Tandberg Data Cassette Player VXA 320 VXA 3 User Manual

VXA-320 (VXA-3) TAPE DRIVE  
PRODUCT MANUAL  
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The Tandberg VXA-320 (VXA-3) tape drive is warranted to be free from defects in  
materials, parts, and workmanship, and conforms to the current product specification.  
For the specific details of your warranty, refer to your sales contract or contact the  
company from which you purchased the tape drive.  
PRODUCT  
WARRANTY  
CAUTION  
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.  
Use of any type of data cartridge other than an Tandberg VXAtape or an Tandberg  
approved VXAtape cartridge.  
Use of any type of cleaning material other than an Tandberg VXAtape Cleaning  
Cartridge.  
Repair or modification by any one other than Tandberg’s personnel or agent in a  
manner differing from the maintenance instructions provided by Tandberg Data.  
Removal of the Tandberg Data identification label(s).  
Physical abuse due to improper packaging of returned tape drives.  
If problems with the tape drive occur, contact Tandberg Data or your service provider;  
do not void the product warranty by allowing untrained or unauthorized personnel to  
attempt repairs.  
Returning the tape drive in unauthorized packaging may damage the unit and void the  
warranty.  
Caution  
If you are returning the tape drive for repair, package it in its original packaging (or in  
replacement packaging obtained from your vendor).  
III  
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CONTACTING  
TANDBERG DATA  
To obtain general information  
Tandberg Data ASA  
International  
Headquarters  
Kjelsåsveien 161, P.O.Box 134 Kjelsås,  
N-0411 Oslo, Norway  
Tel: +47 22 18 90 90  
World Wide Web  
To obtain technical support  
Tandberg Data  
Technical Support  
To order supplies and accessories  
Tandberg Data  
Sales Support  
To return equipment for service (RMA Request)  
Tandberg Data  
Service  
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HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL  
HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL  
This manual describes how to install, operate, and maintain the VXA™-320  
tape drive. It also provides functional, performance, and environmental  
specifications.  
ORGANIZATION  
The information in this manual is organized into chapters that allow you to  
quickly locate the information you need.  
First-time installation  
If you are installing the tape drive for the first time, refer to the following  
chapters:  
Chapter 1 provides an overview of the tape drive’s features and  
components.  
Chapter 2 provides instructions for installing the tape drive, connecting it to  
the host computer, and powering it on.  
Operation, troubleshooting, maintenance, and service  
Refer to these chapters for information about operating, maintaining, and  
troubleshooting your tape drive:  
Chapter 3 to learn how to load cartridges, clean the tape drive, and read the  
LEDs.  
Chapter 4 provides troubleshooting recommendations.  
Chapter 5 provides information about service and maintenance for the tape  
drive, including returning it for service, upgrading firmware, and obtaining  
a diagnostic listing.  
Specifications, standards, and terms  
These chapters are for engineering, purchasing, or marketing personnel who  
want to evaluate the tape drive to determine the feasibility of integrating it  
into their product lines.  
Chapter 6 provides an overview of the SCSI communication interface and  
SCSI command protocol supported by the tape drive. It also describes the  
communication interface specifications for the tape drive, including cable  
and connector requirements for the LVD SCSI interface.  
Chapter 7 provides specifications for the tape drive, including performance,  
reliability, power, and environmental specifications. This chapter also  
provides safety and regulatory agency standards compliance information.  
The Glossary provides definitions of terms used in this book.  
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HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL  
RELATED PUBLICATIONS  
For more information about the tape drive and the standards used by the tape  
drive, refer to the following publications. To order an Tandberg Data  
publication, see “Contacting Tandberg Data” on page iv. To download a PDF  
version of an Tandberg Data publication, visit the Tandberg Data web site  
Note: The VXA-320 publications are included as PDF files on the CD that  
accompanies your tape drive.  
VXA-320 Publications  
VXA-320 SCSI Tape Drive Quick Start, 433690-01  
VXA-320 (VXA-3) SCSI Reference Manual, 433691-01  
Standards Publications  
Information Technology - SCSI Primary Commands - 2 (SPC-2), ANSI INCITS  
351-2001  
Information Technology – SCSI Parallel Interface-3 (SPI-3), ANSI INCITS  
336-2000  
Information Technology -SCSI Architecture Model - 2 (SAM-2), ANSI INCITS  
366-2003  
Information Technology - SCSI Stream Commands - 2 (SSC-2), ANSI INCITS  
380-2003  
TapeAlert Specification, NCITS T10/02-142R0, Version 3.0, March 2002  
CONVENTIONS USED IN THIS MANUAL  
This manual uses the following conventions:  
Note: Notes provide additional information or suggestions about the topic or  
procedure being discussed..  
Read text marked by the “Important” icon for information that  
! Important  
will help you complete a procedure or avoid extra steps.  
Read text marked by the “CAUTION” icon for information you must know to avoid  
damaging the autoloader, tape drive, or losing data.  
Caution  
Warning  
Read text marked by the “WARNING” icon for information you must know to  
avoid personal injury.  
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Contents  
1 VXA-320 Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1  
2 Installation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7  
3 Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19  
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4 Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25  
5 Service and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35  
6 Communication Interface and Command Protocol . . . . 37  
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7 Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49  
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NOTES  
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Figures  
1 VXA-320 Features  
Figure 1-1 VXA-320 tape drives (internal and external models) . . . . . . . . . . . 1  
Figure 1-2 Internal tape drive: front-panel components. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2  
Figure 1-3 External tape drive: front-panel components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2  
Figure 1-4 Internal tape drive: back-panel components. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3  
Figure 1-5 External tape drive: back-panel components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4  
Figure 1-6 Top-panel label (SCSI tape drive) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5  
Figure 1-7 Back-panel label (SCSI tape drive) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5  
2 Installation  
Figure 2-1 Internal SCSI tape drive: back-panel components. . . . . . . . . . . . . 8  
Figure 2-2 SCSI ID settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10  
Figure 2-3 Connecting the SCSI cable and power cable (another device is the  
last device on the bus) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11  
Figure 2-4 Connecting a SCSI cable (tape drive is last device on the bus). . . 12  
Figure 2-5 Screw mounting configurations (internal model) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13  
Figure 2-6 External SCSI tape drive: back-panel components . . . . . . . . . . . 14  
Figure 2-7 Terminating the SCSI bus (external model) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16  
3 Operation  
Figure 3-1 Internal tape drive: front-panel components. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19  
Figure 3-2 External tape drive: front-panel components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19  
Figure 3-3 Setting the write-protect switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22  
7 Specifications  
Figure 7-1 Physical dimensions of the internal tape drive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52  
Figure 7-2 Physical dimensions of the external tape drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53  
Figure 7-3 Internal model: Operating temperature and humidity ranges . . . 57  
Figure 7-4 External model: Ambient operating temperature and humidity  
ranges58  
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Tables  
3 Operation  
LED states . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20  
4 Troubleshooting  
Service Notification error recovery procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28  
6 Communication Interface and Command Protocol  
SCSI bus phases and information transfer phases . . . . . . . . . . . . 38  
SCSI messages supported by the tape drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39  
SCSI cable and connector specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41  
Pin assignments for the wide LVD connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42  
SCSI cable requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43  
SCSI command set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44  
Status byte descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46  
Supported sense keys. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46  
7 Specifications  
Data capacities in gigabytes (GB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49  
Data transfer rates in megabytes per second. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50  
Read and write specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50  
Tape speed and access times . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51  
Reliability specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51  
Size and weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52  
Pin assignments for the power connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53  
Power specifications (internal model) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54  
Power consumption (internal model) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54  
Table 7-10 Power supply specifications (external model) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55  
Table 7-11 Power consumption (external model) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55  
Table 7-12 Acoustic noise specifications (internal tape drive) . . . . . . . . . . . . 55  
Table 7-13 Acoustic noise specifications (external tape drive). . . . . . . . . . . . 55  
Table 7-14 Temperature and humidity specifications for the tape drive . . . . 56  
Table 7-15 Internal model: Operating temperature and humidity points . . . 57  
Table 7-16 External model: Operating temperature and humidity points . . . 58  
Table 7-17 Particulate contamination limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59  
Table 7-18 Shock specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59  
Table 7-19 Vibration specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60  
Table 7-20 Temperature and humidity specifications for the VXAtape cartridges.  
60  
Table 7-21 Shipping carton weights and dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61  
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NOTES  
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TAPE DRIVE MODELS AND INTERFACES  
1
FEATURES  
This chapter describes the VXA-320 tape drive features and components. The  
VXA-320 tape drive is designed for the storage and management of  
enterprise-wide, mission-critical data.  
The VXA-320 tape drive’s capabilities are:  
Data storage  
160 gigabytes (GB) of uncompressed (native) data on  
a 230-meter VXAtape  
Data transfer rate  
12 megabytes (MB) per second (native) and is  
read/write compatible with the second-generation  
VXA tape drive (VXA-2)  
VXA-320 external model  
VXA-320 internal model  
55A  
3
3
Figure 1-1 VXA-320 tape drives (internal and external models)  
TAPE DRIVE MODELS AND INTERFACES  
For simple and convenient system integration, the VXA-320 tape drive is  
available in external and internal models. The internal VXA-320 complies with  
industry standard 5.25-inch half-high form factor mounting requirements and  
can be mounted horizontally or vertically. The external standalone model is  
housed in an enclosure that allows the device to be placed horizontally or  
vertically on a flat surface. External models can also be stacked. Neither model  
can be operated upside down.  
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CHAPTER 1 FEATURES  
Both the internal and external models of the VXA-320 tape drive are available  
with a wide, High-density (HD), 68-pin low-voltage differential (LVD) SCSI  
interface.  
COMPONENTS  
This section describes the major components of both the internal and external  
models of the tape drive.  
FRONT PANEL COMPONENTS  
Figure 1-2 and Figure 1-3 show the controls and indicators on the front panel  
of the tape drive. For more information about using these controls and  
indicators, see Chapter 3.  
Ventilation  
holes  
Door  
3
1
2
3
4
Status LEDs  
Eject button  
Figure 1-2 Internal tape drive: front-panel components  
Ventilation  
holes  
Door  
3
1
2
3
4
Power LED  
Status LEDs  
Eject button  
Figure 1-3 External tape drive: front-panel components  
Door Used for inserting the cartridge into the tape drive.  
Eject Button Used to unload the tape and eject the cartridge.  
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COMPONENTS  
Status LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) Show status information, which is  
described in “Monitoring the LEDs” on page 20.  
Power LED Shows the power-on status of the external tape drive.  
BACK PANEL COMPONENTS – INTERNAL TAPE DRIVE  
Figure 1-4 shows the back panel components of the internal SCSI tape drive.  
For more information about using these components during installation, see  
Chapter 2.  
Auxiliary  
connector  
SCSI  
connector  
Fan  
Grounding  
tab  
SCSI ID  
jumper block  
Power  
connector  
Grounding  
hole  
RF service  
connector  
Figure 1-4 Internal tape drive: back-panel components  
Fan Provides cooling to maintain proper operating temperature at the tape  
path.  
SCSI Connector Used to connect the tape drive to the SCSI bus. This is a  
68-pin LVD SCSI connector. (See Tab l e 6 -4 for pin assignments.)  
Auxiliary Connector Used for tape drive diagnostics.  
SCSI ID Jumper Block (SCSI model only) Used to set the SCSI ID.  
Grounding Tab and Hole Used to provide additional chassis grounding. (The  
mounting screws also provide grounding for the tape drive.)  
RF Service Connector Reserved for Tandberg Data Service personnel.  
Power Connector Used to connect a power cable from the enclosure’s power  
supply. This is a 4-pin connector. (See Ta bl e 6 -4 for pin assignments.)  
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CHAPTER 1 FEATURES  
BACK PANEL COMPONENTS – EXTERNAL TAPE DRIVE  
Figure 1-5 shows the back-panel components of the external SCSI model of the  
tape drive.  
Figure 1-5 External tape drive: back-panel components  
On/Off Switch Used to turn power on and off.  
AC Power Connector Used to provide power through a grounded AC power  
connector. A power cord is included with the tape drive.  
Serial Connector Used to connect the tape drive to the serial port of a  
computer for performing diagnostic operations with VXATool (see page 31).  
SCSI Connectors (SCSI tape drive only) Used to connect the tape drive to the  
SCSI bus with two SCSI cables or one SCSI cable and a terminator. These  
connectors are 68-pin high-density LVD SCSI connectors.  
SCSI ID Switch Used to set the SCSI ID.  
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COMPONENTS  
TAPE DRIVE LABELS  
The VXA-320 tape drive includes two labels:  
The top-panel label (Figure 1-6) shows the tape drive’s part number, serial  
number, revision, connector type, and agency information.  
The back-panel label (Figure 1-7) identifies the tape drive connectors and  
jumpers.  
Depending on the model tape drive you have, the labels on your tape drive  
may differ.  
Do not remove or modify these labels. If you do so, you will void the product  
warranty.  
Caution  
Figure 1-6 Top-panel label (SCSI tape drive)  
Figure 1-7 Back-panel label (SCSI tape drive)  
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CHAPTER 1 FEATURES  
NOTES  
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UNPACKING THE TAPE DRIVE  
2
INSTALLATION  
This chapter provides step-by-step instructions for installing the internal and  
external models of the VXA-320 tape drive. The information in this chapter  
expands on the instructions in the Quick Start guide that accompanied your  
tape drive.  
UNPACKING THE TAPE DRIVE  
All Tandberg Data tape drives are tested, inspected, and carefully packaged at  
the factory. However, because shipping damage can occur, you should follow  
the steps below to unpack the tape drive:  
1. Visually inspect the shipping container and notify your freight carrier  
immediately if you see any damage.  
2. Place the shipping container on a flat, clean, stable surface. If parts are  
missing or the equipment is damaged, notify your supplier or Tandberg  
Data.  
3. Save the original shipping container and packaging materials in case you  
need to reship the tape drive.  
INSTALLING THE TAPE DRIVE  
The installation instructions for your tape drive depend on what model you  
have:  
To install the internal LVD SCSI model of the tape drive, read “Installing the  
To install the external LVD SCSI model of the tape drive, read “Installing the  
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CHAPTER 2 INSTALLATION  
INSTALLING THE INTERNAL SCSI TAPE DRIVE  
The internal tape drive complies with industry-standard, 5.25-inch half-high  
form factor mounting requirements and can be mounted either horizontally or  
vertically, but not upside down.  
When installing the tape drive, refer to Figure 2-1 for the location of the  
back-panel components on the SCSI tape drive.  
SCSI  
connector  
Auxiliary  
connector  
Grounding  
tab  
SCSI ID  
jumper block  
Grounding  
hole  
RF service  
connector  
Power  
connector  
Figure 2-1 Internal SCSI tape drive: back-panel components  
Before You Begin  
Before you begin hardware installation, do the following:  
1. Select a suitable location for your tape drive—Ensure that the work area is  
free from conditions that could cause electrostatic discharge (ESD).  
Discharge static electricity from your body by touching a known grounded  
surface, such as your computers metal chassis.  
2. Install an LVD SCSI host bus adapter — Install the LVD SCSI host bus  
adapter (HBA) and any necessary drivers in the host computer.  
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INSTALLING THE TAPE DRIVE  
3. Select your backup software application To obtain information about  
which backup software applications work with the tape drive, visit  
Tandberg Data’s web site www.tandberg.com You can install the backup  
software application on the host computer before or after you install the  
tape drive. However, if you install the backup application software first, you  
may need to reconfigure it for use with the tape drive.  
Do not connect the tape drive to a RAID controller. The tape drive  
will not operate properly if it is connected to a RAID controller.  
! Important  
Although the tape drive’s High-density LVD SCSI interface is  
compatible with both single-ended and narrow SCSI buses, to  
avoid performance issues Tandberg Data does not recommend  
using the tape drive on either of these buses.  
If any single-ended device, including a single-ended terminator is  
attached to the LVD bus, the result is that all devices on that bus  
will run in single-ended mode. Tandberg Data recommends that  
you do not use the tape drive on a bus with a single-ended device.  
Do not connect the tape drive to an HVD controller. Doing so may damage the  
tape drive.  
Caution  
4. Obtain the necessary cables and terminator — The tape drive connects to  
the SCSI bus using a cable with a high-density, 68-pin male connector. This  
cable must meet the guidelines in “SCSI Cable Requirements,” beginning  
on page 41. If the tape drive is the last device on the SCSI bus, you will need  
to install an LVD/SE terminator at the physical end of the bus.  
5. Do not exceed SCSI bus length restrictions— The maximum allowable  
length of an LVD SCSI bus is 12 meters (39 feet) if you have more than two  
devices on the bus. Make sure the SCSI bus attached to the tape drive does  
not exceed this length. To determine the length of the bus:  
a. Add together the lengths of all external SCSI cables attaching devices on  
the bus. External devices are those connected outside of the server’s  
enclosure.  
b. Add together the lengths of all SCSI cables attaching internal devices on  
the bus. Internal devices are those installed within the server’s enclosure.  
c. Add together the lengths of all internal cabling for all other SCSI devices  
on the bus. Refer to the individual product documentation for cable  
length information.  
Set the SCSI ID and connect the SCSI cable  
1. Power down the computer system.  
Turn off all devices attached to the computer in which you plan to install the  
tape drive, then turn off the computer. Disconnect all power cables.  
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CHAPTER 2 INSTALLATION  
2. Prepare the drive bay.  
Remove the drive bay’s cover plate according to the system manufacturers  
instructions.  
3. Set the SCSI ID jumpers, if necessary.  
a. The tape drive is shipped with a SCSI ID of 11. If another device on the  
SCSI bus is already configured with this SCSI ID, you will need to change  
the tape drive’s SCSI ID. Reposition the jumpers on the jumper block, as  
shown in Figure 2-2, to select the desired ID. (If necessary, use flat-nose  
pliers to remove the jumpers.) If you need an additional jumper, use a  
2 mm jumper.  
Address 0  
Address 2  
Address 4  
Address 6  
Address 1  
Address 3  
Address 5  
Address 7  
Address 8  
Address 10  
Address 12  
Address 14  
Address 9  
Address 11  
Address 13  
Address 15  
Factory  
setting  
Figure 2-2 SCSI ID settings  
Alternatively, you can remove the jumpers and connect a cable (not  
included) from a remote switch to the jumper block, then use the remote  
switch to set the SCSI ID. The cable should use a connector equivalent to  
Hirose Housing part number DF11-8DS-2C, 2.0MM 8CKT to connect to the  
jumper block.  
Each device on the SCSI bus must have a unique SCSI ID.  
! Important  
b. Provide additional grounding, if desired.  
Attaching the tape drive to the enclosure protects the tape drive from ESD.  
However, if you want additional chassis grounding for the tape drive, use  
the grounding hole or grounding tab on the back panel (see Figure 2-1):  
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INSTALLING THE TAPE DRIVE  
Connect an M3 (0.25 in.) female spade connector from the host to the  
tape drive’s grounding tab.  
or  
Use an M3 × 0.5 mm × 5 mm machine screw to connect a grounding wire  
to the grounding hole.  
Do not use a screw other than the type specified for attaching the grounding wire,  
or you may damage the internal components. Screw length must not exceed  
5mm.  
Caution  
Caution  
4. Connect the SCSI cable.  
a. Check the connector to ensure that no pins are bent or pushed in before  
connecting it to the tape drive.  
To avoid damaging the tape drive, make certain you connect pin 1 on the cable to  
pin 1 on the tape drive. Pin 1 is on the right, top row of the connector pins (see  
b. Connect one of the enclosure’s internal SCSI cables to the SCSI connector  
on the back of the tape drive (see Figure 2-3). This cable must meet the  
Note: If desired, you can mount the tape drive (see page 12) before you  
connect the SCSI cable, the terminator (if required), and the power  
cable to the back. However, if the cables are difficult to access in the  
enclosure, you should extend the cables out through the drive bay  
and connect them before mounting the tape drive.  
Pin 1  
SCSI  
connector  
Power  
connector  
from host computer  
power supply  
to additional  
SCSI device  
to SCSI  
adapter card  
Figure 2-3 Connecting the SCSI cable and power cable (another device is the last  
device on the bus)  
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5. Install an LVD or LVD/SE multimode terminator at the physical end of the  
SCSI bus. If the cable provided with your adapter has a built-in terminator,  
do not add another terminator to the bus.  
Note: If the tape drive is the last device on the SCSI bus and if the SCSI  
cable has an unused connector at the end, you can terminate the bus  
there, as shown in Figure 2-4. Alternatively, you can terminate the bus  
by installing a pass-through terminator on the tape drive’s SCSI  
connector.  
If there are additional devices on the SCSI bus, ensure that only the device  
at the physical end of the bus is terminated.  
Pin 1  
SCSI  
connector  
Power  
connector  
from host computer  
power supply  
to SCSI  
adapter card  
Terminator  
Figure 2-4 Connecting a SCSI cable (tape drive is last device on the bus)  
Connect the power cable and mount the tape drive in the enclosure  
1. Connect the power cable.  
Locate the enclosure’s internal power cable and connect it to the tape  
drive’s power connector, as shown in Figure 2-3 or Figure 2-4. The  
enclosure’s power cable connector must be an AMP 1-480424-0 series, or  
equivalent.  
For the pin assignments of the tape drive’s power connector, see Tab l e 7 -7  
2. Mount the tape drive in the drive bay.  
Slide the tape drive into the bay. Ensure that no cables are caught or  
crimped between the tape drive and the chassis. Also ensure that the  
ventilation fan on the back of the tape drive is not obstructed.  
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INSTALLING THE TAPE DRIVE  
Using the screws provided with the tape drive, secure the tape drive in the  
drive bay using one of the screw mounting combinations (see Figure 2-5).  
To avoid damaging the tape drive, follow these precautions:  
Caution  
Use only the M3 × 0.5 × 5 mm Phillips screws. Screw length must not exceed  
5mm.  
Ensure that the chassis is not distorted. (Alignment to the horizontal or vertical  
plane should not exceed ±10°.)  
Ensure that no objects (screw heads, cables, or adjacent devices) are pressing  
against the frame.  
Do not use a combination of the two sets of mounting holes.  
Do not obstruct the ventilation fan on the back of the tape drive.  
Bottom mounting  
Side mounting  
3
3
Figure 2-5 Screw mounting configurations (internal model)  
3. Power on the computer system or enclosure.  
During the tape drive’s power-on self-test, the LEDs scroll sequentially  
right to left, then left to right in amber and green. LED 4 illuminates in red  
and green. When POST is complete, LED 4 illuminates in green. (See  
Table 3-1, “LED states,” on page 20 for a description of the LED states.)  
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CHAPTER 2 INSTALLATION  
INSTALLING THE EXTERNAL SCSI TAPE DRIVE  
When installing the external SCSI tape drive, refer to Figure 2-6 for the  
location of the back-panel components.  
Figure 2-6 External SCSI tape drive: back-panel components  
Before You Begin  
Before you begin hardware installation, do the following:  
1. Select a suitable location for your tape drive—Ensure that the work area is  
free from conditions that could cause electrostatic discharge (ESD).  
Discharge static electricity from your body by touching a known grounded  
surface, such as your computers metal chassis.  
2. Install an LVD SCSI host bus adapter — Install the LVD SCSI host bus  
adapter (HBA) and any necessary drivers in the host computer.  
3. Select your backup software application To obtain information about  
which backup software applications work with the tape drive, visit  
Tandberg Data’s web site www.tandberg.com You can install the backup  
software application on the host computer before or after you install the  
tape drive. However, if you install the backup software application first, you  
may need to reconfigure it for use with the tape drive.  
Do not connect the tape drive to a RAID controller. The tape drive  
will not operate properly if it is connected to a RAID controller.  
! Important  
Although the tape drive’s High-density LVD SCSI interface is  
compatible with both single-ended and narrow SCSI buses, to  
avoid performance issues Tandberg Data does not recommend  
using the tape drive on either of these buses.  
If any single-ended device, including a single-ended terminator is  
attached to the LVD bus, the result is that all devices on that bus  
will run in single-ended mode. Tandberg Data recommends that  
you do not use the tape drive on a bus with a single-ended device.  
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INSTALLING THE TAPE DRIVE  
4. Obtain the necessary cables and terminator — The tape drive connects to  
the SCSI bus using a cable with a high-density, 68-pin male connector. This  
cable must meet the guidelines in “SCSI Cable Requirements,” beginning  
on page 41. If the tape drive is the last device on the SCSI bus, you will need  
to install an LVD/SE terminator at the physical end of the bus.  
5. Do not exceed SCSI bus length restrictions— The maximum allowable  
length of an LVD SCSI bus is 12 meters (39 feet) if you have more than two  
devices on the bus. Make sure the SCSI bus attached to the tape drive does  
not exceed this length. To determine the length of the bus:  
a. Add together the lengths of all external SCSI cables attaching devices on  
the bus. External devices are those connected outside of the server’s  
enclosure.  
b. Add together the lengths of all SCSI cables attaching internal devices on  
the bus. Internal devices are those installed within the server’s enclosure.  
c. Add together the lengths of all internal cabling for all other SCSI devices  
on the bus. Refer to the individual product documentation for cable  
length information.  
6. Make sure the SCSI bus is properly terminated— You must install an LVD  
or LVD/SE multimode terminator on the device at the physical end of the  
SCSI bus. If the tape drive is at the physical end of the SCSI bus, you must  
install the required terminator on one of the tape drive’s SCSI connectors.  
If there are additional devices on the SCSI bus, ensure that only the device  
at the physical end of the bus is terminated.  
Install the Tape Drive  
1. Power down the host computer system.  
Turn off all devices attached to the computer to which you plan to connect  
the tape drive, then turn off the computer. Disconnect all power cables.  
2. Set the SCSI ID.  
The tape drive is shipped with a SCSI ID of 11. If another device on the SCSI  
bus is already configured with this SCSI ID, you will need to change the  
tape drive’s SCSI ID. To change the default ID, press the + and – tabs above  
and below the SCSI ID indicator until the desired SCSI ID appears. See  
3. Connect the SCSI cable.  
a. Ensure that the cable complies with the SCSI-3 specification and has a  
68-pin high-density male connector. See Ta bl e 6 -5 for cable specifications.  
Do not use a noncompliant SCSI cable; it will degrade VXA-320 performance and  
can cause random, nonreproducible errors. See Table 6-5 for cable specifications.  
Caution  
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CHAPTER 2 INSTALLATION  
b. Check the connector to ensure that no pins are bent or pushed in before  
connecting it to the tape drive.  
c. Connect a SCSI cable from the host computer system to the back of the  
tape drive.  
d. Use the two thumb screws on the cable to fully seat the connector.  
4. Install an LVD or LVD/SE multimode terminator at the physical end of the  
SCSI bus. If the cable provided with your adapter has a built-in terminator,  
do not add another terminator to the bus.  
If the tape drive is the last device on the bus, install a terminator on the  
unused SCSI connector, as shown in Figure 2-7.  
If there are additional devices on the SCSI bus, ensure that only the device  
at the physical end of the bus is terminated.  
To SCSI Adapter  
Computer  
The tape drive is the last  
device on the SCSI bus.  
Terminator  
To SCSI Adapter  
Computer  
T
er  
SCSI  
minat  
ed  
vic  
Terminator  
D
e
e
Another peripheral is the last  
device on the SCSI bus.  
SCSI  
D
e
vic  
e
Figure 2-7 Terminating the SCSI bus (external model)  
5. Connect the power cable and turn on the power.  
Connect the power cable to the back of the tape drive. Turn on the tape  
drive’s power switch. During the tape drive’s power-on self-test (POST),  
the LEDs scroll sequentially right to left, then left to right in amber and  
green. LED 4 illuminates in red and green. When POST is complete, LED 4  
illuminates in green. (See Table 3-1, “LED states,” on page 20 for a  
description of the LED states.)  
6. Power on the host computer system.  
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INSTALLING THE TAPE DRIVE  
Checking the Installation  
After installing the tape drive on your system, check the installation by  
performing a small write and read operation. This will confirm that the system  
can communicate with the tape drive and that the tape drive is operational.  
The simplest method for checking the installation is to use VXATool. VXATool  
is available for several operating systems and can be downloaded from the  
support section at: www.tandberg.com  
Check the installation by following these steps:  
1. Install VXATool.  
Detailed instructions are included in the “readme” file available with the  
VXATool download.  
2. Stop all backup software application services on the system.  
If a backup software application is already installed on your system,  
completely shut down the backup software application and any services it  
may be running. The backup software application may prevent  
communications with thee tape drive or may interrupt VXATool functions  
resulting in their failure.  
3. Confirm that the system can communicate with the tape drive.  
Run VXATool and confirm that it can retrieve basic drive information from  
the tape drive. Refer to the VXATool readme file or on-line help for  
instructions.  
4. Insert a cartridge and use VXATool to run a write/read test.  
Refer to the VXATool readme file or on-line help for instructions on how to  
run a diagnostic write/read test.  
5. Update the firmware.  
Updates to the tape drive’s firmware are made available for download from  
Tandberg Data’s web site at www.tandberg.com. Use VXATool to check the  
current version of firmware in your tape drive and to update the firmware  
as needed.  
Refer to Chapter 4 for troubleshooting tips if you encounter any problems.  
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CHAPTER 2 INSTALLATION  
INTEGRATING THE TAPE DRIVE  
After installing the VXA-320 tape drive, you may need to integrate it with your  
backup software application and computer operating system. The Support  
section of Tandberg Data’s web site, www.tandberg.com, provides a list of  
backup software applications and operating systems that are compatible with  
the VXA-320 tape drive.  
If your backup software application does not support the VXA-320 tape drive,  
you can use VXATool to change the product identification information  
(Inquiry String) that the tape drive returns to the software. Changing the tape  
drive’s identification information does not affect the tape drive’s speed or  
capacity. For instructions on using VXATool to change the tape drive’s Inquiry  
String, refer to the help or readme file provided with VXATool. Additional  
information is available at: www.tandberg.com (article #2002).  
Refer to the information provided with your backup software application for  
device integration instructions. Refer any questions regarding software  
configuration and operation to your software provider.  
The CD included with the tape drive provides device drivers for use with the  
Windows operating system.  
Do not install these drivers unless you are using the Windows  
native backup software application or unless your backup software  
application instructs you to do so.  
! Important  
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3
OPERATION  
This chapter describes how to operate the tape drive. Figure 3-1 and Figure 3-2  
show the controls and indicators on the front panel of the tape drive.  
Ventilation  
holes  
Door  
3
1
2
3
4
Status LEDs  
Eject button  
Figure 3-1 Internal tape drive: front-panel components  
Ventilation  
holes  
Door  
3
1
2
3
4
Power LED  
Status LEDs  
Eject button  
Figure 3-2 External tape drive: front-panel components  
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CHAPTER 3 OPERATION  
MONITORING THE LEDS  
The VXA-320 tape drive uses four LEDs to indicate its operational status, as  
shown in Table 3-1 .  
Note: The LEDs are numbered 1 through 4 from left to right.  
Table 3-1 LED states  
Operation  
LED Pattern  
LED #1  
Operational Conditions  
LEDs illuminate sequentiallya  
Off  
LED #2  
LED #3  
LED #4  
Power-on self-test  
No tape loaded  
Off  
Off  
Off  
Off  
Green  
Interface activity; (LED  
4 may flash with other  
LED operations)  
Flashing  
Green  
Off  
Tape loading or  
unloading  
Flashing  
Green  
Off  
Off  
Off  
Off  
Off  
Off  
Tape ready; idle  
Reading  
Green  
Off or  
Flashing  
Green  
Off  
Off  
Green  
Amber  
Writing  
Off or  
Flashing  
Green  
Amber or  
Greenb  
Off  
Off  
Space forward  
Flashing  
Green  
Off  
Off  
Off  
Off  
Off  
Off  
Space reverse or  
rewinding  
Flashing  
Green  
Off  
Cleaning in process  
Flashing  
Green  
Flashing  
Green  
Service Notification  
Cleaning required  
Flashing  
Amber  
Off  
Off  
Off  
Off  
Off  
Off  
Cleaning tape used up  
Flashing  
Green/Amber  
Recoverable errorc  
Amber  
Amber  
Green  
Off  
Amber  
Amber  
Off or Green  
Off or Green  
Unrecoverable errorc  
Factory service  
requiredd  
Flashing Green or Amber  
Flashing Red  
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MONITORING THE LEDS  
Table 3-1 LED states (continued)  
Operation  
LED Pattern  
LED #1  
LED #2  
LED #3  
LED #4  
Service Notification (continued)  
Broken tape  
Format recoverye  
Flashing  
Off  
Flashing  
Green/Amber  
Green  
Green  
Green/Amber  
Flashing  
Green/Amber  
Off  
Off  
Off  
Off  
Temperaturetoohighin  
tape pathf  
Flashing  
Orange  
Off  
Boot Block Modeg  
Flashing  
Green  
Flashing  
Amber  
Flashing  
Orange  
Flashing  
Green  
Self Test  
Self-test running  
Off or Flashing  
Green  
Fast scrolling green  
Self-test passed  
Self-test failedh  
Green  
Amber  
Green  
Amber  
Green  
Amber  
Off  
Off  
Firmware Load  
Loading firmware  
Loading firmware  
KEY: Flashing LEDs =  
Flashing  
Amber  
Flashing  
Green  
Flashing  
Amber  
Orange  
Orange  
Flashing  
Flashing  
Flashing  
Green/Amber Green/Amber Green/Amber  
On =  
Off =  
a
For the power-on self-test, the LEDs scroll sequentially right to left then left to right in amber and green. LED 4 illuminates in red and  
green. When POST is completed, LED 4 is illuminated in green.  
b
c
When LED 2 is amber, hardware compression is enabled. When LED 2 is green, hardware compression is disabled.  
Retry the operation with another tape, making sure that the tape is not written in VXA-1 format. If the problem persists, try power cycling  
the tape drive to clear the error. If you cannot resolve the problem yourself, contact Tandberg Data Technical Support (see “Contacting  
Tandberg Data” on page iv). To capture a log of a problem, use VXATool, which is available as a free download from www.tandberg.com.  
d
e
You may need to return the tape drive for service; contact Tandberg Data Technical Support. To get a log of the problem, use VXATool,  
which is available as a free download from www.tandberg.com.  
The tape was written without a valid end-of-data mark, which often occurs if you power-down the tape drive while the tape drive was  
writing. The tape drive will perform a format recovery, which involves reading the data to determine where the end of data is located. This  
may take as long as 2 to 3 hours.  
f
Refer to “LED 4 is Flashing Orange” on page 26 for troubleshooting information.  
g
If the tape drive is in Boot Block Mode, try power cycling the tape drive. If it remains in Boot Block Mode, load new firmware. VXA-320  
firmware is available at www.tandberg.com.  
h
If a self-test fails, clean the tape drive with a VXAtape cleaning cartridge. If the failure still occurs, try a new tape.  
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CHAPTER 3 OPERATION  
USING VXATAPE CARTRIDGES  
The tape drive uses data-quality VXAtape data cartridges, in various lengths,  
available from Tandberg Data and authorized sources. These cartridges do not  
require formatting or other media conditioning before use. See Tab l e 7 - 1 o n  
page 49 for compatibility and capacity information for VXAtape cartridges. See  
page 23 for storage guidelines.  
The VXA-320 tape drive only operates with VXAtape data cartridges. Do not  
attempt to use other types of cartridges, or you may damage the tape drive.  
Caution  
SETTING THE WRITE-PROTECT SWITCH  
Before you insert a cartridge into the tape drive, make sure the write-protect  
switch on the cartridge is set correctly, as shown in Figure 3-3.  
R
E
C
REC= write-enabled  
SAVE = write-protected  
S
A
V
E
RE  
C
SA  
V
E
Figure 3-3 Setting the write-protect switch  
LOADING A CARTRIDGE  
Insert the front of the cartridge through the tape drive door into the loader  
mechanism. (The colored write-protect tab on the cartridge should be closest  
to the tape drive’s eject button.) Gently push the cartridge until the tape  
drive’s loader mechanism activates and completes the tape-loading process.  
The tape drive loads the tape in approximately 40 seconds, during which time,  
LED 2 flashes green. When LED 2 is steady green, the tape drive is ready to  
begin write and read operations.  
UNLOADING A CARTRIDGE  
To unload a cartridge, press the eject button. The tape drive completes any  
command in process, writes any buffered information to tape, rewinds to the  
beginning of the tape, and ejects the cartridge in approximately 1 to 2 minutes.  
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CLEANING THE TAPE DRIVE  
STORING THE CARTRIDGES  
If VXAtape cartridges are stored properly, you can expect to successfully  
recover data from them for 30 years. Be aware that the 30-year storage life is  
for an archival tape, not a tape being used for daily backups.  
As a general rule, use a new (or relatively unused) cartridge to store any  
critical data you may need to recover many years from now. Do not use a  
cartridge that has reached its retirement point. For routine backups that get  
overwritten each day or week, it is acceptable to reuse cartridges until they are  
ready for retirement.  
Proper storage of cartridges helps prevent media-related problems. To ensure  
a storage period of 30 years, follow these guidelines:  
Remove the cartridge from the tape drive and store it as soon as possible  
after you have finished writing or reading data. Avoid handling the  
cartridge excessively. Never open the cartridge door or touch the tape.  
Label each cartridge.  
Set the cartridge write-protect switch to prevent accidental over-writing by  
moving the switch to the edge of the cartridge. (See page 22.)  
Keep each cartridge in its protective case or a container designed for  
cartridge storage.  
Store cartridges away from copiers and printers to avoid contamination by  
toner and paper dust.  
Store cartridges away from objects or devices that emit strong magnetic  
fields.  
CLEANING THE TAPE DRIVE  
This section describes when and how to clean the tape drive to maintain  
optimal performance. Circulating air may introduce debris into the tape path.  
If debris builds up on the heads, error rates increase and backups take longer  
because the tape drive must rewrite the data. The VXA-320 tape drive includes  
an internal cleaning wheel to remove contamination from the tape path.  
However, you should still clean the tape drive regularly with a separate  
cleaning cartridge to maximize tape drive reliability and the life of your tapes.  
DETERMINING WHEN TO CLEAN THE TAPE DRIVE  
When the tape drive requires cleaning, LED 2 flashes amber. The tape drive  
should be cleaned as soon as possible after this LED begins flashing.  
Note: Some software applications may notify you that the tape drive requires  
cleaning. Refer to your software documentation for more information.  
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CHAPTER 3 OPERATION  
USING A CLEANING CARTRIDGE  
Insert a VXAtape Cleaning Cartridge into the tape drive. The tape drive  
automatically performs the cleaning cycle in less than one minute. When  
finished, the tape drive ejects the cleaning cartridge and LED 2 turns off.  
Note: If there are no more cleaning cycles remaining on the cleaning cartridge,  
the tape drive ejects the cartridge without performing the cleaning and  
LED 2 flashes green and amber.  
Do not use any cleaning method other than the VXAtape Cleaning Cartridge (or a  
cleaning cartridge approved by Tandberg Data for use with VXA tape drives). Using  
other cleaning methods may void the tape drive’s warranty.  
Caution  
Do not rewind and reuse the material in a cleaning cartridge. Reuse may  
redistribute contaminants previously removed from the tape path. If all cleaning  
material has been used, discard the cartridge and use a new cleaning cartridge.  
RESETTING THE TAPE DRIVE  
To reset the VXA-320 tape drive, perform one of the following steps:  
Press and hold the unload button for at least 10 seconds, then release the  
button. This clears any error, ejects any cartridge that is in the tape drive  
(unless a hardware error occurred), and resets the tape drive.  
Note: If the tape drive contains a cartridge, the tape drive rewinds the tape  
to the beginning before ejecting the cartridge. The time required to  
complete the rewind depends on what size cartridge you are using  
and if the tape was positioned near the end.  
Power down the tape drive. Wait 10 seconds, then turn the tape drive back  
on. Depending on what function the tape drive was performing before the  
reset, the tape drive may automatically start a lengthy format recovery  
process, which involves reading the data to determine where the end of data  
is located. This may take as long as 2 to 3 hours. Wait for the format recovery  
to complete.  
Send a bus device reset (0Ch) message to the tape drive. A device reset clears  
all input/output (I/O) processes on that SCSI bus.  
Send a SCSI bus reset. (Make sure no other devices are using the SCSI bus.)  
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RESOLVING PROBLEMS  
4
TROUBLESHOOTING  
This chapter describes problems that you might encounter while operating the  
VXA-320 tape drive and provides suggestions for resolving the problems.  
Note: The Support section of the Tandberg Data web site, www.tandberg.com,  
also provides helpful troubleshooting tips.  
RESOLVING PROBLEMS  
TAPE DRIVE WILL NOT ACCEPT A CARTRIDGE  
If the tape drive does not accept a cartridge when you insert it into the tape  
drive door, do the following:  
1. Determine if there’s already a cartridge loaded.  
Press the eject button; there may be a cartridge already loaded in the tape  
drive.  
2. Make sure you are using VXATape cartridges with either VXA-2 or VXA-320  
(VXA-3) format.  
If the cartridge you are attempting to load is not a VXATape cartridge, the  
tape drive automatically ejects it.  
If the cartridge contains data written in VXA-1 format, the tape drive  
automatically ejects it. The front panel LEDs indicate an unrecoverable  
error (LEDs 1 and 3 are amber, LEDs 2 and 4 are off).  
3. Check that the tape drive is powered on and that it is not indicating an error  
state on its LEDs. Refer to Table 3-1 on page 20 for a complete list of LED  
states.  
4. Check to see if LED 4 is flashing orange, indicating that the tape drive is  
5. Power cycle the tape drive.  
Power down the tape drive. Wait 10 seconds, then turn the tape drive back  
on.  
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CHAPTER 4 TROUBLESHOOTING  
On power-up, observe the tape drive’s LED code sequence. If the LEDs do  
not illuminate, check the power supply and power cable connection. If the  
tape drive is installed internally in a server, try connecting a different power  
cable to the tape drive.  
If power to the tape drive was interrupted when you originally attempted  
to load a cartridge, the tape drive detects the tape when its power is  
restored and then rewinds the tape. If this is the case, press the eject button,  
remove the cartridge, and begin the session again.  
6. Push the cartridge straight into the tape drive. If the cartridge is inserted or  
pushed at an angle, you will feel resistance and will not be able to load the  
cartridge.  
7. Check to see if all four LEDs are flashing (LED 1 is green, LED 2 is amber,  
LED 3 is orange, LED 4 is green), indicating that the tape drive is in Boot  
Block Mode.  
If a firmware upgrade was interrupted or did not complete successfully, the  
tape drive powers on in Boot Block Mode. Reload the firmware as described  
in “Upgrading Firmware” on page 36. The tape drive will not accept a  
cartridge until the firmware is successfully reloaded.  
LED 4 IS FLASHING ORANGE  
If LED 4 is flashing orange, the tape drive is over temperature and must cool  
down before operations can continue. Do the following:  
1. Wait for the tape drive to cool.  
When the tape drive cools down, LED 4 turns off. Do not attempt to load a  
cartridge or perform any operations during this time. If there is a tape  
loaded in the tape drive, press the eject button to unload the tape and move  
it to a cooler environment.  
2. If necessary, power cycle the tape drive.  
If the tape drive does not cool down on its own, power down the tape drive.  
Wait a few minutes, then turn the tape drive back on. If LED 4 is still orange  
after power-up, the tape drive may be in an environment that is too hot.  
If the tape drive is an internal model, check that the ventilation fan on  
the back of the tape drive is not obstructed and that the tape drive is not  
located near devices that are emitting excessive heat.  
If the tape drive is an external model, check that the ambient  
temperature is within the specifications noted in Table 7-16 o n page 58 .  
If the temperature is within the specifications, the enclosure’s fan may  
not be working properly and you should return the tape drive for  
service (see page 35).  
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RESOLVING PROBLEMS  
TAPE DRIVE WILL NOT EJECT A CARTRIDGE  
If the tape drive does not eject a cartridge when you press the eject button, do  
the following:  
1. Use your backup application to eject the cartridge.  
To protect against accidental tape ejection during a backup or restore  
operation, many applications prevent using the tape drive’s eject button for  
media removal.  
2. If you cannot eject the cartridge through the application, use VXATool to  
unload the cartridge. Refer to the readme file or on-line help available with  
VXATool for instructions.  
3. Reset the tape drive. Press and hold the unload button for at least 10  
seconds, then release the button. This clears any error, ejects any cartridge  
that is in the tape drive (unless a hardware error occurred), and resets the  
tape drive.  
Note: If the tape drive contains a cartridge, the tape drive rewinds the tape  
to the beginning before ejecting the cartridge. The time required to  
complete the rewind depends on what size cartridge you are using  
and if the tape was positioned near the end.  
4. Power cycle the tape drive.  
Power down the tape drive. Wait 10 seconds, then turn the tape drive back  
on. Depending on what function the tape drive was performing before the  
reset, the tape drive may automatically start a lengthy format recovery  
process, which involves reading the data to determine where the end of  
data is located. This may take as long as 2 to 3 hours. Wait for the format  
recovery to complete.  
5. If the cartridge appears to be stuck in the tape drive, return the tape drive  
for service.  
If you still cannot eject the cartridge, you may need to return the tape drive  
for repair with the cartridge in place.  
TAPE DRIVE IS NOT DETECTED BY THE OPERATING SYSTEM OR BACKUP  
APPLICATION  
If the tape drive powers up, loads and unloads cartridges, but is not  
recognized by the operating system or backup application, do the following:  
1. Check the SCSI host bus adapter installation.  
Confirm that the tape drive is connected to an LVD SCSI controller. Do  
not connect the tape drive to a RADI or RAID-enabled controller or to an  
HVD controller.  
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CHAPTER 4 TROUBLESHOOTING  
Check that the SCSI controller and the most recent drivers available for  
it are installed according to the manufacturers instructions.  
Check that the SCSI controller is fully seated in its slot. You can also try  
2. Make sure the tape drive is installed properly on the bus, described in  
Chapter 2. In particular, check the following:  
Is the tape drive set to a unique SCSI ID?  
Is a terminator installed at the physical end of the SCSI bus? Try another  
terminator.  
Is there a broken cable or defective connector? Try another, known-good  
cable.  
Is the cable correctly oriented and firmly seated on the tape drive  
connector?  
3. Check that the tape drive is powered-on and that its LEDs are not  
indicating an error state. See Ta bl e 3 -1 o n p ag e 20 for a complete list of LED  
states.  
4. Reboot your system.  
5. Try using VXATool to communicate with the tape drive. Before running  
VXATool, stop all services for your backup application. If VXATool can  
detect and communicate with the tape drive, but your backup application  
cannot, contact the application provider for software support.  
6. Verify that the tape drive is supported by your operating system and  
backup application. Refer to “Integrating the Tape Drive” on page 18 for  
details on how to confirm this information.  
A SERVICE NOTIFICATION LED CODE APPEARS  
If one of the Service Notification LED codes appears (see Table 3-1 on page 20 ),  
refer to Tab l e 4 - 1 for error recovery procedures.  
Table 4-1 Service Notification error recovery procedures  
Service Notification Suggested Recovery Procedure  
Cleaning Required  
Clean the tape drive. See page 23 for cleaning instructions; LED 2 flashes amber  
when the tape drive needs to be cleaned. Use only an Tandberg Data approved  
VXAtape Cleaning Cartridge.  
Cleaning Tape used  
up  
Discard the cartridge and use a new cleaning cartridge. Do not rewind and reuse  
the material in a cleaning cartridge. Reuse may redistribute contaminants  
previously removed from the tape path.  
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RESOLVING PROBLEMS  
Table 4-1 Service Notification error recovery procedures (continued)  
Service Notification Suggested Recovery Procedure  
Recoverable Error\  
Retry the operation with another tape, making sure that the inserted tape was not  
Unrecoverable Error written in VXA-1 format. If the problem persists, try power cycling the tape drive  
to clear the error. If you cannot resolve the problem yourself, contact Tandberg  
Data Technical Support (see “Contacting Tandberg Data” on page iv). To capture  
a log of a problem, use VXATool, which is available as a free download from  
Factory service  
required  
Power cycle the tape drive. If the problem persists, you may need to return the  
tape drive for service; contact Tandberg Data Technical Support (see “Contacting  
Tandberg Data” on page iv). To get a log of the problem, use VXATool, which is  
available as a free download from www.tandberg.com.  
Broken tape  
Make sure there is not a source of bright light shining into the tape drive. Check if  
the medium in the ejected cartridge is broken. If it is, discard the cartridge and  
use a new cartridge.  
Format recovery  
The tape was written without a valid end-of-data mark, which often occurs if you  
power-down the tape drive while the tape drive was writing. The tape drive will  
perform a format recovery, which involves reading the data to determine where  
the end of data is located. This may take as long as 2 to 3 hours. Allow the format  
recovery operation to complete, and then press the eject button to unload the  
cartridge. Avoid power-cycling the tape drive while a tape is loaded.  
Temperature too high Refer to “LED 4 is Flashing Orange” on page 26 for troubleshooting information.  
in tape path  
Boot block mode  
Reload the firmware as described in “Upgrading Firmware” on page 36.  
BACKUP APPLICATION IS REPORTING AN ERROR  
Your backup application may report an error as a result of a failure to  
communicate with the tape drive, a failure by the tape drive to write or read  
data, or because of a software configuration issue.  
Failure to communicate with the tape drive  
Communication problems on the SCSI bus may be reported by the backup  
application as resets, a loss of communication with the tape drive, failure to  
detect the tape drive, I/O device errors, or parity errors. These types of errors  
may occur intermittently. Most often, these issues are due to SCSI cabling and  
termination problems.  
Check tape drive installation on the SCSI bus, described in “Installing the  
Use VXATool to capture the diagnostic log from the tape drive immediately  
after an error is reported by your backup application. Technical Support can  
examine the log to determine the nature of the reported error. Refer to  
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CHAPTER 4 TROUBLESHOOTING  
Failure by the tape drive to write or read data  
If your backup application reports a media error, one of the following  
situations may have occurred:  
The tape drive needs cleaning (see “Cleaning the Tape Drive” on page 23).  
Always try cleaning the tape drive before you assume the cartridge is bad.  
Be sure to use a VXAtape Cleaning Cartridge.  
The cartridge needs to be replaced. Try using a different cartridge for the  
backup, making sure that the tape is not written in VXA-1 format. Mark any  
cartridge that fails. If you notice that the same cartridge results in multiple  
failures, it may be time to replace the cartridge.  
The backup application has attempted to append data to a cartridge that  
previously failed. If a write media error previously occurred on the tape, the  
tape drive cannot append data at the point where the write media error  
occurred. You can attempt to overwrite the tape, but any attempt to append  
data will fail.  
If you are trying to write data, the cartridge may be write-protected. Check  
the switch on the edge of the cartridge (see Figure 3-3 on page 22). If the  
switch does not cover the opening, the tape is write-protected. If the switch  
covers the opening, you can write to the tape. Use a pen or small screwdriver  
to move the switch.  
If you used an application other than your normal backup application to  
write data to the tape, your backup application may report that it does not  
recognize the tape. For example, if you have used VXATool to write and read  
test data, the test tape will not be “recognized” by your backup application.  
Perform a tape erase using either VXATool or your backup application.  
Backup Application configuration issues  
If you suspect an issue with the backup application configuration, use  
VXATool to first confirm that the hardware is working properly. Run a  
VXATool Write/Read test to verify that the tape drive is communicating over  
the SCSI bus and that it can perform write and read operations. The readme  
file that accompanies the program (or the online help for the Windows  
version) provides instructions for using VXATool.  
For any questions regarding software configuration, contact your software  
provider.  
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TROUBLESHOOTING WITH VXATOOL  
TROUBLESHOOTING WITH VXATOOL  
To troubleshoot problems with the tape drive, you can use the VXATool  
diagnostic software. This program allows you to conduct diagnostic testing  
and update the firmware. VXATool is available for a variety of operating  
environments.  
Download VXATool free of charge from the Support section of Tandberg  
Data’s web site at www.tandberg.com. The readme file that accompanies the  
program (or the online help for the Windows version) provides instructions  
for using VXATool.  
Always check Tandberg Data’s web site to make sure that you have  
the most current version of VXATool.  
! Important  
GETTING STARTED (IMPORTANT FIRST STEP)  
Before running VXATool—completely shut down your backup application and  
any services it may be running. The backup application may prevent  
communications with the tape drive or may interrupt VXATool functions  
resulting in their failure.  
PERFORMING A WRITE/READ TEST  
Use VXATool to perform a Write/Read test of the tape drive. The Write/Read  
test verifies that the tape drive is communicating over the SCSI bus and that it  
can perform write and read operations. Refer to the readme file or on-line help  
available with the VXATool for detailed instructions.  
UPDATING FIRMWARE  
As improvements to tape drive firmware are made, they are made available for  
download from Tandberg Data’s web site at www.tandberg.com. Use VXATool  
to check the current version of firmware in your tape drive and to update the  
firmware as needed.  
CAPTURING A DIAGNOSTIC LOG  
A diagnostic log is a snapshot of the tape drive’s current condition. If the tape  
drive reports an error, use VXATool to capture the diagnostic log as soon as  
possible after the error occurred. To ensure that the diagnostic log accurately  
reflects the condition of the tape drive when the error occurred, avoid  
disturbing the tape drive (for example, power-cycling, loading or unloading  
tapes, or writing or reading more data) before capturing the diagnostic log.  
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CHAPTER 4 TROUBLESHOOTING  
GATHERING TROUBLESHOOTING INFORMATION FOR TECHNICAL SUPPORT  
Before contacting Tandberg Data Technical Support, complete the following  
steps to gather all of the required information. Having this information  
available before you call Technical Support will allow your representative to  
help you as efficiently as possible. When you have all of the required  
information see “Contacting Tandberg Data” on page iv to contact Technical  
Support.  
VXA-320 TAPE DRIVE INFORMATION  
Serial number. What is the tape drive’s serial number? The serial number is  
located on the label attached to the tape drive (see Figure 1-6 on page 5).  
Alternatively, you can use VXATool to display the tape drive serial number.  
Firmware level. What version of firmware is currently loaded in the tape  
drive? Use VXATool to display the current version of firmware in your tape  
drive. Check www.tandberg.com for the latest release of VXA-320 tape drive  
firmware. If your tape drive is not at the latest firmware level, use VXATool  
to update the firmware.  
Tape drive configuration. Is the tape drive an internal model (installed in a  
server); external model; or integrated within a library?  
LED status. Do the tape drive LEDs indicate an error state? Refer to Ta bl e 3 -1  
on page 20 for a description of the LED states.  
SCSI BUS INFORMATION  
SCSI host bus adapter make and model. What is the make and model of  
SCSI host bus adapter connected to the tape drive? Make certain that the  
LVD SCSI host bus adapter and any necessary drivers installed in the host  
computer are compatible with the High-density, LVD tape drive. Tandberg  
Data does not support using the tape drive on a RAID controller.  
SCSI bus configuration. What is the configuration of the SCSI bus used by  
the tape drive?  
Are other SCSI devices attached to the SCSI bus?  
What are the SCSI IDs of all devices attached to the same bus (both  
internal and external devices)?  
Is the SCSI bus terminated at the physical end of the bus?  
What is the total SCSI cable length for all devices (both internal and  
external devices) on the SCSI bus? See page 9 for information about  
determining the total SCSI bus length for the internal tape drive and  
page 15 for information about determining the total SCSI bus length for  
the external tape drive.  
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GATHERING TROUBLESHOOTING INFORMATION FOR TECHNICAL SUPPORT  
Check all SCSI cables connectors for bent pins and confirm that all  
connectors are firmly seated.  
OPERATING SYSTEM INFORMATION  
Operating system. What operating system is being used? Are all current  
patches installed?  
Device drivers. Are the appropriate drivers installed for the SCSI host bus  
adapter? Refer to the installation instructions for your SCSI host bus adapter  
card.  
BACKUP APPLICATION INFORMATION  
Backup application name and version. What backup application is being  
used?  
Compatibility. Does your application support the VXA-320 (VXA-3) tape  
drive? Refer to the supported hardware devices list from the application  
provider.  
Device driver. Is the appropriate driver installed for the tape drive? Refer to  
the installation instructions for your backup application.  
Backup application log files. Have the log files from your backup  
application ready to send to Technical Support.  
TAPE DRIVE DIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION  
Write/Read test results. Use VXATool and run a Write/Read test and then  
capture the diagnostic log from the tape drive and save it to a file. Have the  
diagnostic log file ready to send to Technical Support. Refer to the readme  
file or on-line help available with the VXATool for detailed instructions.  
If the VXATool Write/Read test reports an error, clean the tape drive and run  
the test again on a new tape.  
Diagnostic log taken after an error. Use VXATool to capture the diagnostic  
log from the tape drive immediately after your backup application reports  
an error.  
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CHAPTER 4 TROUBLESHOOTING  
NOTES  
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RETURNING THE TAPE DRIVE FOR SERVICE  
5
SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE  
This chapter provides information about service and maintenance for the tape  
drive, including:  
Returning the tape drive for service  
Upgrading firmware  
Obtaining a diagnostic listing  
RETURNING THE TAPE DRIVE FOR SERVICE  
If you need to return the tape drive to the factory for service, follow these  
steps:  
1. Before returning a tape drive for service, contact Tandberg Data Service (see  
page iv) or your Tandberg Data authorized service provider for return  
authorization and shipping instructions. If your service provider instructs  
you to return the tape drive directly to Tandberg Data, contact Tandberg  
Data Service to obtain a Return Materials Authorization (RMA) number and  
the shipping address.  
2. Remove and keep all cartridges, cables, and terminators.  
If a cartridge is stuck in the tape drive, do not attempt to manually extract it.You  
Caution  
If necessary, contact Tandberg Data Technical Support for assistance.  
3. When repacking and shipping a tape drive, use the original shipping carton  
and packing materials (or replacement packaging obtained from Tandberg  
Data) to avoid damaging the tape drive. The shipping and packaging  
materials are not intended for shipping items other than VXA-320 tape  
drives.  
Tandberg Data is not responsible for shipping damage caused by an improperly  
packaged tape drive.  
Caution  
To avoid damaging the tape drive and voiding your warranty, use the original  
shipping materials (or replacement materials from your vendor).  
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CHAPTER 5 SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE  
UPGRADING FIRMWARE  
You can obtain firmware for the VXA-320 tape drive from the Tandberg Data  
web site or from Tandberg Data Technical Support. To upgrade the software,  
you need to use VXATool, a diagnostic program used on the host computer for  
configuring, troubleshooting, and upgrading firmware in the VXA-320 tape  
drive over the tape drive’s SCSI interface. VXATool is available for a variety of  
operating environments.  
Download VXATool free of charge from the Support section of Tandberg  
Data’s web site at www.tandberg.com. The readme file that accompanies the  
program (or the online help for the Windows version) provides instructions  
for using VXATool.  
Always check Tandberg Data’s web site to make sure that you have  
the most current version of VXATool.  
! Important  
OBTAINING A DIAGNOSTIC LISTING  
You can obtain a diagnostic listing (dump) from the tape drive using VXATool  
(described in the previous section). You can download the VXATool program  
from Tandberg Data’s web site at www.tandberg.com. The readme file that  
accompanies the program (or the online help for the Windows version)  
provides instructions for creating a diagnostic listing.  
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COMMUNICATION INTERFACE VERSUS COMMAND PROTOCOL  
6
COMMUNICATION INTERFACE  
AND COMMAND PROTOCOL  
This chapter provides an overview of the communication interface and  
command protocol used by the VXA-320 (VXA-3) tape drive. It includes the  
following topics:  
Communication interface versus command protocol  
SCSI communication interface  
SCSI interface requirements  
SCSI command protocol  
COMMUNICATION INTERFACE VERSUS COMMAND PROTOCOL  
When a device is connected to a host computer, their interaction is  
accomplished via a communication interface (for example, a parallel SCSI bus).  
The communication interface is comprised of the physical interface (for  
example, cables, connectors, and control circuitry) and the signaling protocol  
used during communication.  
The physical interface determines the number of devices that can be attached  
to a bus or network loop, the maximum length of the cables, and the physical  
characteristics of the cable itself (for example, the number of wires, shielding,  
and so forth). The signaling protocol defines the electrical characteristics and  
timing of signals carried by the cable, the message system requirements,  
transmission speeds and maximum data transfer rates, as well as the encoding  
and decoding of the individual bit patterns representing commands passing  
between the individual devices.  
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CHAPTER 6 COMMUNICATION INTERFACE AND COMMAND PROTOCOL  
The format and content of the information carried over the communication  
interface, as well as how each device uses and responds to the information, is  
governed by a command protocol. The command protocol determines how the  
host (or initiator) interacts with the target device (for example, the tape drive)  
by issuing commands to control its operation, transferring data, and  
responding to status information. The target device responds to commands  
from the host by performing the requested operation (for example, writing or  
reading data on magnetic tape) and returning status information.  
The VXA-320 tape drive is available with a parallel SCSI communication  
interface. This communication interface provides a method of passing SCSI  
command descriptor blocks (CDBs) over an bus. The operation of the tape  
drive is governed by the SCSI command protocol.  
The following section describes how the SCSI communication interface is  
describes the physical requirements of the SCSI bus. “SCSI Command  
Protocol” on page 44 provides information about the SCSI command protocol  
used by the tape drive. Refer to the VXA-320 (VXA-3) Tape Drive SCSI Reference  
for detailed information about the SCSI communication interface and  
command protocol.  
SCSI COMMUNICATION INTERFACE  
This section provides an overview of the SCSI communication interface used  
by the VXA-320 tape drive.  
SCSI BUS PHASES  
Bus phases determine the direction and type of information transferred across  
the data lines of the SCSI bus. The possible bus phases include Bus Free,  
Arbitration, Selection, Reselection, and Transfer (which includes four subsets:  
Message In or Message Out, Command Out, Data In or Data Out, and Status  
In). Table 6-1 describes the bus phases.  
Table 6-1 SCSI bus phases and information transfer phases  
Bus Phase  
Bus Free  
Description  
The Bus Free phase specifies that no device is using the bus.  
Arbitration  
Selection  
The Arbitration phase allows devices to compete for access on the bus.  
The Selection phase allows an initiator to select the tape drive for communication.  
Reselection  
The Reselection phase allows the tape drive to reconnect to the initiator after it  
disconnects.  
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SCSI COMMUNICATION INTERFACE  
Table 6-1 SCSI bus phases and information transfer phases  
Bus Phase  
Transfer:  
Description  
The Message phases help manage the physical path between the initiators and targets.  
ƒ Message In/  
ƒ IntheMessageInphase, thetapedrivesendsamessagetotheinitiator. IntheMessage  
Message Out  
Out phase, the initiator sends a message to the tape drive.  
ƒ Command  
ƒ In the Command Out phase, the initiator sends a command to the tape drive.  
Out  
Commands contain information about what actions the tape drive should perform.  
ƒ Data In/  
ƒ In the Data In phase, the tape drive transfers data to the initiator. In the Data Out  
Data Out  
phase, the initiator transfers data to the tape drive.  
ƒ Status In  
ƒ In the Status In phase, the tape drive returns a status byte to the initiator. The status  
byte indicates the results of the command’s execution.  
SCSI MESSAGE SYSTEM  
The SCSI message system allows communication between a SCSI initiator and  
the VXA-320 tape drive for interface management. This message system or  
command set is separate from the SCSI command protocol used to control the  
operation of the tape drive. A message can be one byte or multiple bytes.  
Ta bl e 6 -2 describes the SCSI messages that the tape drive supports.  
Table 6-2 SCSI messages supported by the tape drive  
Hex  
Message  
Description  
Code  
Task  
Complete  
00h The tape drive informs the initiator that the execution of the command was  
completed and that it sent a valid status byte to the initiator.  
Extended  
Messages  
01h Synchronous Data Transfer Request (01h) The tape drive supports  
synchronous data transfer.  
Wide Data Transfer Request (03h) The tape drive supports wide data transfer.  
Parallel Protocol Request (04h) The tape drive supports negotiating a  
synchronous data transfer agreement, a wide data transfer agreement, and setting  
the protocol options between two SCSI devices.  
Save Data  
Pointer  
02h The tape drive requests that the initiator copy the current data pointer for possible  
use by the Restore Pointers message during error recovery.  
Restore  
Pointers  
03h The tape drive informs the initiator that it did not properly receive a block of data  
or the command descriptor block (CDB) and that the data needs to be transferred  
again.  
Disconnect  
04h The tape drive informs the initiator that it plans to disconnect from the SCSI bus  
and that a reconnect will be required later.  
Initiator  
Detected  
Error  
05h The initiator informs the tape drive that an error occurred. The tape drive can retry  
the operation.  
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CHAPTER 6 COMMUNICATION INTERFACE AND COMMAND PROTOCOL  
Table 6-2 SCSI messages supported by the tape drive (continued)  
Hex  
Code  
Message  
Description  
Abort Task  
Set  
06h The initiator is clearing the present and any pending operation for that initiator.  
When the tape drive accepts this message, it releases the bus into the Bus Free  
phase.  
Message  
Reject  
07h Either the initiator or the tape drive is indicating that the last message received was  
inappropriate or not implemented.  
No  
Operation  
08h The initiator informs the tape drive that it does not have a valid message to send  
in response to the tape drive’s request for a message.  
Message  
Parity Error  
09h The initiator informs the tape drive that one or more bytes in the last message it  
received had a parity error.  
Target Reset 0Ch The initiator instructs the tape drive to reset all of its current I/O operations. The  
tape drive releases the SCSI bus into the Bus Free phase, with no operations  
pending for any initiator, and performs a reset. (See page 24 for more information  
about resetting the tape drive.)  
Ignore Wide 23h The tape drive sends the Ignore Wide Residue message to indicate that the  
Residue  
number of valid bytes sent was less than the negotiated transfer width.  
Identify  
80h This message is used to establish a physical path connection between the initiator  
or  
and the tape drive. It also indicates whether disconnect is supported and the LUN  
C0h for which the command is intended. The tape drive supports a LUN of 0.  
SCSI INTERFACE REQUIREMENTS  
The VXA-320 tape drive is available with a wide, High-density (HD) 68-pin,  
low-voltage differential (LVD) SCSI interface. This section provides general  
information about the specifications for the tape drive’s Small Computer  
System Interface (SCSI), including:  
SCSI cable requirements  
SCSI connector requirements  
Terminator requirements  
Although the tape drive’s High-density, 68-pin LVD SCSI  
! Important  
interface is compatible with both single-ended and narrow SCSI  
buses, to avoid performance issues Tandberg Data does not  
recommend using the tape drive on either of these buses.  
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SCSI INTERFACE REQUIREMENTS  
INTERNAL TAPE DRIVE  
This section describes the cable, connector, and terminator requirements for  
the internal High-density, 68-pin LVD SCSI tape drive.  
SCSI Cable Requirements  
The cable connected to the tape drive SCSI connector must meet the SCSI-3  
specifications listed in Table 6-3 .  
Using a noncompliant SCSI cable will degrade VXA-320 performance and can  
cause random, nonreproducible errors. Tandberg Data recommends using shielded  
cables.  
Caution  
Table 6-3 SCSI cable and connector specifications  
Specification  
General  
Requirement  
Wide, LVD SCSI-3  
Connector  
High-density, 68-pin, male  
Maximum lengtha 12 meters (39.2 feet)  
ƒ No greater than 0.1 meters should be used off the mainline connection within any  
Stub length  
connected equipment.  
ƒ The stub length within the tape drive is less than 2.5 centimeters (1 inch).  
Impedance  
Between 90 and 140 ohms.  
An impedance of greater than 100 ohms is recommended. To minimize  
discontinuities and signal reflections, all cables on the bus should have the same  
impedance.  
Conductor size  
28 AWG (0.08097 mm2)  
A minimum of 28 AWG will minimize noise effects and ensure proper distribution of  
terminator power.  
a
The maximum length of 12 meters only applies to an LVD SCSI bus. If a single-ended device is connected anywhere on the bus, all devices  
on the bus operate in single-ended mode. When operating in single-ended mode, the maximum allowable bus length is 3 meters  
(9.8 feet), terminator to terminator. Exceeding the maximum cable length will result in unstable and unpredictable operation.  
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CHAPTER 6 COMMUNICATION INTERFACE AND COMMAND PROTOCOL  
SCSI Connector Requirements  
Ta bl e 6 -4 lists the pin assignments for the tape drive’s SCSI connector.  
Table 6-4 Pin assignments for the wide LVD connector  
Pin #  
1
Signal  
+DB (12)  
+DB(13)  
+DB(14)  
+DB(15)  
+DB(P1)  
+DB(0)  
+DB(1)  
+DB(2)  
+DB(3)  
+DB(4)  
+DB(5)  
+DB(6)  
+DB(7)  
+DB(P)  
GROUND  
DIFFSENS  
TERMPWR  
TERMPWR  
OPEN  
Pin #  
35  
36  
37  
38  
39  
40  
41  
42  
43  
44  
45  
46  
47  
48  
49  
50  
51  
52  
53  
54  
55  
56  
57  
58  
59  
60  
61  
62  
63  
64  
65  
66  
67  
68  
Signal  
–DB (12)  
–DB(13)  
–DB(14)  
–DB(15)  
–DB(P1)  
–DB(0)  
–DB(1)  
–DB(2)  
–DB(3)  
–DB(4)  
–DB(5)  
–DB(6)  
–DB(7)  
–DB(P)  
GROUND  
GROUND  
TERMPWR  
TERMPWR  
OPEN  
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
16  
17  
18  
19  
20  
21  
22  
23  
24  
25  
26  
27  
28  
29  
30  
31  
32  
33  
34  
GROUND  
+ATN  
GROUND  
–ATN  
GROUND  
+BSY  
GROUND  
–BSY  
+ACK  
–ACK  
+RST  
–RST  
+MSG  
–MSG  
+SEL  
–SEL  
+C/D  
–C/D  
+REQ  
–REQ  
+I/O  
–I/O  
+DB(8)  
+DB(9)  
+DB(10)  
+DB(11)  
–DB(8)  
–DB(9)  
–DB(10)  
–DB(11)  
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SCSI INTERFACE REQUIREMENTS  
SCSI Terminator Requirements  
If the internal tape drive is the last device on the SCSI bus, you must terminate  
the bus by installing an pass-through LVD/SE terminator on the tape drive’s  
SCSI connector. Or, if there is an unused connector at the end of the SCSI  
cable, you can terminate the bus there. If the cable provided with your adapter  
has a built-in terminator, do not add another terminator to the bus.  
Note: If you will be installing the tape drive in an enclosure and using an external  
terminator, you must install a high-quality active LVD terminator that  
complies with the SCSI-3 specification.  
EXTERNAL TAPE DRIVE  
This section describes the cable, connector, and terminator requirements for  
the external LVD SCSI tape drive.  
SCSI Cable Requirements  
For the external tape drive, select a cable that complies with the SCSI-3  
specification and meets the requirements listed in Tab l e 6 -5 .  
Table 6-5 SCSI cable requirements  
Specification  
Requirement  
Connector type  
Maximum lengtha  
68-pin male, high-density, shielded, SCSI-3 compliant  
12 meters (39 feet)b  
a
The maximum length of 12 meters only applies to an LVD SCSI bus. If a single-ended device is connected  
anywhere on the bus, all devices on the bus operate in single-ended mode. When operating in  
single-ended mode, the maximum allowable bus length is 3 meters (9.8 feet), terminator to terminator.  
Exceeding the maximum cable length will result in unstable and unpredictable operation.  
b
If only two devices are attached to an LVD bus in a point-to-point configuration, the maximum allowable  
cable length is 25 meters (82 feet).  
SCSI Terminator Requirements  
If the external tape drive is the last device on the SCSI bus, you must terminate  
the bus by installing a high-quality active LVD/SE terminator that complies  
with the SCSI-3 specification on one of the tape drive’s SCSI connectors.  
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CHAPTER 6 COMMUNICATION INTERFACE AND COMMAND PROTOCOL  
SCSI COMMAND PROTOCOL  
This section provides an overview of the SCSI command protocol supported  
by the VXA-320 (VXA-3) tape drive.  
COMMAND SET  
Ta bl e 6 -6 lists and briefly describes the command set supported by the tape  
drive.  
t
Table 6-6 SCSI command set  
Operation  
Code  
Command  
Description  
ERASE  
19h  
Causes the tape drive to erase all data from the current location to  
the end of partition.  
INQUIRY  
12h  
Requests that information about tape drive parameters be sent to the  
initiator.  
LOAD/UNLOAD  
LOCATE  
1Bh  
2Bh  
Causes the tape drive to load or unload a cartridge.  
Positions the tape at a specified logical position or changes partitions.  
(Typically, this position is determined by data that was obtained  
through a previous READ POSITION command.)  
LOG SELECT  
4Ch  
Manages a set of internal counters regarding read and write error  
recovery operations and amounts of data compressed. The initiator  
can set threshold and cumulative values for the counters or reset the  
counters.  
LOG SENSE  
4Dh  
Returns the values of the counters managed by the LOG SELECT  
command.  
MODE SELECT  
MODE SENSE  
15h  
1Ah  
Allows you to specify medium, logical unit, and device parameters.  
Enables the tape drive to report medium, logical unit, or device  
parameters.  
PREVENT/ALLOW  
MEDIUM REMOVAL  
1Eh  
08h  
05h  
3Ch  
34h  
Allows or disallows the removal of the cartridge from the tape drive.  
READ  
Transfers one or more bytes or blocks of data from the tape to the  
initiator.  
READ BLOCK LIMITS  
READ BUFFER  
READ POSITION  
Requests that the tape drive return data identifying the maximum  
and minimum logical block lengths supported.  
Creates a diagnostic listing of the tape drive’s current state or the  
contents of the tape drive’s data buffer.  
Reports the tape drive’s current logical position, but does not cause  
tape motion to occur. Used in conjunction with the LOCATE  
command.  
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SCSI COMMAND PROTOCOL  
Table 6-6 SCSI command set (continued)  
Operation  
Command  
Description  
Reports the results of the tests requested by a previous SEND  
Code  
RECEIVE  
1Ch  
DIAGNOSTIC  
RESULTS  
DIAGNOSTIC command.  
RELEASE UNIT  
17h  
Releases the tape drive from exclusive use by the initiator that had  
previously reserved it with a RESERVE UNIT command.  
REQUEST SENSE  
RESERVE UNIT  
03h  
16h  
Requests that the tape drive transfer sense data to the initiator.  
Reserves the tape drive for exclusive use by the initiator that issued  
the command.  
REWIND  
01h  
1Dh  
11h  
Causes the tape drive to rewind the tape to the logical beginning of  
partition.  
SEND  
DIAGNOSTICS  
Causes the tape drive to perform certain self-diagnostic tests.  
SPACE  
Enables the tape drive to perform forward or backward searches  
using logical blocks, filemarks, or setmarks. Also allows spacing to  
end of data (EOD).  
TEST UNIT READY  
VERIFY  
00h  
13h  
0Ah  
3Bh  
10h  
Allows you to determine if the tape drive is ready to accept an  
appropriate medium access command.  
Enables the tape drive to verify one or more logical blocks of data on  
the tape.  
WRITE  
Transfers one or more bytes or blocks of data from the initiator to the  
tape drive.  
WRITE BUFFER  
WRITE FILEMARKS  
Transfers new microcode from the initiator into the tape drive’s  
EEPROM.  
Causes the tape drive to write any data remaining in its buffer, then  
to write one or more filemarks or setmarks to tape.  
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CHAPTER 6 COMMUNICATION INTERFACE AND COMMAND PROTOCOL  
STATUS BYTES  
After the tape drive executes a command, it issues a status byte to the initiator  
that indicates whether it performed the command successfully. Ta bl e 6 -7  
describes the four status bytes supported by the tape drive.  
Table 6-7 Status byte descriptions  
Hex  
value  
Status byte  
Description  
Good  
00h Indicates that the tape drive successfully completed the operation.  
Check Condition  
02h Indicates that an error, exception, or abnormal condition has caused sense  
information to be set. The initiator can issue a REQUEST SENSE command  
to access this information.  
Busy  
08h Indicates that the tape drive is busy. This status is sent whenever the tape  
drive is unable to accept a command from an initiator.  
Reservation Conflict  
18h Indicates that the tape drive is reserved for the exclusive use of another  
initiator.  
SENSE KEYS  
When the tape drive returns Check Condition status to the initiator, the  
initiator can issue a REQUEST SENSE (03h) command to receive information  
about the error, exception, or abnormal condition. This information includes a  
sense key, which describes the general error or change of state. Tab l e 6- 8  
describes the sense keys supported by the tape drive. Refer to the VXA-320  
(VXA-3) Tape Drive SCSI Reference for a detailed explanation of the information  
returned by the REQUEST SENSE (03h) command.  
Table 6-8 Supported sense keys  
Hex Description  
Sense key  
Value  
No Sense  
0h  
1h  
Indicates that there is no specific sense key information to be reported.  
Recovered  
Error  
Indicates that the last command completed successfully with some recovery  
action performed by the tape drive. Details may be available by examining the  
additional sense bytes and the information field.  
Not Ready  
2h  
3h  
Indicates that the tape drive does not contain a data cartridge or that the data  
cartridge is not loaded. Operator intervention may be required to correct this  
condition.  
Medium  
Error  
Indicates that the command terminated with a non-recoverable error condition  
that may have been caused by a flaw in the tape or an error in the recorded data.  
The tape drive may also return this sense key if it is unable to distinguish between  
a flaw in the tape and a specific hardware failure (sense key 4h).  
Hardware  
Error  
4h  
Indicates that the tape drive detected a non-recoverable hardware failure (for  
example a device failure or parity error) while performing the command or during  
a self-test.  
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SCSI COMMAND PROTOCOL  
Table 6-8 Supported sense keys (continued)  
Hex Description  
Sense key  
Value  
Illegal  
Request  
5h  
Indicates that there was an illegal parameter in the CDB or in the additional  
parameters supplied as data for a command or that the tape drive is in the wrong  
mode to execute the command. If the tape drive detects an invalid parameter in  
the CDB, the tape is not written. If the tape drive detects an invalid parameter in  
the additional parameters supplied as data, the tape may already be altered. This  
sense key can also indicate an invalid Identify message.  
Unit  
6h  
Indicates one of the following:  
Attention  
ƒ The tape drive has been reset (by a power-on reset, a Bus Device Reset message,  
or a SCSI bus reset).  
ƒ An initiator changed the MODE SELECT parameters since the last command  
was issued to the tape drive.  
ƒ The eject button was pressed and the data cartridge was ejected.  
ƒ A data cartridge was inserted and automatically loaded.  
ƒ The internal microcode (firmware) was changed.  
ƒ A log parameter (counter) reached a specified threshold value (assuming that  
RLEC bit on the MODE SELECT Control Mode page is set to 1).  
This sense key is reported the first time any command is issued by each initiator  
after the condition is detected, and the requested command is not performed.  
This sense key is cleared when the next command other than INQUIRY or  
REQUEST SENSE is received by the tape drive.  
Data  
Protect  
7h  
8h  
Bh  
Indicates that a command that writes to tape was attempted on a write-protected  
data cartridge. The write operation is not performed.  
Blank  
Check  
Indicates that the tape drive encountered blank tape or format-defined EOD  
(blank tape) during a read, space, or locate operation.  
Aborted  
Command  
Indicates that the tape drive aborted the command. This condition occurs when  
an Initiator Detected Error (05h) message is received during command execution  
or when a Message Reject (07h) or SCSI bus parity error is detected by the tape  
drive during Command or Data Out phase.  
The initiator may be able to recover by trying the command again.  
Volume  
Overflow  
Dh  
Eh  
Indicates that the last WRITE or WRITE FILEMARKS command reached the  
physical end of tape (PEOT) and that data may remain in the buffer.  
Miscompare  
Indicates that the source data did not match the data read from the tape.  
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CHAPTER 6 COMMUNICATION INTERFACE AND COMMAND PROTOCOL  
NOTES  
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DATA CAPACITIES  
7
SPECIFICATIONS  
This chapter provides specifications for the VXA-320 tape drive. This chapter  
provides the following specifications for the internal and tabletop models of  
the tape drive:  
Data capacities  
Performance specifications  
Reliability specifications  
Size and weight  
Power specifications  
Environmental specifications  
Shipping specifications  
Safety and regulatory agency compliance  
DATA CAPACITIES  
Ta bl e 7 -1 lists the data capacities for the VXAtape cartridge models supported  
by the VXA-320 tape drive.  
Table 7-1 Data capacities in gigabytes (GB)  
Cartridge  
Modela  
Capacity,b  
Capacity,a  
Tape Length  
Native (GB)c  
Compressed (GB)d  
X23 or V23  
X10  
230 meters  
124 meters  
62 meters  
160  
86  
320  
172  
80  
X6  
40  
a
The VXA-320 (VXA-3) tape drive does not support VXAtape V6, V10, or V17.  
b
Maximum capacity is obtained using VXA-320 (VXA-3) format; assumes the host computer keeps the tape  
drive streaming.  
c
One gigabyte equals 1,000,000,000 bytes.  
d
Assumes a 2:1 compression ratio. Actual compressed capacity varies depending on the type of data being  
recorded. The VXA-320 tape drive uses the ALDC (Adaptive Lossless Data Compression) algorithm and  
integrated circuit chip. The ALDC algorithm is compliant with the European Computer Manufacturers  
Association (ECMA) standard. Data compression is controlled by the software application. Enabling or  
disabling the tape drive’s hardware compression is controlled by the backup application.  
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CHAPTER 7 SPECIFICATIONS  
PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS  
This section describes the performance specifications for the tape drive. The  
tape drives are factory tested to these specifications using VXAtape XTape  
media.  
DATA TRANSFER RATES  
Ta bl e 7 -2 lists the data transfer rates that the High-density, LVD tape drive can  
achieve.  
Table 7-2 Data transfer rates in megabytes per second  
a, b  
Read  
Write a, b  
Burst transfer rate  
VXA-3 Format VXA-2 Format VXA-3 Format VXA-2 Format VXA-3 Format VXA-2 Format  
12.0 MB/secc  
6.0 MB/sec  
12.0 MB/sec  
4.5 MB/sec  
160 MB/sec  
160 MB/sec  
a
Host matching.  
b
When attached to a High-density LVD SCSI bus. All sustained data rates are dependent on the capabilities of the SCSI bus (for example, an  
Ultra2 SCSI bus is limited to less than 40 MB/second).  
c
One megabyte equals 1,000,000 bytes.  
READ AND WRITE SPECIFICATIONS  
Ta bl e 7 -3 provides read and write specifications for the VXA-320 tape drive.  
Table 7-3 Read and write specifications  
ƒ Reads and writes VXA XTape written by a VXA-2 tape drive.  
ƒ Recognizes, then ejects VXA-1 formatted tapes.  
ƒ Recognizes, then ejects VXAtape V6, V10, and V17 b.  
Backward compatibility with  
VXA-1 and VXA-2 tape drivesa  
Compression  
Bit error rate  
Partitions  
Buffer  
ALDC (Adaptive Lossless Data Compression)  
Less than 1x10 –17  
2
8 megabytes (MB)  
Error detection and correction 4 layer Reed Solomon  
Format  
Discrete Packet Format  
ƒ 4 write heads  
Heads (8)  
ƒ 4 read/write check/read heads  
ƒ VXAtape cartridges with Advanced Metal Evaporated (AME) media.  
Data media  
The tape drive ejects other types of media.  
ƒ No formatting or conditioning required prior to use.  
ƒ 30-year archival life.  
a
The VXA-320 (VXA-3) tape drive can read or write VXA-2 formatted V23, X23, X10, or X6 tapes.  
The VXA-320 (VXA-3) tape drive does not support VXAtape V6, V10, or V17.  
b
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RELIABILITY SPECIFICATIONS  
TAPE SPEED AND ACCESS TIME  
The time required to move the tape to a specified position depends on the  
operation being performed. Table 7-4 lists the tape speeds and access times for  
the VXA-320 tape drive.  
Table 7-4 Tape speed and access times  
Search speed  
165 x read/write speed (1 GB/second, native)  
(maximum)  
Mid-tape reposition  
time (average)a, b  
X6 cartridge: 75 seconds  
X10 cartridge: 75 seconds  
X23 or V23c cartridge: 120 seconds  
Load time (logical)  
45 seconds for an initialized tape  
50 seconds for an uninitialized tape  
Unload time (logical)  
Tape speed  
65 seconds  
17.90 mm/second (typical)  
a
In addition to maximum search speed, the mid-tape reposition times depend on acceleration,  
deceleration, and read positioning to location.  
b
c
The VXA-320 tape drive does not support VXAtape V6, V10, or V17.  
The VXA-320 tape drive can read or write VXA-2 formatted V23 tapes.  
RELIABILITY SPECIFICATIONS  
Ta bl e 7 -5 provides reliability specifications for the VXA-320 tape drive.  
Table 7-5 Reliability specifications  
Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) 300,000 hours  
Mean Time to Repair (MTTR)  
Service life  
30 minutes  
5 years  
Write reliability  
Read reliability  
Bit error rate of less than 1x10-16  
Bit error rate of less than 1x10-17  
50,000 cycles, minimum  
Loads/unloads  
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CHAPTER 7 SPECIFICATIONS  
SIZE AND WEIGHT  
Ta bl e 7 -6 shows the dimensions and width for the internal and external tape  
drives. The internal tape drive is a 5.25-inch form factor tape drive for  
integration into an enclosure. The external tape drive is a standalone unit that  
can fit on a desktop.  
Table 7-6 Size and weight  
Specification  
Internal Tape Drive  
External Tape Drive  
Depth  
41.5 mm (1.63 in)  
86.0 mm (3.38 in)  
Depth (with bezel) 42.6 mm (1.68 in)  
Length  
Width  
203.0 mm (8.0 in)  
146.0 mm (5.75 in)  
285.0 mm (11.25 in)  
227.0 mm (8.93 in)  
Width (with bezel) 149.2 mm (5.87 in)  
Weight 1.0 kg (2.2 lbs)  
3.0 kg (6.6 lbs)  
Figure 7-1 shows the dimensions of the internal tape drive. Figure 7-2 shows  
the dimensions of the external tape drive.  
Note:Dimensions are shown in millimeters with inches in parenthesis.  
146  
(5.75)  
203.0  
(8.0)  
5.3  
(.208)  
41.5  
(1.63)  
42.6  
(1.68)  
149.2  
(5.87)  
3
Figure 7-1 Physical dimensions of the internal tape drive  
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POWER SPECIFICATIONS  
226.8  
(8.93)  
285.8  
(11.25)  
85.85  
(3.38)  
3
Figure 7-2 Physical dimensions of the external tape drive  
POWER SPECIFICATIONS  
This section lists the power specifications for the VXA-320 tape drive.  
INTERNAL TAPE DRIVE  
The power specifications listed in this section are in addition to any  
requirements for the enclosure in which it is installed.  
Power Connector Pin Assignments  
The VXA-320 power connector is compatible with power cables used for  
standard 5.25-inch half-high devices. The enclosure’s power cable connector  
must be an AMP 1-480424-0 series, or equivalent. Ta bl e 7 -7 provides pin  
assignments for the tape drive’s power connector.  
Table 7-7 Pin assignments for the power connector  
Pin  
1
Assignment  
+12 VDC  
2
Ground, 12 VDC return  
Ground, 5 VDC return  
+5 VDC  
3
4
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CHAPTER 7 SPECIFICATIONS  
DC Voltages  
The internal tape drive operates from standard +5 and +12 VDC supply  
voltages (all specified voltages are DC, no external AC power is used).  
Note: The VXA-320 tape drive does not provide overvoltage or overcurrent  
protection, except for TERMPWR, which has a resettable fuse. Safety  
agency certifications are based on the voltages being supplied by a Safety  
Extra Low Voltage (SELV) source (per IEC 950).  
Table 7-8 Power specifications (internal model)  
Power  
+5 Volts  
±5%  
+12 Volts  
±10%  
Required supply tolerance:  
Ripple and noise: (50 Hz to 20 MHz)a  
Operating current (amps)  
Read or write:  
250 mVpp max.  
250 mVpp max.  
1.25 (average) 1.27 (peak) 0.51 (average) 0.57 (peak)  
1.11 (average) 1.22 (peak) 0.59 (average) 2.00 (peak)  
1.00 (average) 1.20 (peak) 0.45 (average) 2.00 (peak)  
0.90 (average) 1.17 (peak) 0.08 (average) 0.44 (peak)  
Search/high speed:  
Load/unload:  
Power up:  
Idle:  
0.83 (average)  
0.06 (average)  
a
The ripple voltage is included in the total voltage tolerance.  
Power Consumption  
Ta bl e 7 -9 shows the internal tape drive’s power consumption when operating  
and when idle.  
Table 7-9 Power consumption (internal model)  
Power Consumption Power (average)  
Read or write:  
Search/high speed:  
Load/unload:  
Power up:  
12.4 watts  
12.7 watts  
10.4 watts  
5.5 watts  
4.9 watts  
Idle:  
EXTERNAL TAPE DRIVE  
The power specifications for the external tape drive include both the  
requirements for the tape drive and the enclosure components.  
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ACOUSTIC NOISE  
Power Supply  
The external tape drive uses an internal switching power supply. Do not  
change any input settings. The power supply automatically adjusts for  
changes in voltages and frequency within the specified range.  
Table 7-10 Power supply specifications (external model)  
Type  
40 watts, switching  
70% minimum  
90 – 276 VAC  
47 – 63 Hz  
Efficiency  
Input voltagea  
Frequency  
a
Autoswitching input selection; no user selection required.  
Power Consumption  
Ta bl e 7 -1 1 provides power consumption specifications.  
Table 7-11 Power consumption (external model)  
AC input current  
0.5 amp @ 115 VAC  
0.25 amp @ 230 VAC  
ACOUSTIC NOISE  
Internal tape drive—  
Table 7-12 Acoustic noise specifications (internal tape drive)  
a
Operating Mode  
Powered on, idle  
Read or write  
LpA  
40 LpA  
42 LpA  
42 LpA  
High-speed search or rewind (up to 2-minute duration)  
a
The average A-weighted sound pressure level over the frequency range 5 Hz – 12.5 kHz.  
External tape drive—When measured in the external enclosure, these levels  
do not exceed the upper limits specified in the table.  
Table 7-13 Acoustic noise specifications (external tape drive)  
a
Operating Mode  
LpA  
Powered on, idle  
40 LpA  
43 LpA  
43 LpA  
Read or write  
High-speed search or rewind (up to 2-minute duration)  
a
The 30-second sustained average A-weighted sound pressure level over the following frequency range:  
5 Hz to 12.5 KHz.  
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CHAPTER 7 SPECIFICATIONS  
ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIFICATIONS  
This section lists the environmental specifications for the tape drive and the  
cartridges.  
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS FOR THE TAPE DRIVE  
Ta bl e 7 -1 4 summarizes the environmental requirements for the tape path in  
either the internal or external models of the tape drive. The following sections  
provide additional detail about these requirements.  
Table 7-14 Temperature and humidity specifications for the tape drive  
Specification  
Storagec/  
Nonoperating  
Operatinga,b  
Transportingc  
Temperature range  
+5°C to +45°C (+41°F to +113°F)  
–40°C to +60°C (–40°F to +140°F)  
Temperature variation 1°C per min; max 10°C per hour  
(2°F per min; max 18°F per hour)  
1°C per min; max 20°C per hour  
(2°F per min; max 36°F per hour)  
Relative Humidity  
Wet bulb  
20% to 80% non-condensing  
29°C (84.2°F) max.  
5% to 95% non-condensing  
N/A  
Altitude  
–304.8 to +3,048 m  
(–1,000 to +10,000 ft)  
–304.8 to +12,192 m  
(–1,000 to +40,000 ft)  
a
b
c
The tape drive temperature and humidity must be stabilized in the specified environment for at least 24 hours.  
Temperature measurements are made in the tape path.  
The tape drive is in its original shipping container. When the tape drive is moved from a cooler storage environment to a warmer operating  
environment, it must acclimate in its packaging for 24 hours to prevent damage from condensation.  
Internal Tape Drive: Operating Temperature and Humidity  
Figure 7-3 provides the temperature and humidity requirements for the  
internal tape drive. The area within the dotted line represents the operating  
environment. Table 7-15 defines the points in the chart.  
The operating temperature and humidity specifications are for the tape path.  
Caution  
When the tape drive is in an enclosure, the ambient temperature typically must be  
lower than the maximum temperature to avoid exceeding the maximum at the  
tape path.  
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ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIFICATIONS  
Figure 7-3 Internal model: Operating temperature and humidity ranges  
Table 7-15 Internal model: Operating temperature and humidity points  
Point  
Temperatures  
5°C  
Humidity  
80%  
A
B
C
D
E
32°C  
80%  
45°C  
32%  
45°C  
20%  
5°C  
20%  
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CHAPTER 7 SPECIFICATIONS  
External Tape Drive: Operating Temperature and Humidity  
Figure 7-4 provides the ambient temperature and humidity requirements for  
the external tape drive. The area within the dotted line represents the  
operating environment. Tab l e 7 - 1 6 defines the points on the chart. Operation  
of the external tape drive within these requirements will maintain the proper  
tape path temperature of the tape drive.  
C
D
Figure 7-4 External model: Ambient operating temperature and humidity ranges  
Table 7-16 External model: Operating temperature and humidity points  
Point  
Temperatures  
5° C  
Humidity  
80%  
A
B
C
D
E
32° C  
80%  
37° C  
32%  
37° C  
20%  
5° C  
20%  
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ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIFICATIONS  
Air Flow/Cooling Requirements  
When mounted in the host enclosure, the tape drive must have adequate air  
flow. Ensure that ambient air is allowed to pass through the ventilation holes  
shown in Figure 3-1 on page 19. These ventilation holes must not be blocked.  
The air flow around the tape drive must be sufficient to prevent tape path  
temperatures from exceeding 45 °C (113 °F).  
The tape drive is equipped with a temperature sensor. It issues an  
overtemperature signal through the LOG SENSE command if the above  
temperature is exceeded. You can access temperature data through the LOG  
SENSE command. See the VXA-320 (VXA-3) SCSI Reference Manual.  
Particulate Contamination Limits  
The VXA-320 tape drive is designed to operate in environments that do not  
exceed the limits listed in Table 7-17.  
Table 7-17 Particulate contamination limits  
Particle Size  
(Microns)  
Number of Particles >  
Particle Size per Cubic Meter Particle Size per Cubic Foot  
Number of Particles >  
0.1  
0.5  
5.0  
8.8 x 107  
3.5 x 107  
2.5 x 107  
2.5 x 106  
1.0 x 106  
7.0 x 106  
Shock Specifications  
The storage and nonoperating shock levels indicate how much shock the tape  
drive can withstand when it is not operating. The operating shock levels  
indicate how much shock the tape drive can withstand while reading and  
writing data. After withstanding this amount of shock, the tape drive operates  
normally.  
Ta bl e 7 -1 8 lists the shock specifications for the tape drive.  
Table 7-18 Shock specifications  
Operating  
Nonoperatinga, b  
Transportationc  
5 g for 3 msecd  
6 g for 11msece  
60 g for 3 msec  
50 g for 11 msec  
ISTA Procedure 2A  
a
The tape drive has been unpacked, but no power is applied.  
b
Half-sine shock pulses are applied to each of the three orthogonal axes. (Three shocks at 60 g at a rate not  
exceeding 1 shock per second. One shock at 50 g.)  
c
The tape drive is in its original shipping container.  
d
Half-sine, at a rate not exceeding 1 shock per second; 20 shocks applied to each of the three orthogonal  
axes.  
e
Half-sine, at a rate not exceeding 1 shock per every 3 seconds; 10 shocks applied to each of the three  
orthogonal axes.  
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CHAPTER 7 SPECIFICATIONS  
Vibration Specifications  
Ta bl e 7 -1 9 lists the operating specifications that indicate the amount of  
vibration the tape drive can withstand while reading and writing data.  
Table 7-19 Vibration specifications  
Random vibrationa applied during operation (reading and writing)  
10 Hz to 500 Hz  
PSD = 0.0005102 g2/Hz  
Random vibrationb applied during non-operation (unpacked) and storage (in  
original packaging)  
1 Hz to 400 Hz  
Vibration applied during shipping (in original packaging)  
ISTA Procedure 2A  
Swept sine applied during non-operationc and operatingd  
5 to 500 to 5 Hzc  
10 to 500 Hzd  
a
A 0.5 Grms random vibration spectrum is applied to each of three orthogonal axes for a minimum of 30  
minutes per axis.  
b
A 1.06 Grms random vibration spectrum is applied to each of three orthogonal axes for a minimum of 20  
minutes per axis.  
c
Three sweeps at one octave per minute are applied to each axis at 0.75 g (peak) input.  
One sweep at one-quarter octave per minute are applied to each axis at 0.5 g (peak) input.  
d
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS FOR THE VXATAPE CARTRIDGES  
Ta bl e 7 -2 0 summarizes the environmental requirements for the VXAtape  
cartridges. You should maintain the temperature and humidity at a steady  
level within these ranges, and also limit fluctuations in temperature and  
humidity.  
Note: When a VXAtape is brought into the room where the VXA tape drive is  
located, allow the VXAtape to adjust to room temperature and humidity  
before using it.  
Table 7-20 Temperature and humidity specifications for the VXAtape cartridges  
Specification  
Storagea/  
Nonoperating  
Transportinga  
Temperature range  
Temperature variation  
Relative humidity  
+5°C to +32°C  
(+41°F to +90°F)  
–40°C to +45°C  
(–40°F to +113°F)  
1°C per min; max. 20°C per hour  
(2°F per min; max. 36°F per hour)  
20% to 60%  
non-condensing  
5% to 80%  
non-condensing  
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PACKAGING AND SHIPPING SPECIFICATIONS  
Table 7-20 Temperature and humidity specifications for the VXAtape cartridges  
Specification  
Storagea/  
Nonoperating  
Transportinga  
Wet bulb  
Altitude  
26°C (79°F) max.  
–304.8 to +3,048 m  
(–1,000 to +10,000 ft)  
–304.8 to 12,192 m  
(–1,000 to 40,000 ft)  
a
The cartridge is in its original packaging. When the cartridge is moved from a cooler storage environment  
to a warmer operating environment, it must acclimate in its packaging for 24 hours to prevent damage  
from condensation.  
PACKAGING AND SHIPPING SPECIFICATIONS  
This section describes the packaging and shipping requirements for the tape  
drive.  
SHIPPING CARTONS  
The tape drive is sealed in a static protection bag and shipped in a single-pack  
or multi-pack carton. Table 7-21 lists the weights and dimensions of the  
shipping cartons.  
Table 7-21 Shipping carton weights and dimensions  
Carton  
Weight  
Dimensions  
Single Pack  
Internal Tape  
Drive  
3 lbs, 4 oz (1.5 kg)  
Length: 13.5 in. (34.3 cm)  
Width: 10.75 in. (27.3 cm)  
Depth: 8.5 in. (21.6 cm)  
External Tape  
Drive  
12 lbs (5.4 kg)  
Length: 21 in. (53.3 cm)  
Width: 15 in. (38.1 cm)  
Depth: 6.5 in. (16.5 cm)  
Multipack: 10 Internal Tape Drives  
10 Tape Drives 25.5 lbs (11.6 kg)  
Length: 21.5 in. (54.6 cm)  
Width: 16 in. (40.6 cm)  
Depth: 14.5 in. (36.8 cm)  
The shipping cartons and internal packing materials are designed so that the  
enclosed tape drive does not receive a damaging shock when the carton is  
dropped on any surface, corner, or edge from a height of:  
Single-pack: 48 in. (121.9 cm), at a velocity change of 192 in./sec (488 cm/sec)  
Multipack: 36 in. (91.4 cm), at a velocity change of 167 in./sec (424 cm/sec)  
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CHAPTER 7 SPECIFICATIONS  
PACKAGING MATERIALS  
The tape drive’s packing materials are unbleached, reusable, recyclable, and  
environmentally safe. The materials contain no chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) or  
heavy metals. The shipping cartons pass the tests described in the  
International Safe Transit Association (ISTA) Procedure 2A.  
SAFETY AND REGULATORY COMPLIANCE  
The VXA-320 (VXA-3) tape drive complies with the regulatory agency  
standards listed below when installed in accordance with this manual.  
The system integrator is responsible for the certification and verification of the  
final product into which the VXA-320 (VXA-3) tape drive is integrated, with  
the relevant product safety, and EMI and EMC standards.  
UNDERWRITERS LABORATORY  
The internal configuration has been evaluated by UL for use in listed finished  
products. Construction or performance of these components may not warrant  
listing of the devices on their own. Recognized components may be used in listed  
products, provided that they are applied within the conditions of acceptability  
stated in the report.  
The external configuration of the VXA-320 (VXA-3) tape drive is listed by  
Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. Representative samples of this product have been  
evaluated by UL and meet the applicable U.S. and Canadian safety standards.  
TUV PRODUCT SERVICE  
Signifies that the VXA-320 (VXA-3) internal tape drive has been tested in  
accordance with EN 60950-1:2001 and has met the applicable product safety  
requirements.  
The TUV Mark for the VXA-320 (VXA-3) external tape drive demonstrates that it  
has met the requirements of EN 60950-1:2001.  
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SAFETY AND REGULATORY COMPLIANCE  
UNITED STATES: FCC DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY  
We declare under our sole responsibility that:  
Product Name: VXA-320 (VXA-3) Tape Drive  
Model Numbers: VXA-320i (internal); VXA-320e (external)  
Product Options: All  
To which this declaration relates, is in conformity with the following standard(s) or  
other normative documents:  
ANSI C63.4-1992 Methods of Measurement  
Federal Communications Commission 47 CFR Part 15, Subpart B  
15.107 (a) Class B Conducted Limits  
15.109 (a) Class B Radiated Emission Limits  
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the  
following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and  
(2) This device must accept any interference received, including interference that  
may cause undesired operation.  
Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a  
Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the 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 harmful interference to radio communications.  
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a  
particular installation.  
If this equipment does cause harmful 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:  
ƒ Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.  
ƒ Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.  
ƒ Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to  
which the receiver is connected.  
ƒ Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.  
ƒ Shielded cables are required for this device to comply with FCC Rules.  
Use shielded cables when connecting this device to others.  
CANADIAN VERIFICATION  
This Class B digital apparatus complies with ICES-003.  
Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est conforme à la norme NMB-003 du  
Canada.  
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CHAPTER 7 SPECIFICATIONS  
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY  
This Information Technology Equipment has been tested and found to comply with  
the following European directives:  
(1) EMC Directive 89/336/EEC, amended by directive 93/68/EEC, according to:  
EN55022  
EN55024  
EN61000-3-2  
EN61000-3-3  
(2) Low Voltage Directive 73/23/EEC, amended by directive 93/68/EEC, according  
to: EN60950-1:2001  
JAPAN  
This equipment is Class B (Information Technology Equipment to be used in a  
residential area or an adjacent area thereto) and conforms to the standards set by  
the Voluntary Control Council for Interference (VCCI) by Information Technology  
Equipment aimed at preventing radio interference in such residential area.  
When used near a radio or TV receiver, it may become the cause of radio  
interference. Read instructions for correct handling.  
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND  
This device has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital  
device, pursuant to the Australian/New Zealand standard AS/NZS 3548 set out by  
the Australian Communications Agency.  
TAIWAN  
This device has been tested and found to comply with standard CNS 13438, Class  
B for Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) as established by the Taiwan Ministry of  
Economic Affairs (MOEA), Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI).  
RESTRICTION OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES IN ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT  
(ROHS)  
The VXA-320 (VXA-3) internal tape drive is in compliance with European Council  
Directive 2002/95/EC, on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances  
in electrical and electronic equipment.  
The VXA-320 (VXA-3) external tape drive will be in compliance with this Directive,  
prior to the July 1, 2006 deadline.  
WASTE OF ELECTRONIC AND ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT (WEEE)  
This device is in compliance with 2002\96\EC Waste of Electronic and Electrical  
Equipment (WEEE).  
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GLOSSARY  
G
GLOSSARY  
A
Adaptive Lossless Data Compression (ALDC) An advanced data compression  
algorithm that provides an average compression ratio of 2:1 across multiple  
data types. See also Compression.  
Advanced Metal Evaporated (AME) media A state-of-the-art tape technology  
designed for data storage. VXAtape cartridges use AME media.  
American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Organization that sets  
standards for SCSI and the safety of electrical devices.  
B
Bit error rate (BER) The probability that a transmitted bit will be received in  
error. The BER is expressed as a ratio of error bits to total number of bits.  
Buffer A temporary storage area, usually in Random Access Memory (RAM).  
The tape drive’s read and write buffers act as holding areas that enable the  
tape drive to balance the rate at which it transfers data to or from tape with the  
data transfer rate of the host. The VXA-320 tape drive has a 16-MB buffer.  
Bus In a network, the electrical pathway between a computer and other  
devices.  
C
CAW-After-Write (CAW) A process that improves data integrity by reading  
data immediately after it is written and writing the packet again if an error is  
found. Individual packets are rewritten as necessary, optimizing speed and  
capacity.  
Compression The reduction in size of data to save space. Either the backup  
application or the tape drive can perform compression. See also Adaptive  
Lossless Data Compression (ALDC).  
Cyclic redundancy check (CRC) The error detection technique that checks  
for uncorrected data during a read operation.  
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GLOSSARY  
D
Data Transfer Rate The speed that data can be transmitted from one device  
to another. Data rates are often measured in megabits (million bits) or  
megabytes (million bytes) per second.  
Discrete Packet Format (DPF) The format used by the VXA-320 (VXA-3) tape  
drive to read and write data in packet form. Data packets also contain a  
synchronization marker, unique address information, CRC, and ECC.  
Driver A program that works with a computers operating system to operate  
a peripheral device. Also referred to as a “device driver.”  
E
End of data (EOD) In a partition, a special format group that is written after  
all current user data is transferred to the tape.  
Error correction code (ECC) Error correction codes are generated within the  
tape drive and recorded with the user data. ECC is used to correct the errors in  
the user data while being read.  
Exabyte (1) A network storage backup company that designs, manufactures,  
and markets industry-leading data storage products including tape drives and  
automated tape libraries.  
(2) measurement of data:  
One Exabyte = 1,000 Petabytes, or  
1,000,000 Terabytes, or  
1,000,000,000 Gigabytes, or  
1,000,000,000,000 Megabytes, or  
1,000,000,000,000,000 Kilobytes, or  
1,000,000,000,000,000,000 bytes  
F
Filemark A mark on the tape, which is written by the tape drive. A filemark  
consists of a special recorded element within a partition, containing no user  
data, which provides a segmentation or location scheme for the data on the  
tape. Filemarks are typically used during a locate or space operation to move  
to a particular spot on the tape.  
G
Gigabyte One billion bytes.  
H
Head A device that uses induction to write a data pattern onto magnetic  
media and then uses either inductance or magnetoresistance to read the data  
back.  
Host Any type of computer that sends information or commands to a  
peripheral device, such as the tape drive.  
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GLOSSARY  
I
Initiator A SCSI device containing application clients that originate device  
service requests to be processed in a device server. The host typically acts as  
the initiator of commands.  
L
LED Light Emitting Diode. The indicators on the front panel of the tape  
drive.  
Load The process of inserting a cartridge into the tape drive. The tape drive  
automatically loads the tape into the tape path.  
Low Voltage Differential (LVD) A differential SCSI interface that allows bus  
lengths up to 12 meters, transfer rates up to 160 MB/sec., and allows  
single-ended devices to co-exist on the bus.  
M
msec Millisecond; one-thousandth of a second.  
Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) A quantitative measure used to specify  
the reliability of a tape drive’s mechanics and electronics as a whole under  
specific environmental conditions, cleanings, and duty cycle.  
Megabyte One million bytes.  
N
Noise Any kind of magnetic or electric interference detected by the  
electronics.  
O
OverScan Operation (OSO) The VXA technique for reading data packets  
independently of track shape or geometry. By reading packets with multiple  
scans, OSO ensures that each packet is read at least once.  
P
Packet The basic VXA format structure that includes data, ECC, and address  
and synchronization information.  
Partition A self-contained area on a tape that can be written and read  
independently to make more efficient use of the media. The VXA-320 (VXA-3)  
tape drive accommodates two partitions.  
Peripheral Device Any device attached externally to a computer as an  
optional device, such as tape drives, printers, scanners, and so forth.  
Power Cycle (1) Turn the tape drive off, wait for 10 seconds, then turn the  
tape drive back on. Wait for the tape drive to go through its Power-on Self-test  
(POST).  
(2) If you are required to power cycle the tape drive due to overheating, allow  
it to cool for several minutes before turning it back on (see “LED 4 is Flashing  
Orange” on page 26 for additional information).  
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GLOSSARY  
R
RAID Controller A Redundant Array of Independent Disks Controller is a  
collection of disk drives that employs two or more drives in combination for  
fault tolerance and performance.  
Read-After-Write (RAW) A process that improves data integrity by reading  
data immediately after it is written and writing the packet again if an error is  
found. Individual packets are rewritten as necessary, optimizing speed and  
capacity.  
RoHS The RoHS Directive mandates that electrical and electronic products  
put in the market within the European Union (EU) shall contain restrictive  
levels of the following substances:  
Lead (Pb)  
Cadmium (Cd)  
Mercury (Hg)  
Hexavalent Chromium (Cr6+)  
Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBB)  
Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE)  
S
SCSI Small Computer System Interface. A device interface that has been  
certified as an American National Standard by ANSI. The standard contains  
the electrical specifications, communication protocol, and command structure  
necessary to connect various computer peripherals to a host computer.  
SCSI ID A unique address assigned to each device attached to a SCSI bus. See  
also Bus.  
Segment The format structures contained within the data buffer. Each  
segment contains 1,220 packets of data, ECC, and CRC information.  
Setmark A mark written by the tape drive to allow fast searching to a point  
on the tape without having to know the number of records or filemarks that  
precede the point. A setmark is a special recorded element within a partition,  
that contains no user data, and provides a segmentation scheme hierarchically  
superior to filemarks for use in addressing or fast positioning on high-capacity  
storage devices (also called Save-Set Mark).  
Streaming An operational mode that occurs when the data transfer rate to or  
from the host closely matches the tape drive’s data transfer rate, allowing the  
tape drive to read or write data in a continuous stream.  
T
Termination In SCSI, termination refers to placing a resistor (terminator) at  
both physical ends of the SCSI bus to prevent signal reflection.  
Transfer rate The transmission speed of a communications line. The tape  
drive transfer rates are measured in megabytes per second (MB/sec).  
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GLOSSARY  
V
Variable Speed Operation (VSO) The VXA technique for adjusting tape  
motion to match the host transfer rate, eliminating “backhitching.” This  
technique optimizes backup and restore times, while enhancing media and  
tape drive reliability.  
Volume A recording medium together with its physical carrier (a single tape  
cartridge).  
VXA VXA is a breakthrough tape technology that offers previously  
unobtainable levels of reliability, data availability and interchange, and  
recoverability, capacity and interchangeability. This is accomplished through  
the exclusive combination of OverScan Operation (OSO), Variable Speed  
Operation (VSO) and Discrete Packet Format (DPF).  
VXATool A diagnostic program used on the host computer to configure,  
troubleshoot, and upgrade firmware in the VXA-320 (VXA-3) tape drive over  
the tape drive’s SCSI interface.  
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GLOSSARY  
NOTES  
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INDEX  
INDEX  
backward compatibility 50  
bezel components  
bit error rate 50 to 51  
buffer size 50  
Bus Device Reset  
A
AC power connector, location  
acoustic noise 55  
agency declarations  
Australian Communications Agency 64  
Bureau of Standards, Metrology and  
Inspection (BSMI) 64  
Canadian Verification 63  
European Community 64  
FCC 63  
See messages, Target Reset  
bus phases 38  
C
capacities 49  
cartons, shipping 61  
cartridges  
RoHS 64  
TUV Product Service 62  
Underwriters Laboratory 62  
Voluntary Control Council for Interference  
(VCCI) 64  
archival life 23, 50  
capacities 49  
WEEE 64  
agency labels 5, 62 to 64  
air flow requirements 59  
ALDC compression algorithm 50  
altitude specifications 56  
VXAtape cartridge 61  
AME media 50  
See also cartridges  
application software  
cleaning 23  
compatibility 50  
loading 22  
operating environment 60  
retiring 23  
setting the write-protect switch 22  
specifications 50  
tape drive does not accept cartridge 25  
tape drive does not eject cartridge 27  
unloading 22  
See backup application  
using 22  
archival life, media 23, 50  
chassis grounding 3, 10  
auxiliary connector (internal tape drive),  
cleaning  
location  
instructions 23  
LED indicators 20, 23  
cleaning wheel 23  
command protocol, definition 37  
commands supported, SCSI 44 to 45  
See also SCSI commands  
communication interface  
definition 37  
B
backup application  
compatibility 18  
integrating the tape drive 18  
tape drive problems 27  
backup software  
SCSI message system 39 to 40  
preparing for installation 9, 14  
OCTOBER 2006  
VXA-320 TAPE DRIVE  
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INDEX  
compatibility  
error recovery procedures, for Service  
Notification LEDs 28 to 29  
with previous VXA generations 50  
with software and operating systems 18  
compliance, safety and regulatory 62 to 64  
components, back panel  
ESD protection 10  
Extended Messages (01h) message  
Parallel Protocol Request (04h) 39  
Synchronous Data Transfer Request  
(01h) 39  
external SCSI model  
internal tape drive  
Wide Data Transfer Request (03h) 39  
external tape drive, installing the SCSI tape  
drive 14 to 16  
components, front panel  
compression 50  
connectors, back panel  
external tape drive  
internal tape drive  
F
See also AC power connector  
See also auxiliary connector  
See also power connector  
See also SCSI connectors  
See also serial connector  
Fast-80 DT SCSI  
See High-density (HD) SCSI  
firmware, upgrading 36  
form factor 52  
format, read and write 50  
cooling 59  
front panel  
See components, front panel  
D
data capacities 49  
data transfer rate 50  
G
grounding hole and tab (internal model)  
DC voltages 54  
device drivers 18  
diagnostic port, location (external model)  
diagnostics, performing 31, 36  
dimensions 52 to 53  
location  
using to ground tape drive 10  
H
heads, read/write 50  
High-density (HD)  
SCSI interface requirements 40 to 43  
transfer rates 50  
host bus adapter, Ultra160 SCSI 8, 14  
Discrete Packet Format 50  
door  
loading a cartridge 22  
location  
drive bay, installing the SCSI tape drive 8 to 13  
humidity, specifications  
tape drive 56 to 58  
E
VXAtape cartridges 60  
eject button  
doesn’t eject cartridge 27  
I
location  
ID switch  
using to eject cartridge 22  
See SCSI ID switch  
installing backup software 9, 14  
installing software 18  
enclosure, installing the SCSI tape drive 8 to 13  
environmental specifications 56 to 60  
error  
integrating the tape drive into a system 18  
internal tape drive, installing 8 to 13  
LED indicators 20  
reported in software 29 to 30  
error detection and correction 50  
error rate 50 to 51  
J
jumpers  
PRODUCT MANUAL  
433689-01  
72  
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INDEX  
using to set SCSI ID 10  
See also SCSI ID jumper block  
O
on/off switch  
See power switch  
operating environment 56 to 61  
L
labels  
agency 62 to 64  
identification and configuration  
LEDs  
operating system  
compatibility 18  
tape drive problems 27  
operating the tape drive 19 to 24  
overvoltage protection 54  
cleaning indicator 23  
definition of all states 20 to 21  
location  
P
over-temperature indicator 21, 26  
power-on sequence 13, 16  
service indicator 20  
packaging specifications 61  
packing the tape drive 35  
load cycles specification 51  
load/unload time 51  
part number for tape drive, locating  
particulate contamination limits 59  
partitions, supported by tape format 50  
performance specifications 50  
phases, SCSI bus 38  
M
mean time between failures (MTBF) 51  
mean time to repair (MTTR) 51  
media  
pin assignments  
power connector 53  
SCSI connector 42  
POST 13, 16, 20  
See cartridges  
messages  
power cable  
Abort Task Set (06h) message 40  
Disconnect (04h) message 39  
Extended Messages (01h) 39  
Identify (80h or C0h) message 40  
Ignore Wide Residue (23h) 40  
Initiator Detected Error (05h) message 39  
Message Parity Error (09h) message 40  
Message Reject (07h) message 40  
No Operation (08h) message 40  
Restore Pointers (03h) message 39  
Save Data Pointers (02h) message 39  
Target Reset (0Ch) message 40  
Task Complete (00h) message 39  
connecting to external SCSI tape drive 16  
connecting to internal tape drive 12  
power connector  
location (external model)  
location (internal model)  
pin assignments 53  
power LED, location (external model)  
power specifications  
AC power consumption, external tape  
drive 55  
DC voltages, internal tape drive 54  
power connector requirements, internal tape  
drive 53  
mid-tape reposition time 51  
model number  
models  
mounting configurations for the internal  
model 12  
power consumption, internal tape drive 54  
power supply, external tape drive 55  
power switch (external model)  
product identification, changing for software  
compatibility 18  
mounting orientation 1, 8  
R
N
read and write specifications 50  
read reliability 51  
noise levels 55  
Reed Solomon error detection 50  
OCTOBER 2006  
VXA-320 TAPE DRIVE  
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INDEX  
regulatory standards 62 to 64  
reliability specifications 51  
reposition time 51  
resetting the tape drive 24  
retiring cartridges 23  
connector locations (external model)  
connector locations (internal model)  
installing (external model) 14 to 16  
installing (internal model) 8 to 13  
SCSI terminator  
installing, external tape drive 16 to 16  
installing, internal tape drive 12  
requirements 43  
returning tape drive for service 35  
RF service connector, internal model  
terminating the last device on the bus 12, 15  
S
search speed 51  
sense keys, definitions 46 to 47  
serial connector, location (external model)  
serial number for tape drive  
service connector, internal model  
service life 51  
Service Notification LEDs  
description 20  
error recovery procedures 28 to 29  
service, returning tape drive 35  
shipping specifications 61  
shipping the tape drive 35  
shock specifications 59  
single-ended bus, recommendations against 40  
safety and regulatory compliance 62 to 64  
SCSI bus  
determining total bus length for internal tape  
drive 9, 15  
length restriction 9, 15  
terminator requirements, external tape  
drive 43  
terminator requirements, internal tape  
drive 43  
SCSI bus phases 38  
SCSI bus reset 24  
SCSI cable  
connecting to external model 15  
connecting to internal model 11  
specifications for external tape drive 43  
specifications for internal tape drive 41  
size of tape drive 52 to 53  
software  
See backup software  
sound levels 55  
SCSI command protocol  
overview 44 to 46  
sense keys 46  
supported commands 44 to 45  
SCSI communication interface 40 to 43  
SCSI connectors  
specifications for tape drive 49 to 64  
speed 50  
status bytes supported 46  
storage environment  
cartridges 23  
High-density (HD) 40  
location (external tape drive)  
location (internal tape drive)  
pin assignments 42  
specifications for external tape drive 43  
specifications for internal tape  
drive 41 to 42  
tape drive 56  
T
Tandberg Data, contacting iv  
tape  
See cartridges  
SCSI ID  
jumper block location (internal model)  
SCSI ID switch location (external)  
tape drive  
installing 7 to 16  
integrating 18  
setting using SCSI ID jumper block (internal  
model) 10  
setting using SCSI ID switch (external  
model) 15  
operating system and software  
compatibility 18  
operating temperature and  
humidity 56 to 58  
product identification 18  
SCSI requirements 40  
SCSI message system 39 to 40  
SCSI tape drive  
cable and connector requirements 41 to 43  
PRODUCT MANUAL  
433689-01  
74  
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INDEX  
troubleshooting 25 to 33  
unpacking  
upgrading firmware 36  
upgrading firmware 36  
tape speed 51  
Technical Support  
V
contacting iv  
vibration specifications 60  
voltage specifications 55  
voltages, DC power 54  
VXA-1 compatibility 50  
VXA-2 compatibility 50  
gather required information before  
contacting 32 to 33  
temperature data, stored in tape drive 59  
temperature range specifications  
tape drive 56 to 58  
VXAtape cartridges 60  
VXAtape  
termination, SCSI bus  
See cartridges  
external tape drive 16 to 16  
internal tape drive 12  
VXATool, using 31, 36  
terminator requirements 9, 15, 15  
transfer rate 50  
troubleshooting 25 to 33  
W
warranty  
limited warranty terms 77  
weight of tape drive 52  
wet bulb, humidity specification  
tape drive 56  
U
Ultra160 SCSI  
host bus adapter 8, 14  
VXAtape cartridge 61  
Ultra3 SCSI  
See High-density (HD) SCSI  
unload button  
write and read specifications 50  
write reliability 51  
write-protect switch 22  
See eject button  
unload/load time 51  
OCTOBER 2006  
VXA-320 TAPE DRIVE  
75  
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INDEX  
Notes  
PRODUCT MANUAL  
433689-01  
76  
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