Re-Using DLT8000 drives from a 20/700

[Robert Champion]

Does anyone know if the DLT8000 tape drives in a eTape 20/700 are suitable for use standalone (non-library)?

I have an old library that is being decommisioned and would like to remove the drives and use them directly connected to hosts.

Any info would be appreciated.

[David Ruska · Accepted solution]

The 20/700 drives are pretty close to a standalone drive. Some library drives do not utilize the bezel (with buttons), but the 20/700 style drives do. They also have a mechanical lever to mechanically load/unload the tape (some utilize an electric motor controlled by the library).

The drive normally obtains the SCSI ID from the library interface, however I believe without it connected the drive will default to ID 5. There are jumper blocks that can be used to set the ID as well (same as a standalone drive).

The big difference is that you don't have the normal handle under the tape to release/load the tape, and the handle on the side of the drive will make it difficult to insert the drive into a normal enclosure.

[Luk Vandenbussche]

Hi
You perfectly use this as a standalone drive if you have a chassis to install this tape drives in. If you have a chassis of an other DLT tape drive, you can perfectly change the drive in this chassis.

[Robert Champion]

Thanks