RE: Tape Drive Cleaning and Tape

Gutsy move. Are you sure the light isn't burned out? :-))

Paul Nelson
Cell 708-670-6978
Office 512-392-2577
nelsonp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx


-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Burns, Bryan
Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2007 11:45 AM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: RE: Tape Drive Cleaning and Tape

Bonnie,

We've had our 3581 tape unit for about 3 years and I haven't cleaned it
once. I've been waiting for the light to go on. We use the tape unit daily
and rotate 7 tapes for the week. At month end, the tape for that day is
taken out of rotation and a fresh one is entered in the rotation.

Now this thread you started has given me the impetus to do a proactive
cleaning because if the tape unit fails at month end, it's going to be moi
who'll be the one to drive in at midnight and get the tape unit fixed!

Back when we had a MAGSTAR 3570, it was SOP here to clean the drive before
month end, but I think that's really overkill.

Bryan Burns
ECHO Outdoor Power Equipment
Lake Zurich, IL

-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Bonnie Lokenvitz
Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2007 8:46 AM
To: midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Tape Drive Cleaning and Tape


Please point me to some generic manual for tape operations.

The tapes for our 520's 4685 tape drive are swapped out by our
facilities person five days a week. These ten tapes have been in use
for two years.

We are getting 'Device TAP01 needs to be cleaned.' more frequently
causing the backup to fail. My contention is we need to replace the
tape.

Also do you wait for the light on the tape drive to be lit before you
clean the drive? Or do you do this on a more pro-active schedule.

The cleaning tape is fairly new.

Thank you,
Bonnie Lokenvitz