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Appendix A. Maintaining your tape drive
This section contains important information about maintaining your tape drive
and caring for your storage media.
Tape handling and storage
Most tape is supplied in a sealed cartridge. Tape is provided this way so that
the tape will remain in a clean environment. Opening the cartridge allows dirt
and airborne particles to enter and then become a source of contamination.
The cartridge must only be opened by the tape drive and not by an operator.
The tape is also held under proper tension inside the cartridge. If the cartridge
is dropped, this tension is relaxed. Inserting a dropped cartridge into a tape
drive can often cause a mis-load that results in a jam.
The jam ruins the tape and can cause physical damage if the cartridge is not
removed properly. When the tapes are stored, they must be reinstalled into
their protective containers and stored on their ends. You must store the tapes
in a clean, dry area with normal room temperature, and away from magnetic
fields.
Environmental issues
The operating environment might adversely affect tape drive operation. The
tape drive is designed to operate in a clean environment. When tape is
installed in a tape drive, the clearance between the heads and the tape is
measured in microns.
Even particles of smoke are larger than the space available between the tape
and the heads. Other environmental factors that adversely affect tape drive
operation are dirt, dust, fibers, and airborne particles. It is important to operate
in a clean, safe environment in order to keep the tape drive functioning
properly.
A-1
© Copyright IBM Corp. 2001
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