Continuing Backups; Manually Cleaning A Tape Drive - Spectra Logic T-Series Spectra T950 Release Note

User Guide Updates — Maintaining the Library and Drives
You may choose to leave the cleaning cartridge in the library, particularly if
you can configure your backup software to perform regular automated
cleanings.
Make sure that the cleaning cartridge has a bar code label. Your software must be
Caution
able to identify the cleaning cartridge and use it only for cleaning tape drives. Any
attempts to use a cleaning cartridge for data storage will cause software failures.
Required Tools and Materials
You must have a certified cleaning cartridge for the type of drive(s) to be
cleaned. Cleaning cartridges can be purchased from Spectra Logic. If the
cartridge has a bar code label, be sure to note the code, including any
leading zeros. This information will help you locate the cleaning cartridge
after it is loaded into the library.
Use only certified cleaning cartridges to clean your tape drives. For information on
Caution
ordering these cartridges, refer to the
Carefully follow all instructions and recommendations provided with the cleaning
cartridge. Do not rewind and reuse the material in a cleaning cartridge. Reusing the
material may redistribute contaminants previously removed from the tape path. If
all of the cleaning material has been used, discard the cartridge and use a new
cleaning cartridge.

Continuing Backups

A drive is unavailable for backups while it is being cleaned. It is safe to
continue backups on the library's other drives while cleaning a drive.
However, if you are running many backups with frequent loads and
unloads, Spectra Logic recommends waiting until backups are completed
before cleaning a drive to avoid delays in move requests coming from
software.

Manually Cleaning a Tape Drive

The process for loading a cleaning cartridge into the tape drive depends on
whether or not a cleaning partition is associated with the partition
containing the drive you need to clean.
No Cleaning Partition Present
Before you can begin the cleaning process, a cleaning cartridge must be
available in the partition containing the drive to be cleaned. If you do not
permanently store a cleaning cartridge in the storage pool for each
partition, you must import one when drive cleaning is required. You need
a magazine containing a cleaning cartridge and either of the following:
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Release Notes
A TeraPack magazine with one or more empty slots in the storage pool
of the partition with the drive that needs cleaning.
Spectra T950 Library User Guide
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