A robot pirouetting between libraries of IBM 3480 tape cartridges proved the star attraction of the Comparex Informationssyteme GmbH stand at this year’s Hanover Fair. Developed in Europe and manufactured in Germany, the tape robot also added clout to the company’s repeated attempts to drive home its European crudentials. A basic configuration of the 6388 ACL Automatic Cartridge Library System comprises one robot system, systems control, a mainframe interface, and a cartridge storage module to transport 1,500, 2,000, 2,500 or 3,000 tape cartridges to the robot’s transfer point. By making optimum use of available storage space, Comparex claims that a 1,500 tape unit requires an area measuring just 1′ 8 by 11′ 6 by 6′ 3 high. Up to eight units can be placed around the robot, providing access to a potential 24,000 cartridges. It is also possible to supervise a number of robot systems concurrently. The system works by transporting the required unit to the robot transfer point; the controller automatically selects the most direct route available. The robot then loads and unloads the required tape. A camera on the robot’s arm controls positioning and the volume-serial number, ensuring that the right cartridge is accessed. An AT running MS-DOS and a workstation program is used to control the system, while links to MVS and MVS/XA hosts are provided via 3270 interfaces. The system can be used with standard and compatible 3480 tape drives. In the UK, Comparex says that a 3,000 tape configuration of the ACL will cost around UKP200,000. Some 30 European orders, including one from the UK, were placed before the Fair, where the company reports a phonemenal response. Availability is scheduled for April. Chief advantages cited over the recent Storage Technology offering (CI No 1,106) include the fact that the Comparex robot revolves; Storage Technology’s robot runs along rails. Storage users are also limited to using the company’s own 3480-compatible tape drives. In the US, this has created a slump in the 3480 tape market as users dump their IBM drives to switch to the Storagetek library.
