Pertec interface

[jim stephens]

Richard wrote:

>OK, so I found the Pertec stuff on bitsavers, but I haven't read
>through their docs yet.
>
>I purchased a Fujitsu 2444 tape drive that has a Pertec interface.
>($0.99 on ebay with local pickup!)  Apparently all the newer tape
>drives have Pertec + SCSI or just SCSI.
>
>Is Pertec similar enough to SCSI that I could rig up a dongle?
>
>If not, how hard is it to find a Pertec interface for:
>
>    - VAXserver 4000
>    - PDP-11 Q-bus
>    - Sun 3 w/expansion chassis
>    - PCI/ISA
>
>So that I could get the drive into a usable state?
>  
>
The Pertec interface is an interface which exports control of the tape 
drive to a
controller, and leaves much of the formatting up to the controller which 
is attached.

There is no intelligence assumed on the part of the tape drive, and it 
performs
only motion control, and read and write functions.  Detection of file 
marks, and
creation of file marks is assisted in the hardware design but little else.

SCSI, on the other hand is a general interface which assumes minimal 
intelligence
and capability, and therefore cost on the computer (initiator end 
usually) and puts
the load on the peripheral to do most of the work.  It is an interface 
which is
generalized to allow the same interface bus to handle tape, disk and all 
manner
of devices if need be.

There are scsi to pertec interfaces, but were rare, and therefore 
probably if you
found one, would also come with someone wanting to sell the tape drive it is
attached to.

There are PDP-11 pertec controllers.  Same with Sun3 multibus - VME.  I
had a fujitsu 2444 which came from a sun 3/280, and it had a multibus in the
sun VME adapter frame.

PCI/ISA includes Overland Data if you can find the controller.  I had 
trouble
running the 2444 on the Overland TXI, so be warned on that.

Jim