QuickSpecs
Automated Head
Cleaning/Intelligent
cleaning
HP DDS drives benefit from an automatic head cleaning "sweeper" that can be used during the write or
read recovery procedure to dislodge debris from the tape path and recording heads and drive. This
feature reduces the need to use a DDS cleaning cartridge for manual cleaning.
Intelligent cleaning determines the cleaning provided by a cleaning cartridge when loaded by monitoring
the drive performance when in use. If the drive is performing well, a routine maintenance clean is
performed. If the drive has degraded performance the cleaning is automatically made more robust to
recover the drive to optimum performance.
Interfaces
HP DAT drives are currently available with a choice of interfaces: the standard SCSI interface where
legacy SCSI connectivity is required and USB 2.0 interface for universal plug and play connectivity. In the
near future, as SAS interface for the DAT 160 is planned.
The USB (Universal Systems Bus) interface was conceived out of a need to simplify computer peripheral
device connection. It has been so successful that the majority of computer systems and servers shipped
today offer multiple native USB 2.0 ports.
HP is the first company to develop a native USB DDS/DAT tape drive. Where other "USB tape drives" rely
on a USB converter, HP's USB interface is fully integrated with the drive and uses the SCSI command set
within the USB payload. The benefit of this implementation is that it gives the drive full SCSI functionality
and the flexibility of USB without the additional cost of a converter.
By offering native USB 2.0 DAT drives, HP aims to provide customers with a number of benefits:
Greater usability
Plug-and-play connectivity- the system automatically detects and configures the tape drive.
The DAT drive is installed and ready to backup in less than 60 seconds.
Microsoft fully supports USB devices natively in their operating systems providing robust,
secure configuration and installation wizards.
Cables are easily identifiable, easy to attach without the need for thumb-screw and robust
enough to ensure reliable retention.
Resource abundance
Native USB ports are universally available in systems and servers
Multiple ports ensure that port resources are widely available, reducing the conflict between
devices over scarce connectors.
Port expansion is easy, USB hubs can be installed to add additional ports supporting up to
127 devices on a system
Low cost, reliable connectivity
By providing native USB DDS/DAT drives there is no need for customers to purchase
additional host-bus adapters
HP's USB 2.0 implementation benefits from the built-in reliability and failure recovery
inherent in the underlying SCSI protocol
USB 2.0 has multiple levels of physical error detection and recovery which ensure reliability
on a par with SCSI and Fibre-channel interfaces.
USB 2.0 compliance certification provides thorough, ongoing reliability and quality control.
A well implemented USB network should use only USB 2.0 compliant components,
including USB 2.0 certified cables.
Sustainable performance
In HP tests it has been shown that USB 2.0 can sustain the performance of an HP DDS/DAT
drive at around 30MB/sec, a bandwidth that would sustain the HP DAT 72 drive operating
with a compression ratio of 9:1!
USB 2.0 performance provides sufficient bandwidth to support all future generations of
DDS/DAT drives specified on the DAT Manufacturers Group Roadmap
QuickSpecs
HP StorageWorks DAT Drives
Product Highlights
DA - 11883 Worldwide QuickSpecs — Version 25 — 8.6.2007
Page 8