The IBM 7208 model 342 20GB External 8mm tape drive is a stand-alone, SCSI, 8mm streaming tape drive packaged in a black enclosure that attaches to the AS/400 family of servers and systems. It provides a media capacity of 20GB (40GB with 2:1 compression) data storage per cartridge and a sustained data rate of 3.0 MB/sec (6.0MB/sec with 2:1 compression). This is four times the capacity and six times the data rate of the previous model, IBM 7208 model 012. The IBM 7208 model 342 features data compression hardware using an adaptation of IBM's improved data recording capability (IDRC) algorithm.

A new level of reliability is obtained in the IBM 7208 model 342 by incorporating a redesigned 20GB Mammoth 8mm tape drive with enhanced helical scan and rotating head technology, in a 5.25-inch half-high form factor. It has 40% fewer parts, and features an improved capstan-less tape path, dynamic head cleaner, simplified and gentle tape loading, highly integrated electronics and diagnostics, three-point shock mounting, and extensive parametric monitoring on tape and cartridge load motions. In addition to reading and writing on new Mammoth-compatible 8mm advanced metal-evaporated data cartridges, the IBM 7208 model 342 also reads other 7.0GB or 2.3GB 8mm metal particle tape cartridges and reads the 5.0GB metal particle tape cartridges written by the IBM 7208 model 012. Providing an excellent migration and interchange path from other 8mm tape drives, the IBM 7208 model 342 is a cost-effective solution for save, restore, and archiving functions.

The IBM 7208 model 342 is a large-capacity, high-performance 8mm tape drive that features:

• Tape capacity up to 20GB native per cartridge (40GB with 2:1 compression).
• Data transfer rate up to 3.0MB/sec (6.0MB/sec with 2:1 compression).
• Improved reliability over the previous models of IBM's 7208 model 012 and 222.
• Enhanced helical scan, rotating head technology.
• The ability to read earlier 7.0GB, 5.0GB, and 2.3GB 8mm tape formats.
• Differential fast/wide SCSI-2 attachment (68-pin) that connects to differential fast/wide adapters.
• External, self-powered packaging AS/400 (IBM 7208 models 002, 012, 222, 232, 234 and 342).
• Is an external stand-alone tape-drive device.