We have a 3580 shaerd between two systems. I recall the CE stressing
NOT to clean it until it asks to be cleaned. We may have cleaned ours
twice in the last few years. I think the drive has been replaced more
often than it's been cleaned.
Bryan_Burns@xxxxxxxxxxxx 08/16/2007 9:45:14 AM >>>
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
midrange.com
