Hello,
In addition to a 3420 tape drive, you will need a 3803 tape drive controller. This controller connects to a mainframe processing machine using a parallel channel (bus&tag). Actually, I seriously doubt that there could be systems like this in operation today.
regards.
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GABRIEL SALVADOR GARCIA ZAMUDIO
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Original Message:
Sent: Wed July 26, 2023 01:31 PM
From: fernando garea
Subject: Is there a way to read an old iBM 3420 today?
Hi Erika:
Thank you for your response. It confirm my assumption that it is almost impossible to retrieve the information. I'm working in a Mainframe shop (the National Archive doesn't have this kind of hardware), and we know the difficulties to connect this old device to a modern z/series, even if we could get a working 3420 unit.
Regards ,
Fernando
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fernando garea
Original Message:
Sent: Wed July 26, 2023 12:40 PM
From: Erika M Dawson
Subject: Is there a way to read an old iBM 3420 today?
I checked with some tape hardware folks and they would first have to find a 3420 drive and if a drive was found, it would need to be able to be connected to the processor. They indicated that the drive used an OEMI connection (parallel copper cables, bus and tag). So maybe have them check with their IBM sales team to see if they know what may be available from an archive, museum, perspective for reading the 3420 reel-to-reel cartridges.
Erika Dawson
IBM DFSMS Architecture
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Erika M Dawson
Original Message:
Sent: Sun July 23, 2023 06:46 PM
From: fernando garea
Subject: Is there a way to read an old iBM 3420 today?
A relative of mine works at the Argentinian National Archive told me that they found some old IBM 3420 tapes, and they are interested to retrieve the information. I think that it will be quite difficult, do you know if it possible?
Regards.
Fernando
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fernando garea
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