Exabyte EXB-8205 manual Selecting Data Cartridges, Choosing High-Quality Data Cartridges

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Selecting Data Cartridges

By selecting high-quality data cartridges and storing them properly, you can expect a long shelf-life and optimal data integrity from your tapes. High quality tapes also help maintain tape drive reliability by minimizing wear on the recording heads.

Choosing High-Quality Data Cartridges

Available from Exabyte, EXATAPE™ 8mm Data Cartridges are formulated specifically for use in Exabyte products. EXATAPE data cartridges reduce head and tape path wear and have a shelf life exceeding 30 years when used according to recommendations.

Available in lengths of 15m, 54 m, 112m, and 160m (for the EXB-8205XL and EXB-8505XL only, as described on page24),

EXATAPE data cartridges are the only data cartridges recommended for use with all Exabyte products.

CAUTION

Never use video-grade tape for data storage. Video-grade tape can be less accurate than data-grade tape when recording high-density data and more abrasive to tape drive recording heads. In particular, Exabyte strongly discourages use of the following types of video-grade tapes:

Extended-length video tapes (such as 135-, 140-, and 150-minute tapes)

Hi-8 metal particle (MP), metal evaporative (ME), or barium ferrite (BaFe) tapes

May 1994

EXB-8205 and EXB-8505 (Standard and XL)

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Contents 302967-001 Qvwdoodwlrqdqg 2SHUDWLRQ302967 May Contents Welcome For More Information Conventions Used in This GuideTools and equipment for installing the tape drive Installing the tape driveUnpacking and Handling the tape drive Setting the Scsi ID with Jumpers Setting the Scsi IDJumper settings for the tape drive’s Scsi ID Setting the Scsi ID with a Remote SwitchTermination for a Single-Ended tape drive Preparing the Tape Drive for the Scsi BusReplacing the R-Packs Termination for a Differential tape drivePreparing the Computer System Installing the Tape Drive in a ComputerConnecting the Scsi Cable Installation Procedure Attaching slide rails to the tape drive 302967 Connecting the power cable to the tape drive Tape Drive Stored for Less Than Six Months Performing the Initial Power OnTape Drive Stored for Six Months or More Operating the tape drive Reading the LEDs Tape Drive State LEDs Tape drive states indicated by the LEDsChoosing High-Quality Data Cartridges Selecting Data CartridgesCompatibility of Exatape 8mm Data Cartridges Exatape 160m XL 8mm Data CartridgesCompatibility of Exatape 8mm Data Cartridges Write-protect switch on an Exatape 8mm data cartridge Setting the Write-Protect Switch on a Data CartridgeLoading a Data Cartridge in the tape drive Unloading a Data Cartridge Unload ProcedureError During Unload Procedure Determining When to Clean the Tape Drive Preventive MaintenanceUsing the 8mm Cleaning Cartridge Maintain the storage environment at a constant Caring for Data CartridgesDo not store a data cartridge on its side Replacing Data CartridgesShipping the Tape Drive Dimensions and weights of tape drive shipping cartonsPacking the Tape Drive Single-pack carton and packing materials Environmental Requirements for Shipment Environmental specifications for shipping the tape driveGeneral Requirements Scsi CableCable Length Requirements for Single-Ended Configurations Scsi ConnectorCable Length Requirements for Differential Configurations Power specifications for the tape drive Power SupplyPower Connector Attaching the tape drive to a Frame Mounting holes on the sides of the tape drive Chassis Grounding Optional Summary of unload button options Appendix B Unload Button OptionsMay Appendix C Tape Drive Specifications Index Unload button