| LTO5 drives are readily available on eBay; units designed for tape libraries frequently sell for $100 or less and are easy to convert for external use. Specifically, I've converted library drives from IBM and Quantum libraries, both with IBM mechanisms. Drives from IBM libraries are a bit easier to convert, but Quantum units have a smaller footprint. In either case, once you disconnect the proprietary library power/control PCB, the drive and chassis fan can be connected to a standard PC power supply using off-the-shelf molex cables; I/O is standard Fibre Channel. For IBM library drives, this is all that's necessary; the Quantum library drives I've converted require a firmware setting change to enable the FC interface on power up: https://github.com/AC7RNsphnHVbyT4/ibm-tape-drive-automatic-... TL;DR: (1) Connect RS-422 USB adapter to a computer and the drive (N.B.: Wire colors from the article are not standardized; you can easily find the correct pinout by tracing the signals from the serial transceiver IC on the library interface PCB to the drive interface cable). (2) Power up the drive. (3) Send the byte string from the bottom of the drive until the drive reboots. At this point, the FC interface should activate on power up as with any other standalone drive. Finally, IBM supplies a useful diagnostic tool to ensure tapes and drives are in good working order (free IBM account required for download): https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/ibm-tape-diagnostic-tool-i... |
None of what you have said is going to happen at a bank, insurance company or media shop who need to comply with all the corporate legislation post-Enron.