Sony SDX-800V/R manual Tape Alert, Tape Format, Normal LED indications

			4.Operation
	Table 4-2: Normal LED indications
LED	Tape Motion	Cleaning Request	Replace Tape
Off	No Tape	Cleaning is Not Necessary	No Media Error Occurred
On	Tape Loaded	Cleaning Request	Media Error Occurred
Flash Slowly	Tape Access in Progress	Cleaning is Not Completed	Media Warning
	(Write/Read)
Flash Fast	Tape Access in Progress
	(Others)
All LED Flash Fast	H/w Error Occurred

4.4.Tape Alert

1.Tape Alert is a new specification for tape drive and library diagnostics. With this specification, any storage software application can access detailed device diagnostic information and interpret the information in a standard way.

2.Tape Alert information shall be accessed using LOG SENSE page 2Eh. Tape Alert configuration shall be performed using MODE SELECT page 1Ch. The MODE SENSE and MODE SELECT configuration of the Tape Alert interface is compatible with the information exceptions control page (1Ch). The application client shall first check the tape drive to determine whether it supports the Tape Alert log page (0x2Eh). The default application client access to the Tape Alert log page shall be performed using a polling method, with the page control bits in the LOG SENSE command set to 00h.

3.At minimum, the Tape Alert log page shall be read from the tape drive/autoloader device for the following:

a.At the beginning of a Write/read job, even if the media is not loaded

b.Immediately after an unrecoverable error during the write/read job

c.At the end of each tape when the write/read job spans multiple tapes. If the tape is to be ejected then the log page shall be read before the tape cartridge is ejected

d.At the end of a write/read job

4.The application client may also poll the Tape Alert log page at regular intervals (e.g. every 60 seconds) while the tape drive is idle. The application client may use the Tape Alert mode page (1Ch) to configure other access methods, depending on what options are supported by the tape drive.

5.Each time the application client reads the Tape Alert log page, it shall check all 64 flags to discover which are set (there may be more than one). The definitions of the 64 flags are device type specific. There is one definition for tape drive/autoloader devices, and a different definition for stand-alone changer devices (in libraries). For each flag set, the application client shall communicate the defined error message and severity for that flag to the user and log it. If multiple flags are set simultaneously, they shall be displayed together in ascending order of severity. The information read in the Tape Alert flags shall not in itself cause the application client to stop a current backup or restore operation.

4.5.Tape Format

The SDX-800V is an implementation of the Advanced Intelligent Tape (AIT-E Turbo, AIT-1, AIT-1 Turbo, AIT-2, AIT-2 Turbo, AIT-3 and AIT-3Ex) format, a standard developed by Sony for 8mm data storage drives.

AIT-E Turbo, AIT-1, AIT-1 Turbo, AIT-2, AIT-2 Turbo, AIT-3

-C1,C2, first and second level Error Correction Code, providing correction for random and Burst Symbol errors.

-C3 ECC, third level Error Correction Code, providing correction across frames within groups

AIT-3Ex

-C1, first level Error Correction Code, providing correction for random and Burst Symbol errors.

-C3 ECC, third level Error Correction Code, providing correction across frames within groups

-Read-After-Write, where data is verified immediately after it is written and re-written if there is any error.

-Randomizer, to reduce inter-symbol interference.

SONY AIT-3Ex drive SDX-800V series Ver.1.1 4-5