Industry-Standard Streaming Tape Subsystem

The TU80 is a 1,600 bits-per-inch, nine-track tape subsystem engineered for reliability and low cost of ownership in midrange computing environments. It features an adaptive speed control that automatically toggles between streaming (25 or 100 inches per second) and start/stop modes based on CPU demand, making it suitable for both high-speed data archiving and transactional processing. The system eliminates many mechanical components found in traditional drives, utilizing electronic controls, air bearings, and microprocessor-based servosystems to improve reliability and simplify maintenance. The TU80 is designed for easy installation in Digital's UNIBUS systems, is compatible with the TS11 controller, and can be integrated into a single cabinet with RA80 or RA81 disk drives for space-efficient operations.