Seagate STT8000A - Manual (Page 12)

Chapter 1 Introduction
Page 4 STT8000A Product Manual
Typical system configurations
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
Minicartridge technology overview
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 Mbytes on 9 tracks (QIC-
24, 1982) to the to the 8-Gbyte capacity achievable with the STT8000 minicartridge
drive on a single Travan TR-4 cartridge.
The streaming-tape intelligence in the STT8000A 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.
Computer
system
Enhanced
IDE
controller
Primary
IDE bus
Secondary
IDE bus
Hard
disc
CD-ROM
(master)
STT20000A
(slave)
Computer
system
Enhanced
IDE
controller
Primary
IDE bus
Secondary
IDE bus
Hard
disc
Acculogic
IDE
controller
STT20000A