Comco 3490-E1A

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Comco 3490-E1A [Contact us for pricing.]

Comco Desktop 36-Track Tape Drive

The Comco 3490-E1A offers full function 3490E tape performance and compatibility at a substantially lower price than other 3490E tape subsystems.

The Comco 3490-E1A may be used to create tapes for archive files, for backup and restore in the event of system or disk storage problems, for off-site data storage for disaster recovery, and for data interchange with other systems.

Comco 3490-E1A Highlights

• Sturdy, compact desktop enclosure
• Data rate of 3 MB/sec (6.5 MB/sec typically with compression)
• 0.8 GB capacity per cartridge (2.4 GB typically with IDRC)
• Fast and wide SCSI-2 differential interface
• Reads and writes 36-track bidirectional recording format
• Reads 18-track tape cartridges

High Performance

Using the 3490E's IDRC data compression, the Comco 3490-E1A provides an effective throughput as high as 6.5MB per second (Mileage may vary... actual throughput is a function of the system processor, data block size, and software used).

The fast and wide (16-bit) SCSI-2 differential interface supports peak data rates of up to 20MB per second. Both 8-bit and 16-bit transfer are supported. Using an interposer for 8-bit mode, peak data rates of up to 10MB per second are possible.

Speedy Backup and Restore

In the event of loss or damage to files on disk storage, the Comco 3490-E1A allows you to quickly replace backed-up files, improving productivity and system availability.

Error-Free Reading and Writing

The Comco 3490-E1A incorporates a single pass read-after-write function in addition to extensive error correction functions. Read-after-write checks the data as it is written. Most errors can be corrected by the ICU as the tape is written. If a problem cannot be corrected, the tape unit retries and attempts to write (or read) the data correctly. If the problem remains uncorrectable, the operator is notified. The drive does not continue if data cannot be accurately recorded.

Save Time During Rewind

The 36-track bidirectional recording format can reduce or eliminate rewind time. The bidirectional head writes 18 tracks from the load point to the end of the tape and then writes the other 18 tracks from the end of the tape back to the load point, eliminating the rewind time for full tapes.

Specifications