The 3490-C10 is a 36-Track, 1 Control Unit, 1 drive, tape system. The Model C10 is a low-cost, rack-mountable member of the IBM 3490 Magnetic Tape Subsystem Enhanced Capability family, providing significant performance and cartridge capacity improvements for midrange systems. The 3490E Model C10 is fully compatible with existing 3490E models, using both the Cartridge System Tape and the longer 3490E Enhanced Capacity Cartridge System Tape, and are read-compatible with earlier cartridge formats for ease of migration. The Enhanced Capability format (36-track bi-directional recording), together with standard Improved Data Recording Capability (IDRC) and the higher capacity tape, dramatically increase overall cartridge capacity. This increased capacity and standard Utilization of ES Connection (ESCON*) Channels provides new possibilities in performance, connectivity, and remote tape operations. The model C10 is not offered on RS/6000.

The 3490E Model C10 is one of the newest members of the IBM 3490 Enhanced Capability Magnetic Tape Subsystem. It offers equivalent function and capacity to the 3490E D4X models at a significantly lower price for mid-range systems. This model is rack-mountable in a standard 9309 rack, 5040 Bus Extension Unit or 5042 System Unit Expansion. It occupies 14 EIA units (24.5 inches), offering significant floorspace savings over previous 3490 models. All models may be factory installed or field merged if sufficient space is available in an existing rack, otherwise an additional rack is required. The Model C10 is a Control Unit with a single tape drive.

Tape Subsystems Improvements

This model has a 36-track bi-directional (18 tracks at a time) read/write head providing equivalent cartridge capacity to the 3490E D41/D42. Utilizing the recently announced Enhanced Capacity Cartridge System Tape cartridge capacity is increased to 800MB. By using the standard IDRC, and assuming a three times compaction ratio, the single cartridge capacity can be 2.4GB. These improvements result in greater tape throughput and improved operator productivity by (1) reducing total tape mounts, (2) reducing the number of cartridges required, and (3) reducing cartridge rewind time in most cases and virtually eliminating rewind time for full cartridges.

The 3490E Model C10 writes only the 36 track format introduced with the 3490E family; however, to satisfy the interchange requirement, it reads 3480/3490 format, with or without IDRC.

Reliability and Availability

Advanced Electronic Packaging contributes to improved reliability and availability. The number of electronic cards in both the Control Unit and Drive Unit have been reduced, when compared to the 3490E D41/D42. Higher reliability of circuit technology and microcode input disk unit, and enhanced Control Unit Error Recovery Procedures (ERP) all contribute to increased reliability and availability.

Utilization and Performance

Utilization of ESCON Channels provide new possibilities in floorspace planning, configurability, and connectivity. The 3490E Model C10 fully participates in ESCON I/O architecture at distances up to 23KM (14.3 miles).

Improvement in subsystem performance is provided through the available Performance Enhancement Feature #5045 together with ESCON channels. The result is improved control unit data rate (up to 9 MB/sec), reducing the backup and batch window time constraints, and time required for tape processing.

Up to two channel adapters may be installed to satisfy the requirement for sharing between two processors. Parallel or ESCON channels may be attached in any combination.

The 3490E C10 model is a very cost effective tape solution for the save/restore requirement on mid-range systems. The very high cartridge data capacity significantly reduces both the number of cartridges required and the number of mounts required during any tape operation such as save/restore. Operator productivity is increased and the number of cartridges required for the tape library is reduced, resulting in continuing significant cost savings.

The higher reliability and availability for these models provide additional savings in the form of less down time for maintenance and increased system availability for user applications.

ESCON architecture enables users to better plan remote disaster recovery sites with the ability to connect up to 23 kilometers from the central facility. This allows users to utilize less expensive floor space and potentially eliminates the need to expand facilities to accommodate growth.

Past investments in the IBM 9309 Rack Enclosure can be further exploited to house the IBM 3490E Model C10. In the past, the option for a mid-range customer wishing to take advantage of Cartridge System Tape technology was to attach a 3490 Model D3X or D4X stand-alone unit. Now the IBM 3490E Models CXX series can be integrated into the existing rack enclosure (excluding the 9370 System Rack) without floorspace. The IBM 3490E C10 may use the same cartridge system tape first introduced with the IBM 3480, protecting years of investment in media.

Growth Enablement

The 3490E Model C10 offers the granularity and lower cost of a 1X1 configuration to satisfy the save/restore requirement for mid-range customers, and can be upgraded to a 3490E C11 (1X1 with ACL).

Mixing of Parallel Adapters and ESCON Adapters is allowed. Both adapter types can be field and/or factory installed. The Performance Enhancement Feature, in conjunction with ESCON channels, will support channel data rates up to 9MB/sec.

Direct Access Storage Device (DASD) to tape backup time is significantly reduced over available 10.5-inch reel tape devices, resulting in more online time for users.

The Model C10 has a single tape drive with its own control unit.

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