• The 7208-232 provides one 8-mm tape drive (#0501) or dual drives (#0502) within a single enclosure. Model 232 emulates the IBM 7208-012 Tape Drive by providing high functionality and high capability for AS/400 models. Each individual drive in the dual-drive 7208-232 acts as a single 7208-012; the single-drive 7208-232 is used in conjunction with an existing 7208-012. The 7208-232 is read/write compatible with IBM 7208 models 002 and 012. The 7208-232 incorporates a 16-character display and a 2-button panel. An integrated label-printer port is included. Is an external stand-alone tape-drive device.
• Attaches via SCSI cable.
• Uses an SCSI interface for attachment to RS/6000 (7208 models 001, 011, and 341), or uses a differential SCSI interface for attachment to AS/400 (7208 models 002, 012, 222, 232, 234 and 342).

Model Highlights 7208-232

• Dual-host channels.
• Front-panel display and operator control switches.
• Label-printer port.
• Port for attachment to 7208-012 (single-drive unit only).
• Online modes:
  • Cascading from one drive to the other (single data stream).
  • Mirroring for fault tolerance (duplication).
  • Concurrent operation of dual tapes (2 separate data streams).
• Offline functions:
  • Tape copy and compare.
  • Data verify. o Tape erase.

Model Description 7208-232

The IBM 7208-232 with the dual drive feature or the IBM 7208-232 single drive feature used in conjunction with an existing IBM 7208 Model 012 provides:

• Tape mirroring for fault tolerance.
• Automatic cascading from one drive to the other for extended unattended operation.
• Performance enhancing features such as dual-host channels and off- line host independent functions (tape copy and compare).

The IBM 7208-232 also incorporates a 16-character display used to display enhanced operational status and diagnostics and a 2-button panel to control operation of off-line functions. The IBM 7208-232 attaches to the host AS/400 via SCSI cable. Additionally, an integrated label printer port is included to generate data cartridge labels when an optional label printer is connected.

The IBM 7208-232 is a dual port SCSI device that allows attachment to two separate host SCSI connectors. Each individual drive in a dual drive 7208-232 may act as a single IBM 7208-012, thereby allowing two individual data streams to be serviced without loss of flexibility or performance. The IBM 7208-232 single drive feature #0501 must be used in conjunction with an existing IBM 7208-012 to provide additional backup capacity and advanced functions.

The IBM 7208-232 emulates an IBM 7208-012 and no new operating system or application programs are required to use the new capabilities of this product. The IBM 7208-232 has the same foot-print and is designed to be stackable with current IBM 7208-012 machines.

The 7208-232 dual drive model has a capacity of up to 20 GB (10 GB X 2) and a data transfer rate of up to 1 MB/second per port when using data compression. Native capacities are up to 5 GB of data per cartridge and a data transfer rate of up to 500 KB/second per port.

Note: Data compression values are data and application dependent. Actual end-user results may vary.

On-line Modes

Three operation modes may be selected using the front panel of the IBM 7208-232.

• Cascade Mode: In cascade mode, the IBM 7208-232 may use both cartridges for the same backup or restore job. Capacity reaches up to 20 GB (10 GB x 2 with data compression) for any single tape job and does not require any special system software.
• Mirror Mode: When mirror mode is selected, two identical tape cartridges are created simultaneously. This facilitates off-site vaulting and similar disaster recovery requirements. Additionally, single-drive failures, such as defective media, will not impact completion of tape operation, thereby raising reliability of backup during critical window.
• Concurrent Mode: When concurrent mode is selected, each drive acts like a single IBM 7208-012, thereby allowing two individual data streams to be serviced without loss of flexibility or performance.

Off-line Functions

The IBM 7208-232 can perform off-line tape storage functions not available with the IBM 7208-012. These added off-line functions can be selected and controlled using the front panel of the of the IBM 7208-232. These functions do not require attaching the 7208-232 to a host computer system.

This data is based on laboratory calculations and individual user results may vary.

• Copy Function - The copy function creates a second copy of a previously recorded tape cartridge.
• Compare Function - The compare function checks for the exact agreement between two copies of the same data. The user is notified of any differences.
• Verify Function - The verify function reads a tape cartridge searching for tape media errors. This function permits the verification of the quality of the data on a previously recorded tape cartridge without using a host computer system.
• Erase Function - The erase function magnetically erases all the information on a tape cartridge. The erase process allows sensitive data to be removed from a tape cartridge.

Product Features

• Dual-Host Channels. Allows connections to two host systems thereby allowing customers to minimize the quantity of peripherals purchased. The integrated controller allows each host port to appear as an individual IBM 7208-232. All enhanced functions (mirroring, cascading, etc.) are available to both host ports, managed intelligently by the integrated controller. Alternatively, customers may attach both ports to separate data channels on the same host system and thereby facilitate two simultaneous tape jobs operating concurrently to the separate drives decreasing overall backup time but without losing cartridge compatibility with IBM 7208-012.
• Front Panel Display and Operator Control Switches. The IBM 7208-232 has a front panel display and operator control switches. The high resolution 16 character back lighted LCD display permits the operator to view the tape drive status during operation. Two operator control switches allow the selection of operations and configuration modes from a simple menu format. The status messages during write and read operations show the amount of data written or read during that operation. This allows the operator to observe the operation progress. The status messages also include operator prompts for loading the tape cartridge and for drive cleaning. Used together, the front panel display and operator control switches permit the viewing and selection of menu items. This permits the selection of the on-line modes of operation, and the selection and control of the off-line functions. The display and operator control switches also permit the use of diagnostic support operations for service.
• Label Printer Port. Integrated RS-232 port is preconfigured for label generation when an optional label printer is attached. High-contrast, high-resolution labels containing volume IDs, copy identifiers, and user-defined data fields simplify tape inventory management.
• 7208 Model 012 Attachment Port. An integrated connector allows quick and easy attachment of an IBM 7208 Model 012 to the IBM 7208 Model 232 single drive feature. The method of attachment is through a 0.6-meter device to device cable. Adding a 7208-012 to the 7208-232 single drive feature (#0501) allows the customer the additional backup capacity and advanced functions of a two drive subsystem. Additional tape drives may not be attached to a 7208-232 dual feature (#0502). The 7208-232 controller can only communicate with two tape drives. The method of attachment is through a 0.6-meter device to device cable.
  

The 7208-232 is a high function, high capacity product designed to be used in place of or in addition to regular 7208-012 applications. 7208-232 feature code (#0501) provides one 8-mm tape drive and feature code (#0502) provides two 8-mm tape drives within a single enclosure that offers fault tolerant modes like tape mirroring, capacity stretching modes like cascading, performance enhancing features such as dual-host channels and off-line host independent functions (tape copy and compare). The 7208-232 also incorporates a 16-character display used to display enhanced operational status, diagnostics and, in concert with a 2-button panel, to control operation of off-line functions. The 7208-232 attaches to the host AS/400 SCSI adapter via SCSI cable. Additionally, a integrated label printer port is included to generate data cartridge labels when an optional label printer is connected.

The 7208-232 is a dual port SCSI device that allows attachment to two separate host SCSI connectors. Each individual drive in a dual drive 7208-232 acts as a single 7208-012, thereby allowing two individual data streams to be serviced without loss of flexibility or performance.