Exabyte 440 User Manual
Installation and Operation
153
B
SCSI Basics
This appendix provides an overview of the Small Computer System
2 (SCSI-2) and gives an overview of how to configure the SCSI
bus. SCSI is a standard specification that allows an application
running on a host computer to communicate with peripheral SCSI
devices, such as the library and the enclosed tape drives. The
library uses SCSI commands to receive instructions from the host
and to report its status to the host.
2 (SCSI-2) and gives an overview of how to configure the SCSI
bus. SCSI is a standard specification that allows an application
running on a host computer to communicate with peripheral SCSI
devices, such as the library and the enclosed tape drives. The
library uses SCSI commands to receive instructions from the host
and to report its status to the host.
SCSI components
The SCSI system consists of the following components:
Initiator. The host computer system acts as the initiator of
commands. It consists of the application software, the
operating system, the device driver, and the SCSI adapter
card.
operating system, the device driver, and the SCSI adapter
card.
Bus. The SCSI cables connected to the adapter card and to the
library (as well as other devices on the bus) provide a pathway
or “bus”) for passing commands.
or “bus”) for passing commands.
Targets. The library and the tape drives are peripheral devices
(or targets) that are capable of receiving commands from the
host. Up to eight devices (including the host computer) can be
connected to the SCSI bus, in what is referred to as a daisy
chain.
host. Up to eight devices (including the host computer) can be
connected to the SCSI bus, in what is referred to as a daisy
chain.