Cartridge Care - HP VS80 - StorageWorks DLT VS 80 Tape Drive User Manual

cartridges
data protection
index of topics
contact hp
home page
before you start
operation

cartridge care

cleaning
specifications
media compatibility
diagnostics
troubleshooting
FAQs
SCSI configuration
UNIX configuration
ordering supplies
installing drivers
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http://www.hp.com/support/tape may have a later version
cartridge care
contents of this section
choosing cartridges
caring for cartridges
using cartridges
storing cartridges
maximizing tape life
avoiding condensation
choosing cartridges
Only rely on the best media to protect your valuable data. Thanks to HP's rigorous
testing programs, HP Surestore DLT VS80 data and DLT VS cleaning cartridges
are the safest investment you can make.
Your HP Surestore DLT VS80 tape drive uses only DLTtape IV data cartridges.
HP DLTtape IV cartridges are designed to meet the exacting mechanical,
environmental and durability specifications of data storage applications.
Order online at: www.hp.com/go/storagemedia.
Important: You must use only DLT VS or DLT1 cleaning cartridges with HP
Surestore DLT VS80 tape drives. Be aware that cleaning cartridges that do not
specify DLT VS or DLT1 on the cartridge may be accepted by the drive but will not
clean the drive. See the
caring for cartridges
Under optimum environmental conditions, Hewlett-Packard DLTtape IV cartridges
are currently specified to 1,000,000 passes over any part of the tape. In
operational terms, this can be translated to about 2000 full backup or restore
operations. Under severe environmental conditions, particularly where the tape
drive is used at very low humidity or if certain areas of the tape are accessed
frequently, the number of backup operations should be substantially less than this
maximum.
Caution: Ensure that only one label is located in the label area of the cartridge.
Never use non-standard labels and never stick anything to the cartridge.
using cartridges
Only use DLTtape IV cartridges in temperatures in the tape drive's operating
range from 10C to 40C (50°F to 104°F) and 20 to 80% relative humidity
(noncondensing). If you expose cartridges to temperatures outside the operating
limits, stabilize them before you use them. To do this, leave the cartridges in the
operating environment for 24 hours.
storing cartridges
Store cartridges at temperatures between 16°C and 32°C (60°F
and 90°F ) with a relative humidity between 20% and 80%.
Always keep the cartridges in a dust-free environment.
Always store cartridges in their plastic cases when not in use.
maximizing tape life
Do not touch the tape surface.
Do not attempt to clean the tape path or tape guides inside the
cartridge.
Do not leave cartridge tapes in excessively dry or humid
conditions.
Do not leave cartridges in direct sunlight or near sources of heat
or in places where magnetic fields are present (for example,
under telephones, next to monitors or near transformers).
Do not drop cartridges or handle them roughly.
Do not locate more than one label onto cartridges; extra labels
can cause the cartridges to jam in the tape drive.
Place identification labels only in the slide-in slot on the front of
the cartridge.
Never use any type of adhesive labels on your DLTtape cartridge.
avoiding condensation
Condensation can be a problem for tape drives and cartridges. To minimize the
chance of condensation, stay within the specifications for using and storing
cartridges above and observe the following guidelines:
1. Position the drive where the temperature is relatively stable -- away from
open windows, heat sources and doors.
2. Avoid leaving cartridges in severe temperature conditions, for example, in a
car standing in bright sunlight.
3. Avoid transferring data (reading from and writing to cartridges) when the
temperature is changing by more than 10°C (18°F) per hour.
4. If you bring a cold tape drive or tape cartridge into a warm room, allow time
for it to warm to room temperature before using it. For example, if you have
moved the drive from a cold car to a warm room, allow time for the drive to
reach room temperature (up to 24 hours if the temperature change is
extreme).
related topics
write-protecting cartridges
labeling cartridges
loading and unloading cartridges
ordering cartridges
media compatibility
cleaning
Your DLT VS80 tape drive can read but
not write DLTtape cartridges that use
the DLT4000 format. See the
compatibility
Make sure all cartridges that you want
to use for writing are either unformatted
or have been formatted with your DLT
VS80 tape drive before loading them. If
you want to reuse cartridges that have
been formatted by a drive other than
DLT VS80, use a magnetic bulk eraser
to prepare the cartridges for use with
your DLT VS80 tape drive.
media compatibility page for full details.
hp learning products
media
page for full details.
© 2001, Hewlett-Packard Company