DATMAN TECHNICAL BULLETIN #026
From: Kan Yabumoto tech@datman.com
To: DATMAN user
Subject: HP DDS drives Model numbers
Date: 2000-03-28
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Hewlett-Packard's DDS product line is becoming more complicated and
confusing. Here's a summary based on data published by HP.
In some cases, the differences are only in the bundled software.
However, we are not always sure exactly what are the differences
between models (e.g., C1521G and C1526G).
The good news for you, the end user and us, the software developer
is that there are only four basic "logical" models with only one
model number for each DDS generation. This feature makes hardware
replacement very easy. From the viewpoint of the software (DATMAN),
there are only four models to distinguish: 35470A, 35480A, C1533A,
and C1537A. HP traditionally makes the newer models continue to
report their older model name with the SCSI Inquiry command.
While most features among equivalent models (e.g., 35480A and
C1536A) are nearly identical, there are minor differences sometimes.
For example the 35480A has a 1 MB internal buffer whereas the C1536A
has only 512 KB (strangely, the newer model has less memory here).
Such differences can be deciphered by the four-letter REV string.
From end user's point of view, it's a mixed blessing. That is,
many C1599A owners think their drive is a C1533A which is the way
almost all tape control programs (including Win95 and DATMAN)
characterize the drive.
Most drive vendors (mail order merchants) list the bare drive package
names rather than the logical drive names. For example, if you are
looking for a DDS-3 model, you will most likely find it listed as
the C1554A.
As to the compatibility with our DATMAN software, any part number
shown below except the truly obsolete 35450A should be OK. Among
the many brands on the DDS market, the HP drives have always been
the most compatible models for DATMAN operations. For DATMAN-
compatibility, refer to TB #013
Drive mechanism only
Part # Description Comments
------------------------------------------------------------------
35450A obsolete first generation DDS (not supported)
35470A DDS-1 replaced by C1534A
35480A DDS-DC replaced by C1536A
C1533A DDS-2 replaced by C1599A
C1537A DDS-3 replaced by C1554A
C5686A DDS-4
C1534A HP DDS-1 Drive DDS-1 bare drive
C1536A HP DDS-DC Drive DDS-DC bare drive
C1599A HP DDS-2 Drive DDS-2 bare drive
C1553A HP DDS-2 AutoLoader DDS-2 bare AutoLoader drive
C1554A HP DDS-3 Drive DDS-3 bare drive
C5648A HP DDS-3 AutoLoader DDS-3 bare AutoLoader drive
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SureStore packages
Part # Description Comments
------------------------------------------------------------------
C1520G SureStore 2000e DDS-1 external
C1525G SureStore 2000i DDS-1 internal
C1521G SureStore 5000e DDS-DC external
C1526G SureStore 5000i DDS-DC internal
C1551B SureStore 5000eU DDS-DC external for Unix
C1593C SureStore 5000 DDS-DC for NetWare and NT
C1594C SureStore 5000 DDS-DC for NetWare and NT
C1528F SureStore 6000i DDS-2 internal
C1529F SureStore 6000e DDS-2 external
C1552A SureStore 6000eU DDS-2 external for Unix
C1528G SureStore DAT8i DDS-2 internal
C1529G SureStore DAT8e DDS-2 external
C1552G SureStore DAT8eU DDS-2 internal for Unix
C5649A SureStore DAT8e DDS-2 external for NetWare or NT
C1561A SureStore 12000e DDS-2 external Autoloader
C1555A SureStore DAT24i DDS-3 internal
C1556A SureStore DAT24e DDS-3 external
C5653A SureStore DAT24eU DDS-3 external for Unix
C5677A SureStore DAT24x6i DDS-3 internal Autoloader
C1559A SureStore DAT24x6e DDS-3 external AutoLoader
C5650A SureStore DAT24x6e DDS-3 external AutoLoader NetWare or NT
C5650B SureStore DAT24x6e DDS-3 external AutoLoader NetWare or NT
C1528J SureStore DAT8i DDS-2 internal drive for PC or Unix
C1529J SureStore DAT8e DDS-2 external drive for PC
C1552C SureStore DAT8eU DDS-2 external drive for Unix
C1555C SureStore DAT24i DDS-3 internal drive for PC or Unix
C1556C SureStore DAT24e DDS-3 external drive for PC
C5653B SureStore DAT24eU DDS-3 external drive for Unix
C5696A SureStore DAT24r DDS-3 removable unit for HP TapeRack
C5686A SureStore DAT40i DDS-4 internal drive for PC or Unix
C5687A SureStore DAT40e DDS-4 external drive for PC or Unix
C5716A SureStore DAT40x6i DDS-4 internal Autoloader
C5717A SureStore DAT40x6e DDS-4 external Autoloader
C1578B SCSI Host, PCI a.k.a. Adaptec AHA-2940UW
C1574B SCSI Host, ISA a.k.a. Adaptec AHA-1510B
C1570A Autoloader Magazine 6-slots with 5 DDS-3 tapes, 1 Cleaner
C7436A Autoloader Magazine 6-slots with 5 DDS-4 tapes, 1 Cleaner
C1571A Autoloader Magazine 6-slots empty magazine only