HP VS80 DLT VS80 Tape Drive User's Guide - Page 14

cartridges http://www.hp.com/support/tape may have a later version hp learning products 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 cartridge care contents of this section choosing cartridges caring for cartridges using cartridges storing cartridges maximizing tape life avoiding condensation related topics write-protecting cartridges labeling cartridges loading and unloading cartridges ordering cartridges media compatibility cleaning 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. Your DLT VS80 tape drive can read but not write DLTtape cartridges that use the DLT4000 format. See the media compatibility page for full details. 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. 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 media compatibility page for full details. 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). © 2001, Hewlett-Packard Company file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/topher.COL-SPRINGS/Desktop/dltvs80%20manual/document/dltvs80/user/reseller/eng/cart.htm [11/29/2001 8:33:55 AM]