3590 Tape Drives – Sunstar Company, Inc.

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We Repair Your Non – Working Drives, with Warranty

Refurbished, 3590 Tape Drives are available from Sunstar in a variety of models as indicated below. Our complete tape drive sub-systems includes; software, cables & SCSI controller suited for your platform. 3590 Tape Drives read and write to 128, 256 and 384 Tracks – Model dependent

The 3590E model E1A is for use in IBM 3494 Automated Tape Library.
IBM’s 3590 E1A brings diversity in that its controllers can be configured for stand-alone frames, racks, or automated library solutions. The IBM 3590 E1A can be used with a SCSI host interface or Fiber Channel interface of selected IBM and non-IBM midrange and open systems as well as with ESCON channels on S/390 systems through a Magstar 3590 controller.
The 3590E model E11 is a rack-mounted tape drive with an automatic cartridge facility (ACF). The 10 cartridge ACF allows the drives to be used as a mini-library with access up to 600 GB (with 3:1 compression). The E11 can be easily converted to an E1A for use in a fully automated library system.

Model	Description
Fujitsu M8100	128 Track
IBM Magstar 3590 Model B11A / E11	Rack Mounted, can be converted to B1 and E1
IBM Magstar 3590 Model B11A	Rack Mounted, can be converted to B1 and E1
IBM Magstar 3590 Model E11	Rack Mounted, can be converted to B1 and E1
IBM 3590 E1A	40GB, 2:1
JVC (Victor Data Systems)	3590 9.0MB/S
IBM Magstar 3590 Model B1A / E1A	Supported, IBM Magstar 3494 Tape Library
IBM Magstar 3590 Model B1A	Supported, IBM Magstar 3494 Tape Library
IBM Magstar 3590 Model E1A	Supported, IBM Magstar 3494 Tape Library
IBM 3590 B1A	20GB, 2:1
IBM 3590 H1A	60GB, 3:1

Number of Tracks

256

Uncompressed Capacity

20GB / Cartridge

Compressed Capacity

60GB / Cartridge

Tape Length (meters):

300m

Tape Data Rate:

14.0 MB/s

Tape Read/Write Access Speed:

3.14 m/s

Load-to-Ready Time:

23 seconds

Unload Time:

18 seonds

Nominal Rewind Speed:

5 meters/second

Model	18-Track		18-Track (compressed)		36-Track		128-Track
Model	Read	Write	Read	Write	Read	Write	Read	Write
IBM
3590-E11							X
3590-B11							X	X
3490-F11	X	X	X	X	X	X
3490-F01	X	X	X	X	X	X
3490-F00	X	X	X	X	X	X
3490-E11	X		X		X	X
3490-E01	X		X		X	X
Fujitsu
M8100							X	X
M2485K/N	X		X		X	X
M2483K/N	X		X		X	X
M2488C	X		X		X	X
M2488E	X	X	X	X	X	X
M2485H	X	X	X	X
M2483H	X	X	X	X
M2485B	X	X
M2483B	X	X
M2481B	X	X
Overland Data
T480	X	X
T490	X

In addition we repair defective 3590 tape drives and we can assist you with data conversion needs.

3590 Tape drives by IBM, Fujitsu and JVC provide a reliable, cost-effective solution with the increased use of different operating systems and platforms. Tape automation solutions must provide the ability to connect multiple platforms, enabling the sharing of both tape technology and automation.

The IBM 3590 is a series of Tape Drives and corresponding magnetic tape data storage media formats developed by IBM. The first drive, having the IBM product number 3590, was introduced in 1995 under the nickname Magstar. The 3590 series of tape drives and media are not compatible with the IBM 3592 line of drives that replaced it. They can store up to 60 GB of data (uncompressed). This family superseded the IBM 3480 Tape Drives popular in 1980s and 1990s.

Like the 3480 and 3592 formats, this tape format has half inch tape spooled onto 4-by-5-by-1 inch data cartridges containing a single reel. A takeup reel is embedded inside the tape drive. Because of their speed, reliability, durability and low media cost, the 3590 Tape Drives are still in high demand. A hallmark of the genre is transferability. Tapes recorded with one tape drive are generally readable on another drive, even if the tape drives were built by different manufacturers. Magstar tapes and drives are available in 128, 256 and 384-track versions.

SPECS

3590 B Model (3590 B11/B1A), 128 tracks
3590 E Model (3590 E11/E1A), 256 tracks
3590 H Model (3590 H11/H1A), 384 tracks