DEC tape drives and cards

[js at cimmeri.com]

On 1/6/2018 5:51 AM, shadoooo via cctalk 
wrote:
> Hello,
> I have some doubt about DEC tape units and related interfaces.
>
> What I know about (right or wrong, please correct):
> - TU80 is a Pertec drive, it needs M7454 (unibus, TS11 driver) which is a
> modified Dilog DU132. No option for QBUS.
>
> - TS05 is a Pertec drive, it needs TSV05 (qbus, TSV05 driver) which is a
> modified Emulex ???)
>
> - TU81 plus is LESI or Pertec, you need KLESI (unibus / qbus, TMSCP driver).
>
> Now the questions:
> I have both a TU80 and TU81plus, and both Unibus and Qbus machines, but no
> interfaces.
> I would like to connect at least TU80 to unibus, and TU81 to qbus, but for
> backup reasons it would be better to have both drives on both busses.
>
> What are the DEC or third party card which would fit better on my drives,
> and/or which would offer better driver compatibility with various OSs (via
> switchable configuration).
>
> I'm not sure about interface compatibility (Pertec interfaces could be
> swapped),
> and driver compatibility (what is better for RT11, what for BSD, what for
> VMS).
>
> I would accept also some offer to my email, if somebody has something
> interesting to sell (better if in EU).
>
> Thanks
> Andrea

I only have SCSI tape drives, and a TS05.  But take a look at the various Emulex tape controllers.   I believe TS11 and TMSCP emulations are what you'd want.


             TC02        Q   Emulex Pertec-interface tape drive controller.
                             Emulates TS11. Early revisions incompatible
                             with VMS.

             TC02        Q   Emulex Pertec-interface tape drive controller.
                             Emulates TS11. Early revisions incompatible
                             with VMS. Supports 1-4 Cipher F880, CDC 92181,
                             Kennedy 6809, and Pertec F1000.

             TC02/FS     Q   Emulex .5" reel-to-reel tape controller,

             TC05        Q   Emulex CDC Sentinel .25" cartridge tape controller.
                             Emulates TS11. Supports CDC 92192 Sentinel.

             TC05/SX     Q   Emulex .5" reel-to-reel tape controller.

             TC11/N      U   Emulex .5" reel-to-reel tape controller.
                             Emulating TM11/TU10.

             TC11/P      U   Emulex .5" reel-to-reel tape controller.
                             Emulating TM11/TU10.

             TC11/V      U   Emulex .5" reel-to-reel tape controller.
                             Emulates MT11/TU10. Needs Emulex VAX/UT software.

             TC12        U   Emulex .5" reel-to-reel tape controller.
                             Emulates TS11. 22-bit. Supports 1-4 Cipher F880,
                             CDC 92181, Kennedy 6809, and Pertec F1000.

             TC12/FS     U   Emulex .5" reel-to-reel tape controller,

             TC13        Q   Emulex Pertec-interface tape drive controller.
                             Switchable TU81 TMSCP or TS11 emulation.

             TC13        U   Emulex Pertec-interface tape drive controller.
                             Switchable TU81 TMSCP or TS11 emulation. Supports
                             1-4 Cipher F880, CDC 92181, Kennedy 6809, and
                             Pertec F1000.

             {above excerpted from M. Gentry's Field Guide)


- js.