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WORN TAPE
- Thread starter Diogo
- Start date
Media Replacement
Cartridges which are used regularly (e.g. daily/weekly backup tapes) should be
discarded after about a hundred uses. Cartridges which are in use when
media-related errors are reported by your backup application, or are
physically dropped, or are exposed to extremely harsh environments should
be discarded.
Media Storage
Proper media handling and storage is important to reduce the chance of
damage to the media.
Protect your cartridges from particulate contamination when they're
not in use. Put each cartridge in its protective case or place the cartridge
in a dust-tight container designed for tape cartridge storage.
Keep your cartridges in an area where the temperature and humidity
are comfortable for you and are relatively constant.
Orient cartridges in storage so that their cases are on an edge (vs flat).
If cartridges are moved between areas whose temperature or humidity
differ greatly, let the cartridge adapt for several hours prior to use.
Cleaning Cartridge Selection/Usage
Proper cleaning is important to reduce errors and rereads/rewrites.
Use only the cleaning cartridges supported by your tape drive. These
must be high quality cartridges, such as the IBM cleaning cartridge
originally supplied with your drive.
Cleaning Cartridges often are specifically designed for specific drive usage,
use only the cleaning cartridge specified for the drive being used.
The need to clean a tape drive is often indicated by an message on
the tape drives display or by a cleaning indicator, such as an Amber
LED on the drive being on solid(not flashing).
Clean the tape drive after any media related error is encountered.
Mark the cleaning cartridge usage counter every time the cartridge is
used. Often it is possible to observe the remaining cleaning
material through the cartridge's window and discard the cartridge
when fully used.
Cartridges which are used regularly (e.g. daily/weekly backup tapes) should be
discarded after about a hundred uses. Cartridges which are in use when
media-related errors are reported by your backup application, or are
physically dropped, or are exposed to extremely harsh environments should
be discarded.
Media Storage
Proper media handling and storage is important to reduce the chance of
damage to the media.
Protect your cartridges from particulate contamination when they're
not in use. Put each cartridge in its protective case or place the cartridge
in a dust-tight container designed for tape cartridge storage.
Keep your cartridges in an area where the temperature and humidity
are comfortable for you and are relatively constant.
Orient cartridges in storage so that their cases are on an edge (vs flat).
If cartridges are moved between areas whose temperature or humidity
differ greatly, let the cartridge adapt for several hours prior to use.
Cleaning Cartridge Selection/Usage
Proper cleaning is important to reduce errors and rereads/rewrites.
Use only the cleaning cartridges supported by your tape drive. These
must be high quality cartridges, such as the IBM cleaning cartridge
originally supplied with your drive.
Cleaning Cartridges often are specifically designed for specific drive usage,
use only the cleaning cartridge specified for the drive being used.
The need to clean a tape drive is often indicated by an message on
the tape drives display or by a cleaning indicator, such as an Amber
LED on the drive being on solid(not flashing).
Clean the tape drive after any media related error is encountered.
Mark the cleaning cartridge usage counter every time the cartridge is
used. Often it is possible to observe the remaining cleaning
material through the cartridge's window and discard the cartridge
when fully used.
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