Exabyte 007-3086-001, 8505XL manual Unloading a Data Cartridge, Resetting the Tape Drive

Unloading a Data Cartridge

Unloading a Data Cartridge

The unload button is the only operating control on the tape drive. It is used to unload the data cartridge from the tape drive (see Figure 2-2).

Note: You can use the unload button to clear some hardware errors. If a hardware error occurs, press the unload button to reset the tape drive.

To unload a data cartridge, press the unload button. The tape drive completes the current operation, writes any buffered data to tape, rewinds the tape, unloads the tape from the tape path, and ejects the cartridge.

Unload button

Figure 2-2 Unload Button

Note: If an error occurs before or during the unload procedure, the unload sequence will be suspended and the orange LED will flash. To clear the error, press the unload button again. The unload sequence will be reattempted.

However, unwritten data in the buffer will not be written to the tape. The buffer and errors will be cleared.

Resetting the Tape Drive

Occasionally the tape drive may experience an error that cannot be cleared by pressing the unload button. If this happens, reset the tape drive by turning the power off, then on again.

Caution: Powering off the tape drive may reset the SCSI bus. To prevent possible loss of data, make sure that any other devices on the SCSI bus are inactive and have completed all requested operations before powering off the tape drive.

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