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Clean the device whenever the Fault status light comes on or a system I/O error related to the device
occurs.
Attention: Use only the recommended cleaning cartridge to clean the tape drive. Use of other than
recommended cleaning cartridges can damage your drive and might void the warranty.
The tape drive will turn on the cleaning indication for several reasons:
v - The tape drive exceeds internal preset error thresholds in the drive.
v - A cleaning cartridge that has been used the maximum number of times is inserted in the drive. The
cleaning indicator is turned on to indicate that the cleaning process was not done and the cleaning
cartridge is no longer usable.
v The tape drive exceeds the maximum recommended time between cleaning.
The maximum recommended time between preventive-maintenance cleaning is 100 tape motion hours.
Tape motion hours are defined as the time that the tape drive is moving tape. If the tape drive reaches
100 tape motion hours since the tape drive was last cleaned, the drive will turn on the cleaning required
LED to indicate the drive needs cleaning. The tape drive will continue to operate but it is recommended
the tape drive be cleaned at the next opportunity to insert a cleaning cartridge.
To clean the tape drive, complete the following steps:
1. Make sure that the power is on for the tape drive.
2. If a tape cartridge is in the tape drive, eject and remove the cartridge.
3. Grasp the cleaning cartridge by the outer edges, with the window-side up and the write-protect
switch facing you.
4. Slide the cartridge into the opening on the front of the drive until the loading mechanism pulls the
cartridge into the drive.
After the cleaning cartridge has been inserted, the remainder of the cleaning process is automatic. The
tape drive does the following actions:
v Loads the cleaning cartridge into the tape drive.
v Cleans the drive by moving the cleaning tape forward for approximately 30 seconds.
v Unloads the cleaning cartridge when the cleaning operation is complete.
v Indicates a successful cleaning operation by turning off the Cleaning status light (if the Cleaning light
was on prior to the cleaning process. Otherwise, the Cleaning light remains solid to indicate that the
cleaning cartridge is no longer usable. Obtain a new cleaning cartridge and repeat the process.)
Note: If the cleaning operation completes but the Cleaning light remains on, repeat the cleaning
procedure with a new cleaning cartridge. If the light still remain on, contact your authorized service
representative.
To determine how many times a cleaning cartridge may be used, check the information printed on the
cartridge. If you attempt to use a depleted cleaning cartridge, the drive automatically detects the error
and ejects the cartridge. If the Cleaning status light was on prior to the cleaning process, it stays on; if the
Cleaning light was off, the depleted cartridge causes the light to come on.
If a system error occurs, clean the drive and retry the operation. If the operation fails, replace the data
cartridge, clean the drive again, then retry the operation.
Setting the write-protect switch (FC 5755)
You might need to set the write-protect switch on your tape drive. Use the information in this topic to
perform this task.
Chapter 2. Managing tape drives
21
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