Quantum Audio A-Series Manuel D’Utilisation

Modular Design

Quantum A-Series Tape Drives User’s Guide

33

• Delivering the overall cosmetic look of the system.
The FPM is a single module with lenses for the system’s LEDs and a 

button to activate the drive eject switch. The SDLT 600A tape drive front 

panel contains no electronics.

1

The Electronic Interface Module (EIM) is the electronic heart of the tape 

drive. It provides the main control function for the system and the 

interface from the system to the host computer, library, or autoloader. 

The EIM provides the Advanced PRML feature of Quantum’s SDLT 

page 29 for a brief description of PRML.
The EIM consists of two major boards: the Integrated Controller Module 

(ICM), and a separate Host Interface Module (HIM), see 

. The 

ICM contains the main controller and servo microprocessor, the custom-

designed SDLT ASICs, and the cache memory while the HIM implements 

the interface between the host system and the tape drive. This allows easy 

configuration of the tape drive to match different host interfaces by 

simply substituting the appropriate HIM card.
As with the other major modules of the SDLT technology, the EIM is 

manufactured and tested as a distinct module.

1

As with all tape technologies, the Super DLTtape II data cartridge is a key 

part of the overall system. The main function of the data cartridge is to 

provide the magnetic recording media used by the system to store 

customer information. The data cartridge also provides the protective 

casing that allows safe media movement and storage.
From the outside, the Super DLTtape II data cartridge looks very similar 

to the Super DLTtape I and DLTtape VS1 data cartridges. The basic 

geometry, write protection switch, and label space are the same. This 

simplifies the integration of the SDLT 600A tape drive into existing 

operating environments and into automated tape libraries. The 

Super DLTtape II data cartridge is easy to recognize; it has a different 

color than the Super DLTtape I and DLTtape VS1 data cartridges, and 

contains a distinctive pattern molded into the shell. The DLTtape logo 

and the product name are also molded into the shell, which ensure you 

have a genuine Quantum Super DLTtape II data cartridge.