Sony SDX-900V User Manual

AIT Drive

User’s Guide

2-190-432-12(1)

AIT-4 TAPE DRIVE

SDX-900V Series

2004 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 errors
contained herein, indirect, special,
incidental or consequential damages in
connection with the furnishing,
performance or use of this document.

Your AIT TAPE DRIVE is assigned a
Model No. ATDNA4 for regulatory
compliance certifications.
The number is indicated on the model
number label on your drive along with
the rated voltage and current.

VORSICHT

Für kunden in Deutshland

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.)

2

IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS

For your protection, please read these
safety instructions completely before
operating the appliance, and keep this
manual for future reference.

Carefully observe all warnings,
precautions and instructions on the
appliance, or described in the
operating instructions and adhere to
them.

USE

Power Sources – This unit should be
operated only from the type of power
source indicated on the marking label.
If you are not sure of the type of
electrical power, consult your dealer or
local power company.

For the unit with a three-wire
grounding type ac plug:

If you are unable to insert the plug into
the outlet, contact your electrician to
have a suitable plug installed. Do not
defeat the safety purpose of the
grounding plug.

AC Power cord: (for AC mains
operating unit only)

The AC power cord should have
appropriate safety approvals or
marking for the country in which the
equipment will be used. Consult your
dealer or local power company.

Cleaning – Unplug the unit from the
wall outlet before cleaning or
polishing it. Do not use liquid
cleaners or aerosol cleaners.
Use a cloth lightly dampened with
water for cleaning the exterior of the
unit.

Object and Liquid Entry – Never
push objects of any kind into the unit
through openings as they may touch
dangerous voltage points or short out
parts that could result in a fire or
electric shock. Never spill liquid of
any kind on the unit.

3

INSTALLATION

Water and Moisture – Do not use
power-line operated units near water –
for example, near a bathtub,
washbowl, kitchen sink, or laundry
tub, in a wet basement, or near a
swimming pool, etc.

Power-Cord Protection – Route the
power cord so that it is not likely to be
walked on or pinched by items placed
upon or against it, paying particular
attention to the plugs, receptacles, and
the point where the cord exits from the
appliance.

Accessories – Do not place the unit on
an unstable cart, stand, tripod, bracket,
or table. The unit may fall, causing
serious injury to a child or an adult,
and serious damage to the unit. Use
only a cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or
table recommended by the
manufacturer.

Ventilation – The slots and openings
in the cabinet are provided for
necessary ventilation. To ensure
reliable operation of the unit, and to
protect it from overheating, these slots
and openings must never be blocked or
covered.

• Never cover the slots and openings
with a cloth or other materials.

• Never block the slots and openings
by placing the unit on a bed, sofa,
rug or other similar surface.

• Never place the unit in a confined
space, such as a bookcase, or built­in cabinet, unless proper ventilation
is provided.

SERVICE

Damage Requiring Service – Unplug
the unit from the wall outlet and refer
servicing to qualified service
personnel under the following
conditions:

• When the power cord or plug is
damaged or frayed.

• If liquid has been spilled or objects
have fallen into the unit.

• If the unit has been exposed to rain
or water.

• If the unit has been subject to
excessive shock by being dropped,
or the cabinet has been damaged.

• If the unit does not operate normally
when following the operating
instructions. Adjust only those
controls that are specified in the
operating instructions. Improper
adjustment of other controls may
result in damage and will often
require extensive work by a
qualified technician to restore the
unit to normal operation.

• When the unit exhibits a distinct
change in performance - this
indicates a need for service.

Servicing – Do not attempt to service
the unit yourself as opening or
removing covers may expose you to
dangerous voltage or other hazards.

Refer to all servicing to qualified
service personnel.

4

Table of Contents

Overview .................................................................................................................. 6

Introduction .............................................................................................................. 7

About AIT Drives ............................................................................................ 7

Precautions ....................................................................................................... 8

Installation .............................................................................................................. 10

SCSI Connection/Setting the SCSI ID ...........................................................10

Option Switches (DIP Switch) ....................................................................... 11

Mounting Holes .............................................................................................. 14

Reconfiguring from 5.25" Model to 3.5" Model ............................................ 15

Orientation......................................................................................................16

Attaching and Removing the Dust Cover ............................................................... 17

Attaching the Dust Cover ............................................................................... 17

Removing the Dust Cover ..............................................................................19

Operation ................................................................................................................ 20

Location of 3 LEDs ........................................................................................20

Drive Operation .............................................................................................. 21

Emergency Tape Removal Procedure ............................................................23

Interface Implementation........................................................................................ 25

Supported SCSI Messages ............................................................................. 25

Supported SCSI Commands ........................................................................... 25

Specifications ......................................................................................................... 26

Product Specifications .................................................................................... 26

Sony Contacts .........................................................................................................28

5

Overview

The Sony SDX-900V series drives are high capacity data storage devices
using Advanced Intelligent tape (AIT) technology. The SDX-900V series
drives achieve high data reliability through Read-After-Write, an additional
level of Error Correction Code, and other features.

The Sony SDX-900V series drives store data on tape using standard
formats called AIT (Advanced Intelligent Tape) and ALDC.

6

Introduction

About AIT Drives

SDX-900V series drives are internal AIT drive units that use data cartridges
conforming to the AIT-4 format.

Features

The SDX-900V series drives have the following features:

• Support reading and writing to data cartridges conforming to the AIT-4
format.

• The Read-After-Write Function and third-level error correction code
guarantee high data reliability.

• Data compression provides 520 gigabytes of storage on 246 m tape­length cartridge.

The native capacity is 200 gigabytes of storage on 246 m tape-length
cartridge.

• Stored data is automatically checked for compression.

• Ultra 160 Wide SCSI LVD/SE interface is fully supported for host
computer access.

*1

This is assuming 2.6 : 1 compression ratio.
The degree of data compression attained while recording data varies according to
system environment and data type.

*1

7

Precautions

Useable Cartridges

SDX-900V series can be used with data and cleaning cartridges marked
with the AIT-4 logo.

Notes

• Be sure to use only data cartridges designed specifically for AIT (do not use 8 mm
video cartridges) as this may damage the drives.

• Do not use anything but AIT cartridges with this system, as doing so can damage the
AIT drive. Although commercially available 8mm videotapes resemble AIT cartridges
in appearance, they have entirely different specifications and cannot be used.

Installation

Avoid placing the drives in locations subject to:

– high humidity

– high temperature

– mechanical shock and vibration

– direct sunlight

*

For details, see “Specifications” on page 26.

Operation

• Do not move the drives while they are operating. It may cause

malfunctions.

• Avoid exposing the drives to sudden changes from low to high

temperatures. This may cause condensation to collect inside the drives. If
the ambient temperature should suddenly rise while the drives are turned
on, turn them off and wait at least one hour before turning them back on.
If you attempt to operate the drives immediately after a sudden increase
in temperature, malfunctions may occur.

• Turning off the power to the drives while they are writing to tape may

cause the tape to become unreadable. All previously negotiated
parameters will be lost, whenever power to the drives is cycled.

8

Transportation

• Keep the original packing materials to facilitate safe transportation of the
drives.

• Always remove the tape/media cartridge before moving the drives. After
removing the drives from the computer, repack them into their original
packing.

SCSI Termination

The SDX-900V series drives conform to the Microsoft PC97 standard,
which requires the internal (naked) drive to be terminated with an external
terminator.

Microsoft PC97 SCSI requirements

SCSI peripherals must not terminate the bus. Both internal and external cable ends are
instead terminated by plug-in connectors.

Host Computer Wide SCSI

68-pin cable

Terminator

SDX-900V series drive

Example of SCSI setup

9

Installation

SCSI Connection/Setting the SCSI ID

SCSI ID

210

SCSI ID

0

1

2

3

P.D.

N.C.

3

SCSI 68pin Connector

4

Jumpers

Power Connector

5

5 V

6

7

SCSI ID 3

SCSI ID 2

SCSI ID 1

SCSI ID 0

10

1

8

9

1

Parity Disable

No Connection

Parity

Disable

Enable

12

13

Note :

14

= CLOSED/Jumper

OPEN/Jumper not

=

installed

=

t care

Don’

15

Parity Disable Jumper

Parity check function can be disabled by Jumper. Parity check is disabled
while left end jumper is installed. Parity generate function is always
enabled.

1234

GND GND 12 V

10