Using 3592 tape drive media

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The 3592 tape drive uses ten different data cartridge types, plus a cleaning cartridge and a diagnostic (CE) cartridge.

Figure 1 shows an IBM 3592 Tape Cartridge.

Figure 1. IBM 3592 Tape Cartridge
IBM 3592 Tape Cartridge
Note: Each 3592 tape drive model has a unique firmware version that will not work for any other 3592 tape drive model. You can update the firmware of a 3592 tape drive without scheduling downtime. This enhancement is called a nondisruptive drive firmware update. It is available through the management GUI.
Cartridges can be identified by the text on the product label and by the color of the cartridge label, door, and write-protect switch. Table 1 describes the appearance of each cartridge type.

Table 1. Visual differences between 3592 tape cartridges
Text on product label Cartridge type1 Case color Label, door, and write-protect switch color Part number
Data JA Black Dark blue 18P7534
Extended data JB Black Dark green 23R9830
Advanced Type C data JC Black Dark purple 46X7452
Advanced Type D read/write JD Black Burnt orange 2727263
Advanced Type E read/write JE Black Brick red 02CE960
Advanced Data Type F JF Black Dark blue 02XY665
Advanced Type C economy JK Black Light purple 46X7453
Advanced Type D economy JL Black Apricot 2727264
Advanced Type E economy JM Black Red 02CE961
Economy WORM JR Platinum (silvery gray) Light Blue 24R0317
WORM JW Platinum (silvery gray) Dark Blue 18P7538
Extended WORM JX Platinum (silvery gray) Dark green 23R9831
Advanced Type C WORM JY Platinum (silvery gray) Dark purple 46X7454
Advanced Type D WORM JZ Platinum (silvery gray) Burnt orange 2727265
Advanced Type E WORM JV Platinum (silvery gray) Brick red 02FJ980 (Jag: No PN - aftermarket sales only
Notes:
  1. This designation appears as the last two characters on standard bar code labels.
The 3592 tape drive also supports cleaning and diagnostic cartridges:
  • Cleaning cartridges have a black case with a white label. Instead of a write-protect switch, there is a non-moveable light gray block. The cartridge door is also light gray. The label for this cartridge says CLEANING. If you order cleaning cartridges with pre-attached labels, the first three characters on the label are CLN followed by three digits and then the characters JA (for example, CLN 123JA).
  • Diagnostic cartridges – also called CE (Customer Engineer) cartridges – are used by IBM service representatives. The label for this cartridge is CE xxxJy, where xxx is three digits and Jy is the cartridge type (such as JJ or JK).