Sony SDX-420C User Manual

AIT Drive

User’s Guide

GB

CT

SDX-420C/R

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Contents

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

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

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

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

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

Option Switches (DIP Switch) ..7

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

Orientation.................................9

Operation .........................................10

Location of 3 LEDs .................10

LED Indication for Drive

Status ...................................11

Drive Operation....................... 12

Emergency Tape Removal

Procedure .............................13

Interface Implementation................. 16

Supported ATA Commands ....16

Supported ATAPI Packet

Commands ...........................16

Specification ....................................17

Product Specifications............. 17

Acer Contact ....................................19

2

SDX-420C/R Tape Drive

The SDX-420C/R drive is a high capacity data storage device using
Advanced Intelligent tape AIT (Advanced Intelligent Tape) technology.
The SDX-420C/R drive achieves high data reliability through Read-After­Write, an additional level of Error Correction Code, and other features.

The SDX-420C/R drive stores data on tape using a standard format called
AIT and ALDC formats.

GB

3

Introduction

Product Features

SDX-420C/R series

Data Capacity

Transfer Rate
(sustained)

* This is assuming 2.6 : 1 compression ratio.

• Supported Format : AIT-1 (SDX-420C/R)

• Burst Transfer Rate 66 MBytes/sec Ultra DMA (mode 4)

• Large 10 MByte Buffer Memory

• 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 GByte uncompressed
(with AIT-1 230 m tape)
91 GByte compressed *
(with AIT-1 230 m tape)

4 MByte/sec uncompressed

10.4 MByte/sec compressed *

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

15.6 ±0.5 mm
[0.61" ±0.02"]

18.4 ±0.5 mm

7.6 ±0.5 mm

[0.3" ±0.02"]

[6.1" ±0.02"]

155.0 ±0.5 mm

70.0 ±0.3 mm

[2.76" ±0.01"]

42.0 ±0.3 mm

[1.65" ±0.01"]

[0.72" ±0.02"]

35.9 ±0.5 mm
[1.41" ±0.02"]

92.71 mm
[3.65"]

6-M3(depth 2.5mm (0.10") max.)

18.2 ±0.5 mm
[0.72" ±0.02"]

4-M3

0.3 mm

±

79.2

34.3 ±0.5 mm

[1.35" ±0.02"]

[3.12" ±0.01"]

4-3M

4.7 ±0.5 mm

[0.19" ±0.02"]

8 mm

[0.31"]

P

P

P

P

P

79.2 ±0.3 mm

[3.12" ±0.01"]

P

P

P

8

[0.56" ±0.01"]

14.4 ±0.3 mm

31.0 ±0.3 mm

[1.22" ±0.01"]

94.0 ±0.3 mm
[3.7" ±0.01"]

101.6 ±0.5 mm
[4" ±0.02"]

139.6 ±0.5 mm

[5.5" ±0.02"]

149.0 ±0.5 mm

[5.87" ±0.02"]

47.5 ±0.3 mm
[1.87" ±0.01"]

9.9 ±0.5 mm

[0.39" ±0.02"]

21.8 ±0.5 mm
[0.86" ±0.02"]

41.2 ±0.5 mm
[1.62" ±0.02"]

[1.51"]

38.4 mm

47.5 ±0.3 mm
[1.87" ±0.01"]

[2.54" ±0.01"]

62.4 ±0.3 mm

Orientation

10°

10° 10° 10°

10°

10°

10°

10°

9

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
Tape

BUSY TAPE STATUS

BUSY TAPE S TATU S

10

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.

2 pulses (0.25 sec on/0.5 sec off)

1 pulse (0.25 sec on / 0.25 sec off)

11

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-420C/R 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

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-420C/R, a cleaning function is built in the drive and hence,
a periodic cleaning using cleaning cassette such as other format requires is
not necessary. However, when the drive does not recover at the worst case,
cleaning cassette is recommended to use.

12