How easy/possible to convert an internal LTO tape drive to an external one - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Hogwild
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2023, 06:50:32 pm
content: Hi:I'd like to go back to using LTO for tape backup. I don't want to pay the extravagant prices of new drives.A guy near me is selling some used LTO-6 drives which may be in good shape, not heavily used. My question: What exactly constitutes an "internal drive". I see it's got more casing on it, and connectors in different locations than the guts of an external drive. Can these simply be removed? Is there a drive inside with everything that's needed to just install in an external enclosure, or are these really built differently so they can't easily be modified/converted for external use?Thanks.

author: Foxxz
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2023, 08:09:49 pm
content: In my experience they are some variety of SCSI or SAS drive and you just get an enclosure that supplies sufficient power and provides the appropriate data connection. I've used external LTO drives with iSCSI which is SCSI over ethernet/TCP.

author: Hogwild
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2023, 09:51:28 pm
content: You're talking about the external models? If so, I know rougly what's included in the enclosure. I'm asking if an internal drive can be taken apart or easily modded to be used in an external enclosure.

author: tunk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2023, 10:13:24 pm
content: A few years ago I removed a drive from a tape library.Seem to remember that it was Fiber Channel (FC), and that ithad two FC contacts and that I had to use the "other" contact.I may be wrong and YMMV.

author: Hogwild
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2023, 10:35:09 pm
content: Thanks. I need to know with some more certainty, as the items are used, so obviously I can't return them.

author: Foxxz
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2023, 10:44:48 pm
content: Quote from: Hogwild on August 09, 2023, 09:51:28 pmThats what I'm trying to tell you. You just need to find an enclosure that can provide the required power and data hookups you want. If the internal drive is SAS then youd need something with the external style SAS connectors on it that can connect to the drive. Its not so much about modifying the drive as it is finding an appropriate enclose to accommodate it. I don't know the specifics of the drive you are looking at so thats an exercise left to you.

author: ejeffrey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2023, 11:17:59 pm
content: Quote from: Hogwild on August 09, 2023, 09:51:28 pmGenerally you wouldn't take the "internal" drive apart, external drivers are just internal drives inside an enclosure that provides it's own power supply and adapter for the data connector to an external connection. It's possible that the internal drive has some rails mounted to it for installation in a particular style chassis but those should be easy to remove. But it's basically impossible to tell without seeing clear photos of what you are looking at.What you need in terms of an external enclosure depends on the drive interface. Is it SAS or fiber channel? Do you just need to connect to an external interface of the same type, or do you need a iSCSI controller?

author: jmw
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2023, 11:48:55 pm
content: I have done this with a HP LTO-6 drive. The answer is a maybe. The internal drive is most likely a library drive in a sled. Library drives have a different firmware. With HP at least, they tolerate being taken out of a library without complaints, but I have read IBM drives are not so easy and may require some configuration bits to be changed with raw SCSI command magic. I have never been able to flash the non-library firmware to my drive; it is probably protected by some OTP bits. LTO-6 is the last generation where HP actually made their own drives. All LTO-7 and beyond are OEM IBM drives.First, make sure the interface is right; you want a SAS drive. Then you need an enclosure (here's one:https://discountdatamart.com/pde-11-0697-e301-lto3-lto4-enclosure-mini-sas-8088-black-half-height.html). Library drives don't have a dust cover or front plate, so you'll want to scrounge eBay for one. Lastly you'll need a SAS card (used LSI 9207-4i4e is a good choice and cheap) and external SAS cable.

author: Hogwild
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2023, 05:29:34 am
content: Here are some photos of one example of some of the drives available. Based on these shots, I'm fairly sure these cannot just be slid into an enclosure.I'm pretty sure some casing, including the fan, and whatever PCB that is on the side, would have to be removed before this thing would just slide into an enclousre.

author: jmw
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2023, 06:57:25 am
content: Those are library drives. You'll need to separate the drive from the sled, which is not particularly difficult - just some screws. The PCB is a power supply module, and won't be needed since the enclosure will provide power.

author: Hogwild
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2023, 02:02:08 pm
content: You're sure of this?

author: Hogwild
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2023, 02:04:55 pm
content: Quote from: jmw on August 09, 2023, 11:48:55 pmAre you saying this drive won't work at all without some firmware mods? Because that's way above my pay grade.

author: Hogwild
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2023, 02:05:45 pm
content: Quote from: jmw on August 10, 2023, 06:57:25 amYou're certain of this?Quote from: jmw on August 09, 2023, 11:48:55 pmAre you saying this drive won't work at all without some firmware mods? Because that's way above my pay grade.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2023, 02:20:54 pm
content: i think they have an interface pcb between the pcie look a like connectorthis connector does bring power to the ltocheck if you can remove the top plate, to check what is the main connector(s) going to the rear of the lto tape IE scsi, ide, sata etc ... supply onesyou'll know if they can be put internally IE a data connector and a supply connectorSome sas drive have dedicated interface boards, you can not add them internally without the right hardware / backplane / hot swap etc ...

author: Hogwild
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2023, 02:22:07 pm
content: Oh. So I won't know until I buy it. Dang.

author: jmw
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2023, 04:05:33 pm
content: For IBM drives, I read these a while back. You can decide if it's within your comfort zone.https://github.com/AC7RNsphnHVbyT4/ibm-tape-drive-automatic-standalonehttps://www.reddit.com/r/DataHoarder/comments/mk93n4/help_w_ibm_lto6_drives_i_got_for_free/For HP LTO-6, I didn't need to do any of that. So if you want a hassle-free conversion you can follow my footsteps. I bought something that looks like this:I bought an enclosure, connected it, and it works without any other mods. Now it looks like this:

author: Hogwild
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2023, 04:10:51 pm
content: Isn't that what's showing in the photo of the rear? You can clearly see a SAS connector there. I assume that connects via a cable to the drive itself?Quote from: coromonadalix on August 10, 2023, 02:20:54 pm

author: Hogwild
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2023, 04:40:37 pm
content: Quote from: jmw on August 10, 2023, 04:05:33 pmWait, I'm not clear, do you just have to follow the steps in the SUMMARY section at the bottom of that Github page to make the conversion...and that includes changing the pinouts of the RS-422 to USB cable?I can solder fine, but if really small work is involved, I may have trouble.

author: DiTBho
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2023, 06:08:11 pm
content: e.g. the unit in my external Compac Digital Linear is a 2U unit with the typical molex { +12V GND GND +5V } connector on its back, but the enclosure has special sleds, complementary non-standard.

author: nitrosont
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 11, 2024, 07:28:59 am
content: Hello,sorry for grave-digging this thread!I am trying to get an LTO-6 drive running without its library.I was wondering if anyone has a good source for an external enclosure?So far I couldn't find anything suitable with a reasonable price.

author: Hogwild
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 11, 2024, 02:42:26 pm
content: Prices for a new enclosure will be in the stratosphere. I suggest finding one on eBay, where they're still ovepriced, but can be had much more cheaply.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2024, 12:04:15 am
content: You don't necessarily need an enclosure - it has its own case already. All that's needed is to hook up power and data to it.

author: nitrosont
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 12, 2024, 07:53:33 am
content: Quote from: Hogwild on June 11, 2024, 02:42:26 pmYeah, I'm already checking eBay. But like you say: the prices for there "dumb" enclosures are pretty high...Quote from: amykYes, also a good idea! Maybe I'll put it in a 1U-case. Let's see.Thanks for the input!