [phone]
URL: http://www.sony.co.kr/cp/

Sony Gulf FZE Computer Display & Peripheral Div.

P.O.BOX 16871, Jebel Ali, Dubai, U.A.E.
TEL: [phone] or 8816912 FAX: [phone] or 8816259

Sony Marketing of Japan

Business Solution Dept. Server Solution Marketing Section
URL: http://www.sony.co.jp/STORAGE

23

Printed in Japan