IBM 355 disk storage unit

Close up view of the disks in a 355

•Announced September 4, 1956 and withdrawn August 18, 1969.

The addition of disk storage to the IBM 650 Magnetic Drum Data Processing Machine made possible "single step processing." Instead
of accumulating data to be processed in stages, transactions could now be processed randomly as they occurred and every record
affected by the transaction could be automatically adjusted in the same processing step. Each IBM 355 held 50 disks subdivided on
each side into tracks for the storage of almost all active accounting records. Up to four IBM 355 units could be connected to the 650
system.

The following is an extract from an IBM 650 press fact sheet distributed on September 14, 1956.

The latest addition to the 650 is the IBM 355 random access memory, a storage medium in which any group of data may be reached
quickly and directly, without search.

Up to four 355 memory units may be connected to the 650 system. A 355 is a stack of 50 metal disks, each two feet in diameter.
Both sides of the metal disks are treated so that 100 disk faces are available for storage. On each disk face there are 100 concentric
data tracks. Six-hundred digits of recorded data may be stored in each track. In other words, each track holds 60 words with signs.

Each 355 unit has a capacity for 6,000,000 digits. With the maximum of four units, the 650 can have available, therefore, 24,000,000
digits stored in a random access memory. This is the equivalent to a file of records stored on 300,000 punched cards.

To process file data, the information stored in the memory is read from and written into the data tracks on the magnetic disks by
access arms. The magnetic disks in each unit continuously rotate past three independent access arms at 1200 RPM, and each arm
can move to any data track.

The access arms move under instructions stored in the 650. A seek instruction sends an arm to the addressed data track. A read
instruction causes the access arm to read the addressed data track into immediate access storage (the IBM 653 magnetic core
memory). A write instruction causes the arm to write into the addressed data track the information that is in immediate access
storage.

IBM 726 magnetic tape reader/recorder

•The IBM 726 was formally announced on May 21, 1952.

Magnetic tapes used with the 701 Data Processing System provided a high-speed method of introducing and recording greater
masses of data than were possible through either cathode ray tube or drum storage. The magnetic tape could read or write at a rate
of 12,500 digits a second and had a capacity in excess of 2 million digits a tape. It was used as an output unit to provide large-
capacity storage for programs and data or as a high-speed input unit for information previously recorded on a reel of magnetic tape.

The tape used by the 726 was an oxide-coated, non-metallic tape, approximately a half-inch wide. Information was recorded on the
tape in six channels that ran parallel to the length of the tape. A seventh channel on the tape served to check the reading and writing
of the other six channels by an odd-number redundancy check. The tape density was 100 bits per linear inch. Tapes could be
interchanged between different 726 units. Two 1,200-foot and two 200-foot reels of magnetic tape were furnished as standard.

Reading and recording data on magnetic tapes was intermittent, making high-speed starting and stopping an essential capability of
the reader/recorder. Through a unique control system developed for the 726, a tape reached full speed in 1/100th of a second, or
before moving half an inch.

The 726 could handle two reels of tape simultaneously, and there were two 726 units in the 701 system. It rented for $850 a month.

IBM 1301 disk storage unit

•Models 1 & 2 announced June 2, 1961

•Models 11, 12, 21 & 22 announced October 8, 1963

•All models withdrawn October 1, 1970

The IBM 1301 Disk Storage Unit, with its larger capacity, flexibility and speed, greatly expanded the operational capability of the IBM
7000 series of computers (7070, 7094, 7080 and 7090). The 1301 increased the throughput of those large systems for many types of
jobs, and with its unique organization of data, the 1301 added significantly to the time the 7000 mainframes could actually compute.

Used in combination with the 7000 series, the 1301 had many of the same general physical and operating characteristics as when
used with the IBM 1410 Data Processing System. Those characteristics included: the cylinder concept (vertically-aligned read/write
heads, one to a disk surface, to provide reading and writing of related information in corresponding disk tracks and to eliminate the
need for vertical access motion); flexible record length (different length records could be stored within the file, greatly increasing
actual storage capacity); and selective addressing (record numbers were assigned by the user for greater efficiency in many jobs;
addresses did not have to be consecutive, sequential or even numeric).

The 1301's disks rotated at 1,800 rpm. The 1301 provided for 50 tracks per inch and recording of up to 520 bits per inch of track
(thanks to a reduction in the average head-to-surface distance of from 800 to 250 microinches). As a result, storage capacity per
square inch of surface was increased 13 times over what it had been with IBM's RAMAC technology of 1956.

The Model 1 of the 1301 had one module; the Model 2 had two modules. Module capacity of the 1301 used with 7000 series
computers was 28 million characters; used with the 1410 computer, the module capacity was 25 million characters. As many as 10
modules (five 1301 units) could be attached -- using the IBM 7631 file control unit, and in some cases, adapters and data channels --
to a computer system, providing maximum capacity of 280 million characters for the 7000 series machine and 250 million for the
1410.

Manufactured at IBM's plant in San Jose, California, the 1301s were first delivered to customers in the third quarter of 1962. (A few
days before the 1301 was officially announced in June 1961, an engineering model of the 1301 was shipped to IBM's Poughkeepsie,
N.Y., facility for use in tests of the celebrated SABRE reservation system. Later, in full operation, the SABRE system attached six
magnetic storage drums and 16 IBM 1301s.)

The Model 1 with one module cost $2,100 a month to lease or could be purchased for $115,500. The Model 2 with two modules cost
$3,500 a month to lease or $185,500 to purchase.
According to IBM computer historian Dr. Emerson Pugh and his co-authors, "The 1301 pioneered in two major areas: self-acting, air-
bearing slider technology and a separate read-write head for each disk surface with a comblike structure to hold the heads and
move them in concert from one cylinder of data to the next. These innovations were the bases for decades of improvements in
storage density and access times."*

* Emerson W. Pugh, Lyle R. Johnson and John H. Palmer. IBM's 360 And Early 370 Systems. Cambridge, Mass.: The MIT Press, 1991,
p. 259.

IBM 1302 disk storage unit

•Announced September 23, 1963 and withdrawn February 9, 1965

The IBM 1302 Disk Storage was an improved version of the IBM 1301 with four times the storage capacity. It was used with the IBM
1410 Data Processing System and the 7000 series of computers.

The number of tracks per inch and bits per inch in the 1302 had been doubled from the earlier 1301, resulting in a quadrupled bit
capacity to 117 million 6-bit alphanumeric characters per module. A recording density of 1050 bits per inch had been achieved by
reducing the thickness of the magnetic storage medium and the spacing between the recording head and disk. The track density had
been doubled to 100 per inch while maintaining the same access time. Average access time to a record was 165 milliseconds, and an
entire cylinder of 234,000 characters could be scanned in 1.3 seconds.

The following is the text of an IBM Data Processing Division technical press release distributed on October 17, 1963.

The new IBM 1302 disk storage unit has more than twice the read-write speed (data rate) and four times the capacity of the IBM
1301 disk file.

Up to five 1302s can be attached to one data processing system for a total storage capacity of more than one billion characters. A
total of 117,000,000 six-bit alphameric characters can be stored on the 1302, model 1, a single module file. The 1302, model 2, a
double module, can store 234,000,000 characters.

The 1302 reads and writes at the rate of 184,000 characters per second, more than twice the speed of the previously announced
1301 disk storage unit. The 1302 features two access mechanisms in each module. Each mechanism provides access to 250
independent recording tracks. The access mechanisms can both seek at the same time, or one can seek while the other is reading or
writing.

Each module of the 1302 has 20 separate revolving data disks, making available 40 surfaces of data storage. There are 500 recording
tracks on each disk surface, twice the number of tracks provided by the 1301. Up to 5,850 characters may be recorded on each disk
track.

The 1302, using the same instructions as the 1301, can be incorporated in any of the following IBM data processing systems: 1410,
7010, 7040, 7044, 7074, 7080, 7090, 7094 and 7094 II. With the 7631 file control unit, 1302 files can be shared by any two of these
systems.

With the 1302, as with the 1301, track and record addresses do not have to be consecutive or even sequential. Two positions of
track address are reserved for the user to code as he sees fit. These two positions can be filled with an identifier unique to the
record. The 1302 then automatically checks this identifier before retrieval or updating.

When used as the hub of an integrated IBM Tele-processing system, the 1302 makes accessible to remote locations the vast pool of
information stored in the disk storage unit.
Because of its speed, capacity and ability to provide on-the-spot printed information, the IBM 1302 is especially well-suited for use in
the following industries:

Insurance

An IBM data processing system using the 1302 permits access to insurance policy information for personnel in the field as well as the
home office. It provides insurance companies with an information system that makes available, for example, 5 million 200-character
policy records. By using the 1302 to store policy records, the status of policies can constantly reflect any changes made by the
policyholder or company. An IBM computer -- with a 1302 -- can accept data in any sequence, store it, analyze it and provide
information on demand. As new information comes in, it can be fed into the computer which then posts all related policy records,
keeping them up to date and accurate.

Manufacturing

In the manufacturing area, constant business changes must be incorporated into existing plans. A computer system utilizing the 1302
allows transactions to be processed as they occur with updating of affected files. When required, information can be printed out by
the computer and made available to management on demand. This can provide better control in areas such as forecasting, order
processing, material planning, perpetual inventory control, scheduling, dispatching, job costing, engineering, data processing and
accounting.

Banking

Adding a 1302 to an IBM data processing installation allows a bank to have available at all times an automatically updated file of
customer accounts. It makes possible remote inquiry of records in storage by individual departments or branches, thus permitting
faster customer service. A 1302 can mean improved performance in typical banking application areas, such as demand deposits,
time deposits, loans, trust operations and safe deposit activities.

Public Utilities

Use of an IBM computer and a 1302 enables public utility companies to provide immediate and accurate answers to information
requests from customer and management alike, as well as to update the file from service orders. The 1302 can furnish up-to-the
minute facts about revenue figures, accounting records, system load data, credit ratings, materials and supplies, personnel and
payroll. In addition, inquiry stations allow a company to tap the 1302 file from various locations -- executive offices, local offices,
customer service department. Customer questions can be answered while the party is still on the telephone. Information affecting
management decisions is available just as quickly.

State and local government

A data processing system with the IBM 1302 can be effective when applied to various areas of administration. Motor vehicle
departments can use the system to process routine operator and vehicle transactions immediately while making current and
complete information available to branch offices, courts and insurance companies. The speed of information retrieval possible with
the 1302 can also make it an invaluable tool of law enforcement agencies, finance agencies, institutional systems, highway
departments, employment security agencies and public welfare.

1301 AND 1302 specifications

  IBM 1302 IBM 1301
Data disks per module 20 20
Data disk
40 40
surfaces per module
Tracks on
500 250
one disk surface
Characters per track (max.) 5,850 2,800
Tracks accessed by one access
arm 250 250
(on one disk surface)
Characters on one module
accessed by one arm (250 58.5 million 28 million
tracks)
Capacity - model l
117 million 28 million
(one module)
Capacity - model 2
234 million 56 million
(two modules)
Characters transfer rate
184K/sec 90K/sec
(approx.)
Access times (max.) 180 ms 180 ms
 (within a cylinder) 0 ms 0 ms

The 1302, which will be manufactured at IBM's San Jose, Calif., plant, will be available in the second quarter of 1965. Model 1 will
rent for $5,600 a month and sell for $252,000. Model 2 will rent for $7,900 a month and sell for $355,500. The basic rental for a
7631 capable of controlling up to five 1302s is $1,185, with a purchase price of $56,000.

IBM 1311 disk storage drive

IBM 1311 Disk Storage Drive (center

•Models 1 through 4 announced October 11, 1962

•Model 5 announced January 7, 1963

•Models 6 and 7 announced March 5, 1968

•Models 6 & 7 withdrawn February 2, 1971

•Models 1 & 4 withdrawn February 8, 1971

•Models 3 & 5 withdrawn May 12, 1971

•Model 2 withdrawn January 6, 1975

The IBM 1311 Disk Storage Drive provided storage for 2 million characters. Developers of the 1311 engineered twice the recording
density of the IBM 1301 Disk Storage Unit by reducing the space between the head and the disk by about a factor of two.

The 1311 used the IBM Disk Pack (later designated the IBM 1316 ), an interchangeable package containing six 14-inch-diameter disks
in a four-inch stack, weighing 10 pounds (seen above in the man's left hand). Each disk surface contained 20 pie-shaped regions.
Sectors were segments of track lying within a region, and were the smallest addressable unit, with a capacity of 100 characters.
Average access time to any sector was 250 milliseconds, which could be reduced to 150 milliseconds with an optional direct-seek
feature. The disks were rotated at 1500 rpm, tracks (50 to the inch) were recorded at up to 1025 bits per inch, and the usual head-
to-surface spacing was 125 microinches. The ten recording surfaces provided in normal usage a storage capacity of 2 million
characters, the equivalent of approximately 25,000 punched cards or a fifth of a reel of magnetic tape.

The first host mainframes for the 1311 were the IBM 1401 Data Processing System , 1440 Data Processing System , 1620 Data
Processing System and 1710 Control System.

By offering some of the advantages of both tapes and disks at a relatively low rental, the IBM 1311 met a need for versatile storage
and became a very influential product. In addition, some analysts believe that the removable disk pack not only led to a new phase
of disk storage but signaled the passing of the punched card era.
 IBM 1405 disk storage

 Announced October 10, 1960 and withdrawn June 30, 1970

The IBM 1405 Disk Storage of 1960 used improved technology to double the tracks per
inch and bits per inch of track -- to achieve a fourfold increase in capacity -- compared to
the IBM RAMAC disk file of 1956.

Storage units were available in 25-disk and 50-disk models, for a storage capacity of 10
million and 20 million characters, respectively. Recording density was 220 bits per inch
(40 tracks per inch) and the head-to-disk spacing was 650 microinches. The disks rotated
at 1800 rpm. Data were read or written at a rate of 17.5K bytes a second.

The 1405 was used in conjunction with the IBM 1410 Data Processing System. Each 1410
was capable of controlling up to five of the 1405s, for a total of 100 million characters. In
addition, a single 1405 of either model could be attached to an IBM 1401 Data
Processing System.

The 1405 was reported to have been used with the "Walnut" information retrieval
system of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency in the 1960s. According to published reports, Walnut was the first mechanized system
that could store and search millions of pages of documents.

IBM 2305 fixed head storage

 Announced January 28, 1970 and withdrawn January 30, 1980

Known as Zeus during development and first shipped in 1971, the IBM 2305
gave IBM computer systems greater data-handling power for database
applications and batch processing. It was initially used on two large System/360
processors, the Model 85 and Model 195, and later used with the System/370
Model 155 and Model 165.

The 2305 provided those large-scale IBM computers with fast, continuous
access to medium-sized quantities of information. Its capacity and high data
rate made it ideal for systems residence functions, work files, indices and data
sets that were used repeatedly.

A 2305 facility consisted of an IBM 2835 Storage Control and one or two 2305
fixed head storage modules. Each disk drive contained six disks with 12 recording surfaces. Available in two models, the 2305 offered
up to 11.2 million bytes per module.

Read/write heads were fixed in position over each track. That eliminated seek time and contributed substantially to system
performance. Data could be written at rates up to 3 million bytes per second.

Characteristics

Model 1(2305-1)
Drive capacity: 5.4 million bytes per module
Average access time: 2.5 milliseconds
Data transfer rate: 3 million bytes per second

Model 2 (2305-2)
Drive capacity: 11.2 million bytes per module (single drive)
22.4 million (two drives)
Average access time: 5 milliseconds
Data transfer rate: 1.5 million bytes per second

Rotational position sensing permitted the drive to disconnect during most of the rotational latency period. That left the channel
available to transfer other data, resulting in increased channel and system efficiency.
Multiple requesting permitted the simultaneous use of many programs within the 2305.

The 2835 Storage Control was used with the 2305 to handle the data flow between the facility and the computer. The 2835 also
checked for errors while reading or writing information. Microprogram-controlled, it contained a miniature read-only direct access
device that read a flexible disk which stored microdiagnostic routines and backed up the microprogram. This special magnetic disk
could be replaced by a new disk whenever engineering changes were required in the functional or maintenance microprograms.

The 2305 could also be used with the 3330 disk storage to provide greater input/output capability and larger direct access storage
capacity for systems equipped with a block multiplexer channel.

IBM 2314 direct access storage facility

•Model 1 announced April 22, 1965

•Model 1 A1 announced January 10, 1969 and withdrawn October 5, 1978
•Model 1 A2 announced January 10, 1969 and withdrawn July 11, 1969
•Model 1 B1 announced December 14, 1970 and withdrawn October 5, 1978

Announced one year after the System/360 in April 1965, the IBM 2314 provided eight disk drives and a spare along with a control
unit together in one facility. A new disk pack with 11 disks doubled the number of storage surfaces over those available in the first
removable disk pack. Increased recording density provided a storage capacity of 29.2 million bytes per pack or 233 million bytes in
the eight-pack facility. The access time and latency of the 2314 was the same as the older IBM 2311 but the 2314 offered double the
data rate of 310,000 bytes per second. The 2314 also was attractive because it was four times lower in price per megabyte of
storage.

Aided by OS/360 -- the System/360's operating system -- the 2314 allowed large databases to be accessed, and the system shifted
from job to job automatically as long as the necessary instructions and data were online. Some observers have said that OS/360
helped to make the 2314 the most profitable storage product to that time and that the 2314 contributed to the success of the
System/360.

In January 1969, IBM announced two new versions of the 2314 -- the Model 1 A1 and Model 1 A2 -- each with an access time 20
percent faster than the previously available Model 1. One of the new disk storage models had five independent disk units; the other
had eight. The five-unit version had a storage capacity of 145.8 million bytes; the larger one had a capacity of 233.4 million bytes.
The average access time was reduced from 75 to 60 milliseconds. Minimum access time was 25 milliseconds. The new versions
included their own control units and were designed for use with System/360 Models 30, 40, 50, 65, 67, 75 and 85. The smaller 2314
rented for $3,875 a month and sold for $175,075. The larger version rented for $5,675 a month, with a purchase price of $256,400.
First customer shipments were scheduled for the third quarter of 1969.

Later in 1969, a box with two drives was offered. In 1970 the 2319 storage unit was configured with three 2314 drives plus control
electronics for attachment to the smaller of the just-announced System/370 processors (see details below).

IBM 2314 direct access storage facility -- A series

It provided massive direct access storage for IBM System/370 Models 135 through 195 and IBM System/360 Models 30 through 195.
It offered from one to nine storage modules. Each module or set of modules was housed with a storage control as a single subsystem
facility. It delivered data at very high access speeds.

•Stored up to 29.17 million bytes or 58.35 million digits per disk pack.

•Stored up to 233.4 million bytes in increments of 29 million bytes per facility.

•Average access time was 60 milliseconds.

•Used removable and interchangeable 2316 disk packs.

•Data rate was 312,000 bytes or 624,000 digits per second.

•Command chain ability permitted reading and writing by channel commands without rotational delay.

•A ninth drive could be included in the facility, offering backup capability for preventative or emergency maintenance.

•Address plugs permitted changing a drive for in-line servicing, or overlapping setup of new disk packs while processing continued
on other 2314 drives.

IBM 2314 direct access storage facility - B series

It provided large capacity, low-cost direct access storage for use with System/370 and System/360 Models 30 through 195, except
for Model 44. The 2314 DASF-B Series was made up of an IBM 2314 storage control model B1 and combinations of IBM 2319 disk
storage models B1 and B2. Each 2314/2319 subsystem used standard, interchangeable IBM 2316 disk packs to provide 87, 175 or
233 million bytes of online data storage in a single facility. A 2314/2319 subsystem attached to a System/360 or System/370 via a
selector channel. Multiple subsystems could be attached to a System/360 or System/370 to provide additional online data storage.

IBM 2314 storage control, Model B1

•Used with 2319-B1 and 2319-B2 disk storage units to form a subsystem with three, six or nine (eight plus a spare) drives.

•Controlled transmission and checking of data between computer and disk drives.

•Permitted searching of stored indexes, directories, tables or data records, all without processor intervention.

•Permitted establishment of individual data records and data record identifier lengths in each track under programmer control.

•Two Channel Switch, an optional feature, allowed subsystems to be attached to a second channel.

•Provided a customer engineering panel for controlling in-line diagnostics.

•Attached to a System/370 Block Multiplexor Channel in selector channel mode.

IBM 2319 disk storage, Models B1 and B2

•Each was a single unit containing three disk storage modules.

•The 2319 Model B1 attached to the 2314 Model B1 to provide a three-drive subsystem.

•One or two 2319 Model B2s could be added to a 2314-B1/2319-B1 to provide six drives or eight drives plus a spare.

•The 2319-B1 and B2 used IBM 2316 disk packs that were interchangeable with any other 2314 direct access storage device.

•Average access time was 60 milliseconds.

•Data rate was 312,000 bytes or 624,000 digits per second.

•Module select plugs offered operational flexibility.

•Service module plugs permitted servicing without disrupting processing on other modules.

Announcing the IBM 2314 Direct Access Storage Facility a new low-cost storage device offering System/360 users:

•Greater storage capacity

•Lower cost per character stored

•Doubled data rates

•Disk pack removability and interchangeability

•More flexible and economical approaches to a wide range of storage requirements

The new IBM 2314 Direct Access Storage Facility utilizes compact, lightweight disk packs with greatly increased storage capacity -
more than 25 million bytes per pack - for your business or scientific data. For a specific job, you select the disk pack containing the
information relating to that job. A quick change to another disk pack and you are ready to process an entirely different job. Change-
over time? Approximately one minute.

Take a closer look at the features and advantages the IBM 2314 provides:

Greater storage capacity

The 2314 consists of eight independently operating drives housed in a single configuration... permitting direct access to more than
200 million bytes of information. Each new disk pack now consists of 11 disks with 18 recording surfaces to provide more than 25
million bytes of fast, on-line information. On large-scale System/360s, you can attach 2314 facilities to provide more than
9,900,000,000 bytes of on-line information.

Lower cost per character

More than 7,000 bytes of information - twice the previous amount - are packed into each disk track. This saving per bit stored
becomes dramatically more substantial, because the increased recording surfaces on the new disk pack enable you to store nearly
four times more data.

Doubled data rates

The 2314 transfers data at twice the rate - or better - achieved by the 2311 and 2302. This capability enables the 2314 to read and
completely rewrite all information stored on a disk pack in about one minute, greatly increasing throughput for sequentially
processed applications.

Virtually uninterrupted operation

A spare drive is packaged into the 2314 to assure full operating capacity at all times. When a drive becomes inoperative for any
reason, such as preventive maintenance, the standby drive can be placed in operation promptly and easily.

Disk pack compatibility

All disk packs are removable and interchangeable between 2314s in the same system, or between 2314s attached to separate
systems. Similarly, data written on one disk pack by a 2314 can be read by a second 2314, and then additional data can be written on
the same disk by still another 2314.

Rapid random access

With the IBM 2314, you can call up any record for processing in milliseconds - a necessity for applications requiring frequent access
to large quantities of stored data. You can interrogate the 2314 to find the status of any record in disk storage, and receive a printed
answer from the system in only a few seconds.

Common storage control and programming support

The IBM 2314 utilizes a storage control similar to that which maximizes the functional capabilities of the 2311 and the 2321 Data Cell
Drive. This permits a high degree of flexibility between the operations of these direct access storage devices, and simplifies file
organization. In addition, all programming systems support available with the 2311 is also available with the 2314.

Wide range of applications

The IBM 2314 provides new economical approaches to the large-volume storage requirements of real-time, Tele-processing and
time-shared systems. Applications requiring a combination of large data storage capacity and high performance random throughput,
such as airline reservations and insurance policy maintenance, are ideal candidates for this powerful, low-cost storage device.

The IBM 2314 can be the economical solution to your need for fast, direct access to large volumes of information on either a
sequential or random basis. The 2314 has a high potential for a variety of applications:

Manufacturing

•Inventory control

•Material planning
•Shop scheduling

•Order entry

Utilities

•Customer billing

•Cable pair assignment

•Stores inventory accounting

•Branch office customer account inquiry

Aerospace

•Material control

•Shop scheduling

Federal Government

•Communications and message switching

•Supply accounting

•Logistics control

Distribution

•Inventory control

•Purchase order writing

•Customer account inquiry

State and Local Government

•Motor vehicle records

•Highway department project accounting

•Tax billing

Finance

•Demand deposit accounting

•Loan accounting

•Securities control

IBM 2321 data cell drive

 IBM 2321 Data Cell Drive

•Announced April 7, 1964 and withdrawn January 6, 1975

Known as the MARS file through much of its seven-year development, the IBM 2321 Data Cell Drive was a random access device that
could store up to 400 million alphanumeric characters or up to 800 million decimal digits. Multiple drives, providing a storage
capacity of billions of characters of information, could be linked to the IBM System/360 (which was announced at the same time as
the 2321). The MARS file had been conceived as a way to provide online storage for large data volumes at lower costs than disk
storage.

The 2321's eight data cell drives, with up to 6.4 billion digits, could be linked to one control unit. Additional files could be linked to
other control units in the same system. Each drive was designed so that data cells were removable and interchangeable in
increments of 40 million characters or up to 80 million digits.

Information was stored on and removed from magnetic strips, which were held in cells mounted vertically around a rotating
cylinder. To retrieve or write information, the data cell drive's positioning system rotated the cell cylinder to locate the specific 10-
strip group needed and placed it beneath an access station. At the station, the particular strip was moved past a read/write head for
transfer of data to the computer, and the strip then was returned to its original location. This process required approximately 450
milliseconds. Each group of 200 strips, or 40 million characters, was called a data cell and could be removed and replaced by another
group. This was especially useful when records, such as insurance policies, were being updated. In fact, one of the first 2321
shipments was with a System/360 Model 40 to the Allstate Insurance Company in September 1965.

The magnetic tape strips used for storing information measured 2 ¼ inches wide by 13 inches long by 0.005 inch thick. One side had
an iron oxide coating for magnetic recording and the other side had an antistatic coating of carbon. Each strip had an individual
coding tab, identifying its position among the 200 strips in a data cell.

A handle cover, which protected strips from contamination during handling, was available for removing data cells. One data cell
could be removed and replaced by another in less than 30 seconds.

The 2321 had a five-position, 20-track read/write head. Each strip had 100 addressable recording tracks providing storage of
approximately 200,000 (eight-bit) characters of information. Recording was accomplished in serial fashion at a strip velocity of 250
inches per second, which produced an information transfer rate of about 54,700 characters per second.

Access time varied from 95 milliseconds to 600 milliseconds, depending on the addressed strip position and data arrangement in
each data cell. Access time was the time required to position the mechanism to read a strip, which included locating the strip on the
drum, reading, writing and write-checking it.

There was no follow-on product for the 2321, probably because of rapid advancements in disk drive technology.

IBM 2401 magnetic tape unit

•Models 1 - 3 announced April 7, 1964 and withdrawn July 16, 1979

•Models 4 - 6 announced August 9, 1965 and withdrawn July 16, 1979

•Model 8 announced November 5, 1970 and withdrawn July 16, 1979

•All models and features withdrawn March 9, 1981

Models 1, 2 and 3

Each of these models, specifically designed for use on the IBM System/360, used a nine-track read/write head and had a single
density of 800 bytes per inch. Any of these models could be attached to IBM System/360 through the 2803 or 2804 Tape Control.

•Up to eight 2401s, Model 1, 2 or 3, could be attached to a 2803 or 2804 Tape Control.

•The 2401 could read magnetic tape in a read-backward mode.

•The 2401 had a nominal inter-record gap of .6 inches.

•By use of a special feature, the 2401 could read or write seven-track magnetic tape, providing compatibility with 727, 729 and 7330
magnetic tape units with densities of 200/556/800 bpi.

•For nine-track operations, the 2401 had correction of one or more errors in a single track on a reread operation.

•By use of IBM 2816 switching units, Model 1 and special features, up to 16 tape drives could be switched on up to four channels.

•The IBM 2401, Models 1, 2 and 3, had the following performance ranges:

  Model 1 Model 2 Model 3

30KB/ 60KB/ 90KB/

Data rate (8 bit bytes per second)
60KD 120KD 180KD

Tape Speed (inches per second) 37.5 75.0 112.5

Nominal IRG Time (milliseconds) 16.0 8.0 5.3
Rewind Time (minutes) 3.0 1.4 1.0
Rewind and Unload (minutes) 2.2 1.5 1.1

Models 4, 5 and 6

Also specifically designed for use on the IBM System/360, these models of the 2401 used a nine-track read/write head and recorded
data at 1600 bytes per inch. They could be attached to IBM System/360 through the IBM 2803/2804 Tape Control, Model 2.
  Up to eight 2401, Models 4, 5 or 6, could be attached to the 2803/2804 Tape Control, Model 2.

 The 2401 could read magnetic tape in a read-backward mode.

 The 2401 had a nominal inter-record gap (IRG) of .6 inches

 A dual density special feature gave the 2401 the capability of handling the nine-track tapes of all models in the
2400 series.

 With 1600 bpi operations, single track defects were corrected in flight without affecting tape performance.

 Through the use of IBM 2816 Switching Units, Model 1, and special features, up to 16 tape drives can be switched
on as many as four channels.

 The IBM 2401, Models 4, 5 and 6, had the following performance characteristics:

  Model 4 Model 5 Model 6

60KB/ 120KB/ 180KB/

Data rate (8 bit bytes per second)
120KD 240KD 360KD

Tape Speed (inches per second) 37.5 75.0 112.5

Nominal IRG Time (milliseconds) 16.0 8.0 5.3
Rewind Time (minutes) 3.0 1.4 1.0
Rewind and Unload (minutes) 2.2 1.5 1.1

IBM 2420 magnetic tape unit

•Model 7 announced January 30, 1968 and withdrawn July 16, 1979

•Model 5 announced December 2, 1968 and withdrawn July 16, 1979

•All models and features withdrawn March 9, 1981

IBM announced the 2420 in January 1968 as the fastest self-threading magnetic tape unit using standard computer tape. The Model
7 could record or read the equivalent of a 53,000-word book in one second. Nearly twice as fast as previously available standard IBM
tape drives, the 2420 was used with most large-scale System/360s, including the then new Model 85.

Information was stored on or read from a half-inch wide tape at a data rate of 320,000 bytes (640,000 digits) a second in the 2420 --
almost as fast as the IBM Hypertape unit (which used a special one-inch computer tape).

A new mechanical concept was incorporated in the tape transport to achieve unprecedented performance levels. For example, to
thread tape, all an operator had to do was place a tape reel on the machine's hub and press a button. The 2420 did the rest. It
carried the tape on a cushion of air across the read/write head to the take-up reel where the loose end was automatically secured by
a vacuum. The entire operation took eight seconds, less than half the time required to thread manually. (Automatic threading is
especially important in computer installations where tape reels must be changed frequently.)

Other key features contributing to the 2420's high performance included:

•Tape speed of 200 inches per second; 500 ips during rewind -- fastest of any IBM tape transport of the time. That was made
possible by a new, single capstan vacuum drive mechanism.

•Anti-friction design in which the tape's recording surface touched nothing but the read/write head and tape cleaner.

•1,600 bytes per inch packing density, meaning that a single inch of tape could record the equivalent of 3,200 decimal digits.

•Multi-reel capability. The 2420 could accommodate reels ranging from the standard 10.5-inch diameter to the smallest made for
computer use (5 ¼ inch Minireels).

•Compatibility with existing IBM tape units. The 2420's record format was standard, allowing it to exchange tapes with any other
tape-drive model using the same format.

At the time of the announcement the IBM 2420 for use with System/360 Models 50, 65, 75 and 85 rented for $1,050 a month and
sold for $54,600. Rental for the 2420's control unit -- which could support up to eight tape drives -- was $1,175 a month, with a
purchase price of $55,400.

The 2420 was manufactured at IBM facilities in Boulder, Colo., where it was designed. The first Model 7 production units were
installed at Boeing in Seattle in December 1968. Shipments of the Model 5 -- redesigned from the Model 7 for greater ease of
manufacturing and service-- began in October 1969.

Model 7

The Model 7 was used with the IBM System/360 Model 60 and above, except for the 360's Model 67. It was compatible with IBM
2400-series Magnetic Tape Units, Models 4, 5 and 6, and the 2420 Model 5. It accommodated a nine-track data format and 1,600
bits per inch on standard one-half inch tape. Automatic threading was provided for 8 ½" and 10 ½" reels and minireels. A standard
feature permitted automatic loading with the new IBM wraparound cartridge, which enclosed a 10 ½" reel, eliminating manual
handling of both tape and reel.

•A new tape transport technology minimized tape wear and mechanical delay.

•Automatic tape threading took only 10 seconds with or without a tape cartridge.

•Automatic in-flight single track defect correction.

•In-column high-speed rewind -- about 500 inches per second -- reduced rewind time for reels containing less than 2,400 feet of
tape.

•From full stop, tape was moved to first character of data in two milliseconds, with nominal interblock gap time of three
milliseconds.

•Up to eight tape units -- any combination of 2420 Model 7s and Model 5s and 2401/2402s -- could be attached to the same Tape
Control Unit.

•Model 7 could also read in a read-backward mode.

•IBM 2816 Switching Unit permitted switching between Model 7, tape controls and other tape drives.

IBM 3310 direct access storage

•Models A1, A2, B1 and B2 announced January 30, 1979 and withdrawn June 16, 1986
The IBM 3310 Direct Access Storage was a compact, economically priced, high-performance direct access storage device for use with
the IBM 4331 Processor. The 3310 used a fixed media design. Heads, arms and the media were packaged in a fixed, sealed disk
enclosure providing for increased data density. The sealed disk enclosure design assured a reduction in disk surface contamination
and resulted in improved reliability. Operator involvement in auxiliary storage management was eliminated.

•Stored 64.5 million bytes of data in each of its drives, Up to four strings of four spindles each could be attached to a 4331 Processor
for a maximum of 1.032 billion bytes of online data.

•Available in four models for configuration flexibility:

◦Models Al and A2 consisted of one and two drives with associated controls which attached to the 4331 via its DASD Adapter.

◦Models B1 and B2 were one- and two-drive units which attached through a Model A2.

•Low-priced single drive increments provided for granularity of capacity growth.

•Used fixed block architecture. Physically, data were stored on the disk in 512-byte blocks, providing logically continuous data.
Software support mapped the data into the format required for user records.

•More data could potentially fit on a track due to the data structure used in fixed block architecture, providing increased capacity.

•DASD space was specified as a number of blocks on the device up to a maximum of 126,016 blocks, making space definition
independent of tracks and cylinders.

•The device independence achieved provided for easy use and simplified later migration.

•Used a new, lightweight, low-inertia actuator driven by a voicecoil motor, providing a 27 millisecond average access time. This
simple design required less power than previous actuators.

•The IBM 3310 contained rotation position sensing as a standard feature which could enhance subsystem performance.

•The DASD Adapter on the 4331 provided direct, low-cost attachment for the IBM 3310 without need for a control unit. Direct
processor attachment of up to strings of eight 3340 actuators also was available as a special feature of the Adapter. A DASD Adapter
with 3340 so attached operated in count-key-data emulation mode under DOS/VSE, VS1 or VM/370.

•An optional 2311 and 2314/19 compatibility feature allowed these devices to be emulated on the IBM 3310. Use of this feature
allowed most DOS or DOS/VS programs written for the IBM 2311, 2314 or 2319 to be executed without modification.

•By installing a special feature, DASD Adapter could read data from an IBM 3348 Data Module which was recorded on an IBM
System/3 Model 12 or 15, to aid in conversion from a System/3 to 4331 Processor.

•An optional Block Multiplexer Channel on the 4331 allowed direct attachment of 2311 and 2314/19 DASDs, when required.

Characteristics
Performance  
Average seek time (ins) 27
Average latency (ins) 9.6
Data rate (MB/sec.) 1.031
 
Capacities  
Data blocks per drive 126,016
Bytes per block (sector) 512
Bytes per drive 64.5MB
Data blocks (sectors) per track 32