Compaq AIT 50 153615-002 AIT-2 SCSI LVD SE External Tape Drive 50/100GB
Compaq AIT 50 153615-002 AIT-2 SCSI LVD SE External Tape Drive 50/100GB
The Compaq AIT 50 is an external desktop tape backup drive using the AIT-2 (Advanced Intelligent Tape) format, offering 50GB native and up to 100GB compressed storage capacity per cartridge. It connects via a SCSI LVD/SE interface with dual 68-pin VHDCI connectors on the rear, allowing daisy-chaining on a SCSI bus. The unit carries the DRTape Ready badge on its front panel. This drive is from Series E02004 and bears the Compaq AIT DRIVE UNIT designation on its rating label.
Specifications & What's Included
- Brand: Compaq
- Model: AIT 50
- Assembly Part Number: 153615-002 / 3R-A3786-AA
- Compaq Spare Part Number: 159611-005 / 3R-A3828-AA
- Series: E02004
- Tape Format: AIT-2 (Advanced Intelligent Tape)
- Native Capacity: 50GB
- Compressed Capacity: 100GB (2:1 compression)
- Interface: SCSI LVD/SE (Low Voltage Differential / Single Ended)
- Connectors: Dual 68-pin VHDCI SCSI ports (in/out for daisy-chain)
- SCSI ID: Jumper-selectable (ID 6 set at time of photo)
- Power Input: 100–240V AC, 50/60Hz, 1.2A (universal)
- Form Factor: External desktop
- Front Panel: Tape slot, status indicator LEDs, eject button, DRTape Ready badge
- Rear Panel: AC inlet (IEC), SCSI ID jumper block, dual VHDCI SCSI ports, cooling fan
- Certifications: UL, CE, N50, NOM, FCC Class B (FCC ID: AK8SDX)
- Country of Manufacture: China
- Drive unit only — no AIT-2 media, SCSI cables, or accessories confirmed included
Applications
AIT-2 external tape drives such as this Compaq AIT 50 were deployed in small-to-medium business and workstation environments during the late 1990s and early 2000s as a primary or secondary data backup solution. They connect to workstations, servers, or storage systems via a SCSI host adapter supporting LVD or SE signaling. AIT-2 cartridges remain available from third-party suppliers, making these drives useful for legacy data recovery from existing AIT-2 tape archives, or for continued use in systems that were originally paired with this drive type. Compatible host platforms include servers and workstations with 68-pin Ultra2 SCSI or compatible LVD SCSI host bus adapters.
Condition: For Parts or Not Working
This Compaq AIT 50 AIT-2 SCSI LVD External Tape Drive (153615-002) is in good physical condition with normal cosmetic wear consistent with prior use. The unit is being sold as-is due to its age — it has not been bench-tested at our facility and no functionality is implied or guaranteed. The chassis is intact with no significant damage observed; the front panel, tape slot area, status indicators, and DRTape Ready badge appear intact. The rear SCSI ports and AC inlet show typical connector wear. No media, cables, or accessories are confirmed to be included. Please view our photo set and contact us if you have any questions. Visit Our Store
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