SDLT types

[simon_164]

Hi,
I have a sony SDLT-1 160/320 GB. i want to know if it is the same as the C7980A hp tape.

What are the SDLT? SDLT1? SDLT II?

[Leif Halvarsson_2 · Accepted solution]

Hi,

Hardware is the same but, there may be a chance that the firmware differer. If you connect the drive to a server, is it discovered as a "Quantum.." or a "Sony..." ?

[simon_164]

the C7980A is a SDLT 220/320 which i didn't understood very much.

[Cameron Todd]

160GB refers to raw data capacity and 320GB refers to estimated compressed data capacity.
A 160/320 drive (and tape) will hold 160GB of real data or approximately 320 with compression switched on (assuming an average spread of different types of files - txt and spreadsheet files compress a lot, binary files do not)

I think that Quantum is the only manufacturer of SDLT drives (regardless of front panel naming) therefore all SDLT tapes of a 320GB compressed capacity should be compatible.

Different block size configurations and different application software cause same tapes to become unreadable in ostensibly compatible tape drives though.

[Leif Halvarsson_2]

Hi,

"the C7980A is a SDLT 220/320"

There is no SDLT 220/320 drives, it mus be either 110/220 or 160/320.

160/320 drives is backwards compatible with 110/220-formatted media but, not the reverse. If a media, written in a 160/320 drive should be possible to read in a 110/220 driva, the 160/320 drive must be forced to write in 110/220 mode. This can be activated by formatting the media in a 110/220 drive or (I am not quite sure) by drive configuration.

As pointed out in the previous reply, all SDLT drives origins from Quantum but, some OEM-ers put own firmware in the drives which may lead to incompatiblity with some applications.

[simon_164]

thx for the responses.
still no one gave me the meaning of SDLT SDLT1....

[simon_164]

thx for the responses.
still no one gave me the meaning of SDLT SDLT1....

on the sony tape it is clearly written
SDLT 1 Tape 320

[Claude Beaudry]

Hi,

SDLT refers to the Super DLT tape format of which there is two existing sub-categories SDLT1 and SDLT2.

SDLT1 includes the 110/220 and 160/320 drives and use the same SDLT1 (or SDLT I)cartridges.

SDLT2 includes the new 300/600 drives and use SDLT2 (or SDLT II) cartidges. This new drive can read the SDLT1 cartridges but cant write to these.

[Scott McIntosh_2]

SDLT 220, SDLT 320, and SDLT 600 refer to the three generations of Super DLT tape drives.

Super DLTtape I and Super DLTtape II refer to the two generations of Super DLT tape cartridges.

SDLT 220 and SDLT 320 write to Super DLTtape I carts, at 110GB and 160GB native capacity respectively, and cannot write to Super DLTtape II carts. The SDLT 320 drive can be forced into writing in SDLT 220 format so you can have a mix of 220 and 320 drives and have read/write compatibility. SDLT 600 writes to Super DLTtape II carts at 300GB native capacity, and can only read Super DLT I carts.

When looking at the SCSI inquiry strings, you will see SDLT320 and SDLT600 for those drives, but SDLT220 drives will report as SuperDLT-1, not SDLT220.

If you are presented any other SDLT terminology for the drives and carts, I have no idea what they are talking about, and likely neither do they.

As for the HP C7980A, that is simply a Super DLTtape I cart/medium.

Thanks,
Scott
HP Support

[simon_164]

Thanks All,
we will go for the offer.