Troubleshooting
Problem
This does not affect IBM branded VXA Media, only Exabyte and Tandberg Data Brand VXA Data Cartridges (V23, X6, X10, and X23). VXA cleaning cartridges are not affected. The following VXA-320 drives can be effected by this media issue: Feature Code: 1892,Drive, Option 95P1975 (FRU 95P1977) Feature Code: 6279, Drive, Option 95P1974 (FRU 95P1976) Some Exabyte and Tandberg Data Brand "VXA Media" may have unacceptable performance in VXA-320 tape drives. This issue is limited to VXA-320 drives only. Use of this marginal media may cause the VXA-320 tape drive to request to be cleaned frequently or to report repeated media errors. There are no issues using this media in the VXA-2 drives. During evaluation of returned VXA-320 drives an issue was identified withspecific VXA Media. Testing has shown this media issue to be with media from one of Tandberg Data's/Exabyte's suppliers media.
Resolving The Problem
Source
RETAIN tip: H194182
Symptom
This does not affect IBM branded VXA Media, only Exabyte and Tandberg Data Brand VXA Data Cartridges (V23, X6, X10, and X23). VXA cleaning cartridges are not affected.
The following VXA-320 drives can be effected by this media issue:
| Feature Code: 1892, Drive, option 95P1975 (replacement part
number 95P1977) Feature Code: 6279, Drive, option 95P1974 (replacement part number 95P1976) |
Some Exabyte and Tandberg Data Brand "VXA Media" may have unacceptable performance in VXA-320 tape drives. This issue is limited to VXA-320 drives only.
Use of this marginal media may cause the VXA-320 tape drive to request to be cleaned frequently or to report repeated media errors.
There are no issues using this media in the VXA-2 drives.
During evaluation of returned VXA-320 drives an issue was identified with specific VXA Media. Testing has shown this media issue to be with media from one of Tandberg Data's/Exabyte's suppliers media. The suspected lots of media have been removed from distribution
Tandberg Data has several suppliers of media and this issue only affects media from a single supplier. This issue affects Tandberg Data and Exabyte branded VXA Data Cartridges only of specific lots. VXA cleaning cartridges are not affected.
IBM branded "VXA Media" is not affected. All IBM "VXA Media" work well in the VXA-320 drive.
Affected configurations
This tip is not hardware specific.
The system is configured with one or more of the following IBM Options:
- 160 / 320 GB VXA-320 SCSI Tape Drive, option 25R0045
- IBM 1U VXA-320 Tape Autoloader, option 87691VX
This tip is not software specific.
Solution
Users using the IBM VXA-320 tape drive with non-IBM branded (Tandberg Data or Exabyte branded) VXA V23, X23, X10 and/or X6 data tapes must inspect their data cartridges to see if they are using media within the suspected lots.
Inspection can be completed by entering the lot code(s) for data tapes currently in use at the following URL:
| http://www.tandbergdata.com/us/index.cfm/ |
If a user has VXA media that is affected by this issue, instructions will be provided for exchanging tapes free of charge.
Additional information
The serial/lot number can be found on the cartridge lid as shown below:
Potentially effected Lot Codes:
Tapes with serial numbers that start with 6 numbers followed by a letter (example 720951F) may need to be exchanged with new tapes but final determination can only be made at the following URL:
| http://www.tandbergdata.com/us/XVTape106qry |
Six numbers followed by a letter (for example: 720951F).
| 720951FB4 0708 B Made in Japan |
Lot Codes not effected:
Tapes with serial numbers beginning with letters (example H15H25702) are not affected and have no know issues. The serial number can be found on the cartridge lid as shown below:
| H15H25702-6815 C Made in Japan |
Tapes with serial numbers beginning with four numbers followed by a letter (example: 0337 J145) are not affected and have no known issues.
The serial number can be found on the cartridge lid as shown below:
| 0337 J145134XRI |
This action does not affect:
- VXA X data cartridges in use with VXA-2 tape drives.
- Any IBM branded VXA cartridges.
Additional Media Issues:
|
There is another, older, RETAIN tip issued for Tandberg Data/Exabyte media that should be reviewed to see if that media issue applies to this user (H187572 - Quality Alert for Exabyte Brand Old Formulation "VXA Media"). If a user is experiencing media issues with Tandberg Data or Exabyte media, they should contact their supplier of the media or Tandberg Data for assistance with their media issue. |
Containment:
|
The Tandberg Data has halted all shipments of suspected lots of media into or out of distributors inventories as of August 25, 2008. If a VXA-320 user contacts Tandberg Data Technical support with backup failures involving read/write errors and they are using this supplier's effected VXA Media (Identified by the lot code), all of the affected "VXA Media" in use by that user will be replaced with new "VXA Media" free of charge. |
Field Exposure:
|
Users using Exabyte or Tandberg Data media have the potential for exposure to this issue. Users using IBM branded media are not affected. Note: If IBM service representatives observe any of the potential affected media lots at a user location with an IBM VXA-320 drive they should notify the user of the information in this RETAIN tip and ask the user to follow the corrective action in this tip. |
Document Location
Worldwide
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Document Information
Modified date:
29 January 2019
UID
ibm1MIGR-5078279