dynamic-scsi0 pages

Dynamic SCSI Switch
Share a tape drive or library between
systems .... Automatically
Simple, dependable way to maximise
the value of a SCSI tape drive.
Switching is dynamic - no physical or
electronic switching is required.
Hardware only solution - no special
software or patches.
Simple installation.

Zero overhead: 40 Mbyte per second bandwidth - full drive performance retained..
Continuous availability to both hosts - ‘drive in use’ message sent to second host.
Save on hardware and maintenance costs whilst gaining space.
Host fail-over protection for SCSI Raid or Tape Libraries.
Available as a third and/or fourth host attachment for IBM 3590 drives.

To save money on Hardware and Maintenance
costs it can be desirable to share a Tape Drive or
high value peripheral, between two or more host
computers. However, it is generally not possible
to connect the SCSI bus of one host computer to
that of another via the shared peripheral.
Switches are used to share Tape Drives between
hosts, but the control of switching (when and how
to switch, and switched termination) can
problematic. Dynamic SCSI Switches overcome
these problems by allowing peripherals to be
connected to both hosts simultaneously, whilst
controlling access.
Using the SCSI Reserve/Release mechanism, the
drive is connected simultaneously to all hosts and
shared between them. If the drive is in use by one
host and another host attempts access, it will
receive a device reserved or busy response, until
the original task is complete.

Share a Tape Drive or Library