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Appendix B. Tape handling
This section describes how to properly handle your tape cartridges to reduce wear
on the 100/200 GB HH LTO Internal Tape Drive.
Tape handling and storage
Most tapes are supplied in sealed cartridges. Tapes are provided this way so that
the tape will remain in a clean environment. Opening the cartridge enables dirt
and airborne particles to enter and contaminate the cartridge. The cartridge must
only be opened by the tape drive and not by an operator. The tape is also held
under proper tension inside the cartridge. If the cartridge is dropped, this tension
is relaxed. Inserting a dropped cartridge into a tape drive can often cause a
misload that results in a jam. The jam ruins the tape and can cause physical
damage if the cartridge is not removed properly. When you store tapes, place them
in their protective containers and store them on their ends. Store the tapes in a
clean, dry area at normal room temperature and away from magnetic fields.
Environmental issues
The operating environment might adversely affect tape drive operation. The tape
drive is designed to operate in a clean environment. When tape is installed in a
tape drive, the clearance between the heads and the tape is measured in microns.
Even particles of smoke are larger than the space available between the tape and
the heads. Other environmental factors that adversely affect tape drive operation
are dirt, dust, fibers, and airborne particles. Ensure that you operate in a clean
environment.
Tape drive cleaning
Even if the operating environment is clean, dirt might build up on the heads of
any tape drive. Every time tape motion occurs, some of the media surface comes
off on the heads. Over time, this material builds up, causing the tape head
clearance to increase. The increased tape head clearance produces reading and
writing errors. Most tape drives today have a built-in cleaning indicator to notify
you when the tape needs cleaning.
Do not use any non-LTO cleaning cartridges with these tape drives. You can use
cleaning cartridges only for a limited number of times. A cleaning cartridge is
expired after it has been used for the maximum number of times as indicated.
When a cleaning cartridge is expired, you must replace it. Never reuse an expired
cleaning cartridge. If you continue to use an expired cleaning cartridge, you might
reintroduce dirt to the tape drive and you might not clean the drive. To make sure
that you know when your cleaning cartridge expires, make a notation on the
cleaning cartridge each time you clean the tape drive.
© Copyright IBM Corp. 2001 13