Typical System Configurations; Minicartridge Technology Overview - Seagate STT20000A Product Manual

Chapter 1

Typical system configurations

Minicartridge technology overview

Page 4
The Enhanced IDE standard supports up to four ATAPI peripherals: two devices on
the primary port and two devices on the secondary port. Of the two devices, one
must be slave to the other, which is the master. Figure 1-3 shows sample
configurations for two ATAPI systems.
Figure 1-3
Sample ATAPI configurations
Computer Enhanced
system IDE
controller
Enhanced
Computer
IDE
system
controller
Acculogic
IDE
controller
Having evolved from the original mass-storage medium—reel-to-reel, 1/2-inch tape
storage—the minicartridge technology of today offers fast, efficient, high-capacity
storage in a compact, easy-removable hard-shell package. In little more than a
decade, storage capacities have increased from some 60 megabytes (Mbytes) on 9
tracks (QIC-24, 1982) to the to the 20 Gbyte capacity achievable with the
STT20000A minicartridge drive on a single Travan TR-5 cartridge.
The streaming-tape intelligence in the STT20000A provides a continuous tape
motion with an uninterrupted, precisely coordinated flow of data to and from the
minicartridge. This "streaming" motion combined with the "serpentine" recording
method is one element that contributes to the increased storage capacities,
efficiency, and speed of today's minicartridge technology.
Use of the "serpentine" recording method exploits the bi-directional capabilities of
the cartridge. With this method, the tape is not rewound at the end of a track.
Hard
Primary
disc
IDE bus
Secondary
IDE bus
Hard
Primary
disc
IDE bus
STT20000A
Secondary
IDE bus
STT20000A Product Manual
Introduction
CD-ROM
(master)
STT20000A
(slave)