Recommendations for Data Cartridge Usage

The following list describes recommended guidelines that will help to protect your data and prolong the life of your tape cartridges and the DAT 160 Tape Drive:

• Use only approved, IBM tape cartridges.
• Use only DDS-4, DAT 72, or DAT 160 tape cartridges. (DAT 160 media is recommended whenever possible as it best optimizes overall drive advantages.)
• Remove the tape cartridge from the drive when the drive is not in use.
• Back up and then discard any tape cartridge that repeatedly produces error messages. (The error information is in the System Error Log.)
• On the data cartridge, do not open the door that covers the tape. The door protects the tape from dirt, dust, and damage.
• Do not touch the tape. Any substance transferred to the tape by touching could cause loss of data.
• Attach a barcode label to each tape cartridge. Use only barcode labels that were supplied by IBM. Labels marked CLNxxx should only be used for cleaning cartridges.
• Use only one label on a tape cartridge. Multiple or poorly placed labels can clog the drive load mechanism.
• Do not use poor-quality tape cartridges. They can cause excessive read or write errors, and may damage the tape drive.
• Discard any tape cartridges that have been dropped, as the impact may damage the tape’s internal mechanism.
• Make sure the environment is kept clean and constant. Do not operate in a dusty environment and always maintain a constant environmental atmosphere. A consistent storage and operating environment reduces media exposure to climatic stress.
• Printers and copiers can produce paper and toner dust. Locate the tape unit away from these items. High traffic areas near hallways and doors can also produce excess dust and dirt.
• Record all important information on the tape label. Include information, such as the model and number of the system or tape drive, the date, the density, any error statistics, and a log number. Note the operating environment and compression mode.
• Position the enclosure in a location where the temperature is relatively stable, for example, away from open windows, fan heaters and doors.
• Avoid leaving cartridges in severe temperature conditions, for example in a car standing in bright sunlight.
• Avoid transferring data (reading from and writing to cartridges) when the temperature is changing by more than 10°C (18°F) per hour.
• After either cartridge or tape drive has experienced an extreme change of temperature (more than 15°C, 27°F), do not use the drive for at least two hours to allow the temperature of the device and cartridges to stabilize.