IBM T400F manual Function Code E Test Cartridge & Media, Function Code F Fast Read/Write Test

Table 9. Diagnostic and maintenance functions (continued)

Function Code E - Test Cartridge & Media

Causes the tape drive to perform a Write/Read test (on the edge bands) to ensure that a suspect cartridge and its magnetic tape are acceptable. The tape drive takes approximately 10 minutes to run the test.

Attention: Data on the suspect tape will be overwritten.

1.Make sure that no cartridge is in the drive.

2.Within a 1.5-second interval, press the unload button three times. The status light becomes solid amber, which means that the drive is in maintenance mode.

3.Press the unload button once per 1.5 seconds until E appears in the single-character display. If you cycle past E, continue to press the unload button until it redisplays.

4.To select the function, press and hold the unload button for 3 seconds. After you select the function, C flashes. When C flashes, the drive is waiting for a cartridge. Within 60 seconds, insert the suspect data cartridge (or the tape drive exits maintenance mode). After you insert the cartridge, E flashes and the test begins:

v If no error is detected, the test begins again and runs for a maximum of 10 times. After the tenth loop, the test stops and the drive automatically exits maintenance mode. To halt the test, press the unload button. The drive acknowledges the request by slowing the length of time that the currently displayed character flashes on the single-character display (from twice per second to once per second). The test continues to the end of its loop and then stops. The tape drive then rewinds and unloads the cartridge, displays 0, and exits maintenance mode.

vIf an error is detected, the tape drive displays 7, unloads the tape cartridge, and exits maintenance mode. To resolve the error, locate 7 in Table 15 on page 67.

Function Code F - Fast Read/Write Test

Causes the tape drive to perform tests to ensure that the drive can read from and write to tape. This diagnostic performs fewer tests than the Run Tape Drive Diagnostics test (Function Code 1). The tape drive takes approximately three minutes to run the test. The Fast Read/Write Test is not as comprehensive a test and is not recommended for isolating errors between the drive and the media.

Attention: Data on the suspect tape will be overwritten.

1.Make sure that no cartridge is in the drive.

2.Within a 1.5-second interval, press the unload button three times. The status light becomes solid amber, which means that the drive is in maintenance mode.

3.Press the unload button once per 1.5 seconds until F appears in the single-character display. If you cycle past F, continue to press the unload button until it redisplays.

4.To select the function, press and hold the unload button for 3 seconds. After you select the function, C flashes. When C flashes, the drive is waiting for a cartridge. Within 60 seconds, insert the suspect data cartridge (or the tape drive exits maintenance mode). After you insert the cartridge, F flashes and the test begins.

vIf no error is detected, the test begins again and runs for a maximum of 10 times. Each loop takes approximately 3 minutes to run. After the tenth loop, the test stops and the drive automatically exits maintenance mode. To halt the test, press the unload button. The drive acknowledges the request by slowing the length of time that the currently displayed character flashes on the single-character display (from twice per second to once per second). The test continues to the end of its loop and then stops. The tape drive then rewinds and unloads the cartridge, displays 0, and exits maintenance mode.

vIf an error is detected, the tape drive displays an error code, unloads the tape cartridge, and exits maintenance mode. To resolve the error, locate the code in Table 15 on page 67.

Chapter 4. Operating 43