StorageWorks 8505 8mm Cartridge Tape Drive

1.3Support for Four Data Formats

The StorageWorks 8505 8mm Cartridge Tape Drive can read and write data in four formats:

∙EXB-8500c (compressed) format

∙EXB-8500 format

∙EXB-8200c (compressed) format

∙EXB-8200 format

When writing in its default EXB-8500c (compressed) format, the 8mm tape drive implements a powerful algorithm that enables it to compress user data at ratios of 2:1 or greater. Assuming an average compression efficiency of 2:1, the tape can store up to 10 GBytes of data on a single 8mm data cartridge.

NOTE

The actual compression ratio achieved depends on the type of data to be compressed. This guide assumes an average compression efficiency of 2:1.

When writing in the non-compressedEXB-8500 format, the tape drive can store up to 5.0 GBytes of data on a single 8mm data cartridge.

When writing in the EXB-8200c (compressed) format, the tape drive can store up to

5.0GBytes of data on a single 8mm data cartridge, assuming an average compression efficiency of 2:1

When writing in the non-compressedEXB-8200 format, the tape drive can store up to

2.5GBytes of data on a single 8mm data cartridge. Refer to Appendix B and C of this guide for detailed data format information for your specific operating environment.

Table 1–1 lists the read and write compatibilty of several data formats with several 8mm tape drives. Note that devices with names beginning "EXB" are produced by EXABYTE Corporation; devices with names beginning "TKZ" are produced by Digital Equipment Corporation. In the table, SWXTE represents all three packaging options of the StorageWorks 8mm Cartridge Tape Drive.

Table 1–1 Read/Write Compatibility of 8mm Tape Drives and Data Formats

Tape format

Can be written and read by an . . .

 

 

 

 

TKZ08 and

EXB-8200SX

EXB-8205

TKZ09 and

EXB-8500c

SWXTE and

 

EXB-8200

 

 

EXB-8500

 

EXB-8505

EXB-8500c

–

–

–

–

Yes

Yes

EXB-8500

–

–

–

Yes

Yes

Yes

EXB-8200c

–

–

Yes

–

Yes

Yes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXB-8200

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

1–4

Order Number: EK–STWCT–UG. E01