
An ANSI (non-UniTree) or 
HPSS label with a correct 
Volume ID (the Volume ID on 
the label is as expected by 
HPSS)
Tape Imported Label Written,
Tape Imported
Tape Imported
An ANSI or HPSS label with 
an incorrect Volume ID (the 
Volume ID on the label is 
different from the Volume ID 
expected by HPSS)
Tape Not Imported Tape Not Imported Tape Not Imported
Random data (e.g., a tar file) Tape Not Imported Label Written,
Tape Imported
Label Written, 
Tape Imported
No data (two tapemarks at the 
start of tape)
Label Written, 
Tape Imported
Label Written,
Tape Imported
Label Written, 
Tape Imported
Unreadable (e.g., some brand 
new tapes or a degaussed tape; 
also possibly a tape written at a 
different density)
Tape Not Imported Label Written,
Tape Imported
Label Written, 
Tape Imported
HPSS always attempts to read a label at the beginning of a tape when performing an import. Some tape 
drives and device drivers will report errors when asked to read unreadable tapes (as  described above). If 
this happens, manually write two tape marks at the start of the tape and retry the import. Most  UNIX 
systems provide the mt command, which can be used to write tape marks.
An HPSS label is basically just an ANSI label. A few characters are changed to identify the  tape as 
having been labeled by HPSS. Both label types are supported by HPSS; tapes already beginning with an 
ANSI label are not relabeled unless the overwrite import option is selected and volume labels  match.
8.1.1.3.  Import  Disk Volumes WindowHPSS Management Guide November 2009
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