Cleaning The Tape Drive - IBM RS/6000 User Manual

Cleaning the Tape Drive

Attention: Do not use video-cleaning cartridges in the 8mm Tape Drive. Video-cleaning
cartridges can damage the system drive.
Clean the tape drive:
v After you use a metal particle (MP) tape and before you use an advanced metal
evaporative (AME) tape
v When error rates exceed an acceptable level as indicated by the LED and message
v Every 72 hours of tape motion as indicated by the LED and message
The 8mm Tape Drive counts the number of hours of tape motion. When it is time to
clean the tape path, it displays the message * * CLEAN SOON and turns on the top
status light.
You must clean the tape after using metal particle (MP) media and before using
advanced metal evaporative (AME) tapes. If you use MP media, the LCD prompts you
to clean the tape path by displaying the message MUST CLEAN.
More frequent cleaning may be required if you operate the drive in a dusty environment
or in humid conditions. If you allow dust to accumulate, the drive has to perform more
reads and writes. This can damage the drive or cause data loss, which can be
prevented by regular cleaning.
The cleaning cartridge cleans the 8mm Tape Drive 18 times before you must discard it.
If you attempt to use an 8 mm cleaning cartridge more than 18 times, the tape drive
automatically detects the error, ejects the cleaning cartridge with the amber disturbance
status light remaining on, and displays the message DEPLETED.
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Chapter 2. Using the 44P Series Model 270