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Internal half-height DAT 72 tape drive, multicolour front bezel

IBM

IBM 39M5656Product DAT 72 Tape Drive 36 GB Native 72 GB Compressed SCSI 1/2H

SKU CH-WP99-Q012Z MPN 39M5656Product

Internal half-height DAT 72 tape drive stores 36 GB native or 72 GB compressed at up to 7 MB/s over SCSI

  • TypeTape Drive
  • ColorMulticolor
  • 36 GB native capacity for daily backups
  • 72 GB compressed capacity extends media life
  • 50 MB/s native transfer keeps windows tight
  • 7 MB/s compressed throughput speeds restores
  • Half-height internal form factor fits standard bays

DAT 72 Internal Tape Drive for SCSI Systems

This IBM DAT 72 tape drive fits a 1/2H internal bay and connects through a SCSI interface. It writes and reads DAT 72 cartridges with a native capacity of 36 GB and a compressed capacity of 72 GB. The helical-scan mechanism delivers up to 3.50 MB/s native and 7 MB/s compressed transfer rates. It suits administrators who need reliable, removable backup media for legacy servers or archival workloads.

Installation Notes and Common Pitfalls

Mount the half-height unit in any standard 1/2H drive bay and attach a compatible SCSI cable and terminator. Ensure the SCSI ID is unique on the bus and that the host adapter supports the required signalling. A frequent issue is missing or incorrect termination, which causes the drive to disappear from the OS. Verify that backup software recognises the DAT 72 format before deploying to production.

Pre-Purchase Compatibility Checks

Confirm the server or workstation has a free 1/2H internal bay and an available SCSI port with the correct connector type. Check that the host adapter and cabling match the drive’s signalling requirements. Ensure the operating system and backup application include drivers for DAT 72 media. Without a suitable SCSI interface and supported software the drive cannot be used.

Highlights

  • 36 GB native capacity for daily backups
  • 72 GB compressed capacity extends media life
  • 50 MB/s native transfer keeps windows tight
  • 7 MB/s compressed throughput speeds restores
  • Half-height internal form factor fits standard bays

Specifications

BrandIBM
TypeTape Drive
ColorMulticolor

Questions about this item

How can I confirm the DAT 72 drive is writing at the expected 3.50 MB/s native rate after installation?

Run a backup job with uncompressed data and check the software’s reported throughput; it should approach 3.50 MB/s if the SCSI bus and media are healthy.

What comes in the box with the 39M5656 DAT 72 drive and what must I source separately?

The drive itself is included; you will need a SCSI cable, a compatible SCSI host adapter, DAT 72 cartridges and mounting rails for the 1/2H internal bay.

Should I choose the 36 GB native or 72 GB compressed capacity version of the DAT 72 drive?

There is only one version — the 39M5656 provides 36 GB native capacity and 72 GB compressed capacity on the same DAT 72 media.

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