Ethernet File Transfer for Legacy Computers

Download Files between Legacy computers and PC Systems:

• Connects directly to existing Computers without hardware or software changes.
• Local archive provided by SCSI Hard Disk or Magneto-Optical (MO) Cartridge Disk.
• 10/100 BaseT Ethernet uses IP Protocol; standard Cat-5 / RJ-45 connection.
• Web-browser based control and management of the TES-IP. Access and control the TES-IP with any Internet connected PC.
• FTP based File Transfer for unattended file access.

Ethernet for Legacy Computers

The TES-IP allows existing computers to be connected to an Ethernet LAN, and transfer files between legacy computers and/or PC based computers. Most legacy computers have a tape port for connecting 9-track, or other tape transports. This tape port provides a universal connection point for the TES-IP. Any data or programs that can be written to tape can also be exported with the TES-IP over a standard Ethernet connection. Data can be stored on a local device, such as a hard drive or MO disk, and then exported over Ethernet to another system, thus eliminating manual file transfers.

Network Attached - Web Browser Management

Network Attached Storage devices connect directly to a standard Ethernet hub without taking network equipment off-line. The internal Linux operating system will connect to any system that uses the HTTP or FTP clients.

Internet connected PCs can access the TES-IP using any web browser (MSIE, Netscape, etc.) and control the unit’s data storage and file transfer functions. User level security to the system and files can be set by the administrator through the browser interface.

Application & Product Description

Remote Data Collection Application

A typical application for the TES-IP replacing local host driven tape drives is shown in the diagram above. Files are collected from the host system as if they were being written to tape. The data in these files can be retrieved from a remotely located system using standard FTP file transfer protocol. The TES-IP can be administered from a remote PC using a standard web browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator. Setup of the TES-IP is accomplished using a user-friendly graphical user interface from your favorite web browser. The current status of the TES-IP can be viewed from the remote PC. Files can be examined and/or transferred to the PC by merely “clicking” on the file name viewed in the browser. Files may also be transferred using FTP to a remote computer. Control of the TES-IP can be accomplished using FTP by transferring a “control” file from the remote computer to the TES-IP. The TES-IP monitors this control file and reacts to commands contained in it.

Collected data can be accessed using a web browser. To examine the collected files, the user must log on to the TES-IP from a remote computer, enter a password, take the TES-IP off-line by “clicking” on a control button within the TES-IP GUI page, and “click” on the file to be examined or transferred. The user can then place the TES-IP back on-line by “clicking” another control button on the GUI web page (On-line is defined as on-line to the Pertec controller).

All functions and system administration may be performed through the web interface using most web browsers. Data and control may also be accomplished through the use of several basic FTP client functions.

TES-IP Product Description

The TES-IP is a replacement system for 9-track tape drives using the industry standard formatted Pertec tape drive interface. It contains a microprocessor based controller for connecting a Pertec type tape controller to a standard SCSI disk drive and then through another single board computer to a TCP/IP Ethernet based network.

The TES-IP interprets the Pertec interface commands and performs those operations using the SCSI commands to drive a standard SCSI disk drive such as the Magneto-Optical removable disk cartridge device. The SCSI device provides a nonvolatile temporary storage buffer for data files written from the host computer.

The TES-IP is powered by a new embedded computer platform, the Cyclone II. The Cyclone II is used for other Reactive products such as the NAS FileZerver, as a result, the TES-IP has inherited many of the user features of the FileZerver product. The MO SCSI device is also connected to the Cyclone II running a Linux operating system. The Cyclone II provides connectivity to other medium such as CD-ROM or a TCP/IP based LAN, WAN, or the Internet. Files created by the host computer are converted to the proper format for these other medium by a file conversion application running under Linux. These files may be in turn saved on another medium compatible with a variety of other operating file systems, or can be accessed from a remote computer using a standard web browser such as Internet Explorer, Netscape, etc. Files may be transferred by FTP, e-mail, or other web based file transfer protocols.

Various configurations are available to suit a variety of applications. The SCSI device may be a fixed hard drive, removable hard drive, or removable media Magneto-Optical drive. Custom file conversion software is available as an option.