Environmental Considerations for 8 mm Data Cartridges

This section describes operating and storage conditions including temperature, relative humidity, and maximum wet bulb data.

Attention: The manufacturer specifies a set of temperature and humidity ranges in which the 8 mm data cartridge can operate with ease. Only regular cleaning procedures are required when operating the cartridge within this range. The risk of possible data loss is increased if 8 mm tape cartridges are operated, stored, or shipped outside the temperature or humidity ranges shown in the following table.

Condition

Operating Ranges

Storage

Shipping

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Temperature

60°F-90°F (16°C-32°C)

41°F-90°F (5°C

-32°C)

-40°F-

126°F

 

 

 

(-40°C-52°C)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Relative Humidity

20%-80%

20%-80%

20%-80%

 

(non-condensing)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maximum Wet Bulb

73°F (23°C)

79°F (26°C)

 

79°F (26°C)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Always let a cartridge acclimate to the operating environment before you use it. Acclimation is necessary for any data cartridge that has been exposed to a different humidity environment or to a temperature change of 11°C or 20°F or more. Place the cartridge, with its container, in the operating environment for as long as it has been away from the operating environment or for 24 hours, whichever is less.

Operating the 8mm Tape Drive in Harsh Environments

The 8mm Tape Drive is ideally suited to streaming operations rather than tape movement operations involving multiple stops and starts as well as random searches. You should use streaming movement whenever possible.

Do not use for archiving any tape that was previously used outside the ranges specified in ªEnvironmental Considerations for 8 mm Data Cartridgesº for an extended period of time. Exposure to the new environment deteriorates the magnetic and physical strength of the tape. Do not store important data on a tape that was used outside the specified ranges. For reliable archiving, transfer the data to a new tape.

Erasing 8 mm Data Cartridge

Most bulk eraser devices cannot erase 8 mm data cartridges. To properly erase an 8

mmdata cartridge with a bulk eraser device, the erasure rating must be at least 1500 oersted.

2244P Series Model 170 User's Guide

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IBM RS/6000 44P Environmental Considerations for 8 mm Data Cartridges, Operating the 8mm Tape Drive in Harsh Environments