Filter
Top Products
Chapter 4. DAStape 100 Tape Drives and Media
20
Maintaining the AIT Tape Drive
The AIT tape drive is an extremely reliable media storage subsystem; performing a few
simple maintenance procedures will keep the drives reading and writing reliably for
many years.
• For best performance with AIT tape drives, perform a read/write confidence test
with your backup software regularly. For information about performing this
operation, see the documentation for your backup software.
• As explained in AIT Tape Drives on page 17, the drive cleans itself when necessary.
If further cleaning is necessary, as indicated by the drive LED light and/or by the
read/write confidence test, use only Sony SDX-TCL cleaning cartridges. For
ordering information, see Purchasing Media and Cleaning Cartridges on page 16.
Tape Drive Head Cleaning
Head cleaning with a Sony SDX-TCL cleaning cartridge should be performed in the
following situations:
• Every 100 hours of drive use (or less) in the following situations:
• When the DAStape has been installed in areas having high amounts of airborne
particulates.
• When the drive fails to write or read data correctly.
• When the drive fails to eject a data cartridge.
Note: Damaged media can also cause read/write errors and failures.
Most installations require scheduled cleaning using SDX-TCL cleaning cartridges.
Scheduled cleaning is definitely required in installations having high amounts of
airborne particulates.
To clean your AIT tape drives, follow these steps:
1. Power on the DAStape.
2. Carefully insert the Sony SDX-TCL cleaning tape into the drive with the window
facing the top of the drive. The cleaning tape performs automatic cleaning and
ejects the cartridge when complete.
Caution: Do not use the cleaning cartridge for more than the number of
specified cleaning cycles indicated on the cartridge label. Mark
the cleaning cartridge each time you use it or use backup
software to track cleaning cartridge usage.