{"id":326,"date":"2017-10-05T05:37:09","date_gmt":"2017-10-05T12:37:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/?p=326"},"modified":"2026-03-18T21:03:47","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T01:03:47","slug":"kennedy-9800","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/?p=326","title":{"rendered":"Kennedy 9800"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>So I found a 9-track reel-to-reel tape drive on eBay that looked like it was in working and beautiful condition. It&#8217;s a Kennedy 9800 with the reels arranged horizontally so it doesn&#8217;t take up half an equipment rack. I&#8217;d like to use it with a PDP-8\/e system emulated via SimH running on a Beaglebone Black, so I&#8217;ll need to build a controller for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Beaglebone Black has two independent, real-time CPU cores called PRUs that could totally control this tape drive. Developing for those seems a pretty specialized process so I&#8217;m opting to build a USB controller that presents a SCSI Sequential Access Device, using  SCSI Stream Commands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/s-l1600.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"329\" src=\"https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/s-l1600-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-329\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/s-l1600-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/s-l1600-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/s-l1600-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/s-l1600.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/s-l1600-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"328\" src=\"https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/s-l1600-1-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-328\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/s-l1600-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/s-l1600-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/s-l1600-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/s-l1600-1.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/s-l1600-2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"327\" src=\"https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/s-l1600-2-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-327\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/s-l1600-2-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/s-l1600-2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/s-l1600-2-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/s-l1600-2.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/s-l1600-3.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-id=\"332\" src=\"https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/s-l1600-3-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-332\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/s-l1600-3-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/s-l1600-3-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/s-l1600-3-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/s-l1600-3.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Documents<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/MVD-014_introToMagTap_Apr71.pdf\">MVD-014_introToMagTap_Apr71<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/MVD-014_introToMagTap_Apr71.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download>Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Kennedy_9800_Digital_Tape_Transport_Operation_and_Maintenance_Manual.pdf\">Kennedy_9800_Digital_Tape_Transport_Operation_and_Maintenance_Manual<br><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Kennedy_9800_Digital_Tape_Transport_Operation_and_Maintenance_Manual.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download>Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Kennedy_Model_9832_Buffered_Tape_Transport_Operation_and_Maintenance_Manual.pdf\">Kennedy_Model_9832_Buffered_Tape_Transport_Operation_and_Maintenance_Manual<br><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Kennedy_Model_9832_Buffered_Tape_Transport_Operation_and_Maintenance_Manual.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download>Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Gallery<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/photos.app.goo.gl\/qlJfziUdMcg3tRsR2\">https:\/\/photos.app.goo.gl\/qlJfziUdMcg3tRsR2<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Resources<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ebay.com\/itm\/Kennedy-9800-9-Track-Data-Tape-Subsystem\/232493086636\">http:\/\/www.ebay.com\/itm\/Kennedy-9800-9-Track-Data-Tape-Subsystem\/232493086636<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ebay.com\/itm\/Datamastet-9-Track-Mag-Tapes-Brand-New-Case-of-10\/112152910883\">http:\/\/www.ebay.com\/itm\/Datamastet-9-Track-Mag-Tapes-Brand-New-Case-of-10\/112152910883<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.classiccmp.org\/cctalk.html\">http:\/\/www.classiccmp.org\/cctalk.html<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/bitsavers.trailing-edge.com\/pdf\/kennedy\/Kennedy_9800_Digital_Tape_Transport_Operation_and_Maintenance_Manual.pdf\">http:\/\/bitsavers.trailing-edge.com\/pdf\/kennedy\/Kennedy_9800_Digital_Tape_Transport_Operation_and_Maintenance_Manual.pdf<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.3480-3590-data-conversion.com\/media-9track.html\">http:\/\/www.3480-3590-data-conversion.com\/media-9track.html<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tar_(computing)\">https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tar_(computing)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/ftp.gnu.org\/old-gnu\/Manuals\/tar\/html_node\/tar_130.html\">http:\/\/ftp.gnu.org\/old-gnu\/Manuals\/tar\/html_node\/tar_130.html<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.vcfed.org\/forum\/archive\/index.php\/t-17430.html\">http:\/\/www.vcfed.org\/forum\/archive\/index.php\/t-17430.html<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.sydex.com\/pertec.html\">http:\/\/www.sydex.com\/pertec.html<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/jakubfi\/ninetracklab\">https:\/\/github.com\/jakubfi\/ninetracklab<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/SIMH\">https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/SIMH<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/simh.trailing-edge.com\/\">http:\/\/simh.trailing-edge.com\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/simh.trailing-edge.com\/docs\/simh_magtape.pdf\">http:\/\/simh.trailing-edge.com\/docs\/simh_magtape.pdf<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/opensource.apple.com\/source\/IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily\/IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily-124.3.1\/IOSCSIArchitectureModel\/SCSICommandOperationCodes.h.auto.html\">https:\/\/opensource.apple.com\/source\/IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily\/IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily-124.3.1\/IOSCSIArchitectureModel\/SCSICommandOperationCodes.h.auto.html<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>So I found a 9-track reel-to-reel tape drive on eBay [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":329,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,37],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-326","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-projects","category-unfinished"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/326","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=326"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/326\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1290,"href":"https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/326\/revisions\/1290"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/329"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=326"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=326"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.andersknelson.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=326"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}