Setting the write-protect switch on an LTO tape cartridge

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Use the write-protect switch to prevent data from being written to an LTO tape cartridge.

The position of the write-protect switch on an LTO tape cartridge (see  1  in Figure 1) determines whether you can write to the tape:
  • If the switch is set to locked - solid red (solid red), data cannot be written to the tape.
  • If the switch is set to unlocked (black void), data can be written to the tape.

If possible, use your server's application software to write-protect your cartridges (rather than manually setting the write-protect switch). This allows the server's software to identify a cartridge that no longer contains current data and is eligible to become a scratch cartridge. Do not write-protect scratch (blank) cartridges; the tape drive will not be able to write new data to them.

If you must manually set the write-protect switch, slide it left or right to the desired position.

Figure 1. Setting the write-protect switch on an LTO tape cartridge
setting the write protect switch