Appendix A Glossary
Page 128 Seagate Travan 40 Product Manual
RAM Stands for Random Access Memory. It is the memory that the
computer uses to hold the operating system and programs, from which
all the operations are performed. Most RAMs are volatile, meaning that
it is erased when the power is removed from the computer.
RANDOMIZING A re-coding of data symbols before they are written to tape in order to
provide a consistently uniform RF envelope level
RECORDED
BLOCK A group of consecutive bits comprising preamble, data block marker,
data block, block number, GCR and postamble.
REFERENCE
TAPE
CARTRIDGE
A magnetic tape cartridge selected for a specific property to be used as
a reference.
RESTORE To copy information from the tape (or other backup device) to primary
program storage.
RETENSION An operation that restores normal tension to the tape wound on the
hubs of the cartridge.
RLL (Run Length Limited) A data encoding method where data bits are
encoded so that certain constraints are met with regard to the
maximum and minimum distances between flux transitions.
SCSI Small Computer Systems Interface. This is associated with a set of
standards and specifications for hardware and software.
SERPENTINE A recording method in which tracks are laid down sequentially, and the
tape is not rewound at the end of a track. This recording method
exploits the bi-directional capabilities of the cartridge.
SFF Small Form Factor Committee
SFF8020I An SFF document which first defined the basic ATAPI protocols.
In addition, it specifies command packets for CD-ROM devices.
SINGLE-WORD
DMA An ATA protocol for DMA that transfers a single word (2-bytes) during
each timing cycle.
SLAVE Device address 1 on an IDE bus.
SRST ATA Soft Reset. This reset will forcibly reset all devices on a single IDE
cable
STREAMING A method of recording on magnetic tape where the tape is continuously
moving and data blocks are continuously recorded.
T13 The name of the ANSI committee dedicated to ATA and ATAPI
standards
TRACK A recording strip parallel to the edge of the magnetic tape containing
recorded information.
TRACK ID
BLOCK A block recorded in the Load Point and Early Warning regions to
designate the track number.