Overland Data Inc. TX-8 9-Track Tape Controller for IBM PC, XT, AT & 386

Product Overview The TX-8 is our high speed, top performing 9-track tape controller for the PC, XT, AT and 386, and compatible to the system processor. The 64 Kilobyte • Uses a single, round, shielded cable computers. The TX-8 is designed to work on-board cache allows efficient buffering for: with any Cipher/Pertec formatted 9-track of multiple data blocks to and from the tape transport. The controller can be — Easy cable routing tape drive. If the tape transport detects used with tape drives that have data an error during a write operation, the — Reduced EMI transfer rates of over 900 kilobytes per data to rewrite is still in the cache and second (KBS), allowing configurations does not have to be resent by the Complete Package Including with high performance drives. It thus Software allows drives with a selectable data rate processor. to be set at a higher rate than a DMA- The only system resources required by The TX-8 package includes controller based controller. The TX-8 also makes the TX-8 are 8 contiguous I/O ports. board, cable, user manual, and support fewer demands on the resources of the Specifically, the board does not require a software for one . An CPU, significantly improving the DMA channel, or any special memory installable device driver and numerous performance of low-cost streaming configuration. The TX-8 supports support utilities for hard disk backup or drives. hardware interrupts, though they are not data interchange are included for: required under DOS. Product Evaluation • MS-DOS/PC-DOS In addition, the TX-8 includes the or an installable device driver is included 1 he TX-8 achieves such impressive following features: throughput because of its innovative for either: controller design. The TX-8 uses • Large data cache (64 Kilobytes) • XENIX 386/XENIX 286 programmed I/O instead of the • High-speed block I/O traditional DMA (Direct Memory Access) • Microport System V/386 • Performs additional error checking on for data transfer. Therefore, its data The device drivers are interrupt driven tape reads transfer rate is not limited by the host with multiple buffers for high-speed data computer's DMA clock rate, allowing data • Uses a "D" type connector for easy transfer. Once installed the UNIX device transfer rates to improve as the host installation drivers support the tape-oriented UNIX CPU's clock speed increases. The block backup and interchange commands tar, data I/O software uses the fastest cpio and dd. assembly language instructions available

Overland Data Inc.

5620 Kearny Mesa Rd. San Diego, CA 92111 TEL: (619) 571-5555 FAX: (619) 571-0982 Telex: 754923 OVERLAND Overland Data Inc. TX-8

First in Service TX-8 Specifications Overland Data Inc. manufactures 9- • Compatibility - All 100% IBM-PC, XT, track, half-inch magnetic tape controller AT hardware including 386. cards for personal computers and writes • Tape Drives - All Cipher/Pertec all support software in-house. In addition, formatted 9-track tape transports. we stock and fully test a complete line of 9-track tape drives. Our customer • Input/Output - Dip switch selectable service department is equipped to assist I/O address (8 contiguous ports you with all phases of your subsystem required). Driver automatically integration, from initial installation to detects address. configuration/compatibility issues and • Block Length - Supports block sizes operational questions. up to 64 Kbytes. Overland Data's Product Line • DMA Channel - None required. Uses programmed I/0. Overland Data Inc. is a San Diego-based company incorporated in 1980 that • Drives Supported - 1 of 8 manufactures 9-track tape controller • Maximum Transfer Rates - Over 900 cards for the IBM PC/XT/AT/386 and Kilobytes/second depending on the compatibles, as well as the PS/2 Micro clock speed of the host CPU and the Channel. Overland Data offers complete data rate of the tape drive. Not 9-track tape subsystems including the limited by comparatively slow DMA controller card, a choice of tape drives, transfer speed. support software for MS-DOS, XENIX 286, XENIX 386, Microport System V/AT • Recording Modes - 9-track: PE, NAZI or System V/386, user manual, and and GCR. cables. Compatible tape drives include • Recording Densities - 800 any Cipher/Pertec formatted 9-track tape bytes/inch (BPI), 1600 BPI, 3200 BPI, transport. Available recording densities and 6250 BPI. are 800 bytes per inch (BPI), 1600 BPI, 3200 BPI, and 6250 BPI. Recording • Interrupts - Jumper selectable techniques supported are NAZI, PE, and interrupts provided for appropriate GCR. applications. Interrupts not required. Warranty Overland Data offers a two year parts and labor warranty for the TX-8 controller.

*Specifications subject to change without notice.

XENIX and MS-DOS are registered trademarks of Corp. Unix is a registered trademark of AT&T Bell Laboratories. System V/AT and System V/386 are registered trademarks of Microport Systems, Inc. IBM-PC/XT/AT, PS/2 and Micro Channel are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corp.