Dell PowerVault 160T LTO2 Dell LTO Media Handbook - Page 13

Cartridge Memory (CM), Symptom Cause Solution

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6 Cartridge Memory (CM) Tape drives require information about the tape cartridge being used. For LTO tape cartridges, this information is stored in a small chip within the tape itself referred to as Cartridge Memory (CM). This chip contains nonvolatile memory which responds through a passive radio frequency interface. In addition to the type of cartridge, the CM holds a selection of important information which the drive uses to setup and calibrate. The CM also contains a tape directory to be able to quickly search for data sets. If for some reason the cartridge memory is damaged or corrupted, the user will experience difficulty with the cartridge. If the cartridge memory fails, the user data can be recovered. To recover the data, set the write protect tab on the cartridge and the load the cartridge into an Ultrium drive. The drive stores enough information on tape to be able to recognize the tape. The data directory however is lost. For this reason the drive can only search from the beginning of tape (BOT) to end of tape (EOT) across all wraps to find the data. The drive cannot search fast (Fast Search option) to the correct location to find the needed data set. Recovery of a full tape of data could take up to 3 hours. Symptom Cause Solution Dell LTO Media Handbook Page 13

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6
Cartridge Memory (CM)
Tape drives require information about the tape cartridge being used.
For LTO tape cartridges, this information is
stored in a small chip within the tape itself referred to as Cartridge Memory (CM).
This chip contains nonvolatile
memory which responds through a passive radio frequency interface.
In addition to the type of cartridge, the CM holds a selection of important information which the drive uses to
setup and calibrate.
The CM also contains a tape directory to be able to quickly search for data sets.
If for some
reason the cartridge memory is damaged or corrupted, the user will experience difficulty with the cartridge.
If the cartridge memory fails, the user data can be recovered.
To recover the data, set the write protect tab on the
cartridge and the load the cartridge into an Ultrium drive.
The drive stores enough information on tape to be able
to recognize the tape. The data directory however is lost. For this reason the drive can only search from the
beginning of tape (BOT) to end of tape (EOT) across all wraps to find the data. The drive cannot search fast (Fast
Search option) to the correct location to find the needed data set. Recovery of a full tape of data could take up to 3
hours.
Symptom Cause Solution
Dell LTO Media Handbook
Page
13