IBM RS/6000 7025 manual General Information for 8-mm Tape Drive Recommendations

General Information for 8-mm Tape Drive

Recommendations

ŸUse only Data Grade 8-mm tape cartridges. These cartridges are identified by

either a Data, D, or D8 marking on

the data cartridge. Use of video grade

cartridges can

damage

the

8-mm tape

drive

and can void the warranty of your

8-mm

tape drive, and data written on

these

tapes

may

be

lost

over

a

short

period

of

time.

Ÿ Remove the tape cartridge

from

the

tape

drive

when

it

is not in

use,

and

store

the

cartridge

in

the

cartridge

case.

Ÿ Do

not open the door on the data

tape cartridge.

This

door

covers

and

protects

the

magnetic tape

material

from

dirt, dust,

and

damage.

Ÿ Avoid touching the tape since this can cause loss of data.

ŸKeep the tape drive door closed except when loading or unloading a tape cartridge.

ŸBack up and then discard any tape cartridge that repeatedly produces error

messages. The error information is in the system error log.

Ÿ Clean

the tape path regularly according to

the

cleaning procedure

of the 8-mm

tape drive.

Use

only

recommended cleaning

cartridges;

other

cleaning cartridges

can permanently damage

your 8-mm tape drive.

Attention:

Do

not

use

video

grade

cartridges

in the 8-mm

tape

drive.

Video

grade

tapes

may

be

unreliable

and may

cause permanent

damage

to

the

8-mm

tape

drive.

Types of 8-mm Tape Cartridges

ŸTest Tape Cartridge: This is a specially labeled tape cartridge that is in the

media kit with the 8-mm tape drive. Use this cartridge only when checking the operation of the drive or running diagnostics; do not use it to save programs or data.

Ÿ Data Tape Cartridge: This is a non-labeled		blank	tape		cartridge			that	is	in	the
media kit. Use this cartridge for saving		your programs or data. The same data
tape	cartridge can be used in either a	2.3GB		8-mm	tape drive			or	a	5.0GB	8-mm
tape	drive.
Ÿ Cleaning Tape Cartridge: Use this cartridge		for		cleaning		the	8-mm	tape	path.		For
more	information, see “Cleaning the Tape Path	on	the 5.0GB			8-mm	Tape	Drive”
on page 2-29.

2-20IBM RS/6000 7025 F50 Series User's Guide