User manual MAXELL DLT MEDIA

DLTtape Media Care Guide DLTtape Media Care Guide 1 2 3 4 5 6 How to care for, handle, inspect and ship your cartridges. DLTtape Media Care Guide 1 Why Media Care Is Important DLTtape cartridges are engineered to be reliable, robust and durable. To get the most from your DLTtape media follow the guidelines in this booklet. The safety of your data relies on proper care and handling. 2 Get To Know Your Cartridge 3 Media Care Overview 4 Visual Inspection 5 Shipping and Storing Cartridges · How do I ship cartridges? · Packing materials · How do I pack cartridges? 6 Quick Guide: Do's + Don'ts · Cartridge features · Write protect switch · Protecting your cartridge · Labeling your cartridge · If you drop your cartridge · Proper storage conditions · When do I perform a visual inspection? · Performing a visual inspection · Spotting damaged cartridges DLTtape Media and Super DLTtape Media A quick and easy guide to caring for your media and troubleshooting problems. 11 Table of Contents DLTtape Media Care Guide 2 Get To Know Your Cartridge Cartridge Features 1 Tape Leader Write Protect Switch Prevents overwrite or erasure of data. You can change the position of the write protect switch at any time. Buckles with drive leader to pull media from cartridge. DLTtape cartridges (mylar loop) Super DLTtape cartridges (plastic buckle with metal pin) 2 Reel Lock 2 1 DLTtape and SUPER DLTtape Super DLTtape Write protected­ slide down toward label. Orange indicator should be displayed. 1 4 Prevents media reel in the cartridge from spinning when the cartridge is not loaded in a drive. This ensures that proper media tension is maintained. 3 Cartridge Hub 2 Mechanical interconnect between the cartridge and the drive reel motor. 4 Cartridge Door 5 3 Provides access to the tape leader. 5 Serial Number DLTtape 2 Needed for identification purposes if calling for service. 2 Get to Know Your Cartridge DLTtape Media Care Guide 3 Media Care Overview Protecting Your Cartridge Labeling Your Cartridge · Protect cartridges from shock, vibration, moisture and magnetic fields. · Keep media in protective cases and store vertically when not in use · Make sure that no loose labels in the storage container stick to the bottom of the cartridge when inserting into tape drive. · Never touch the tape or tape leader. Dust and oils from your skin can contaminate the tape and affect performance. · Avoid direct sunlight­can deform cartridge and /or ruin media. · Use the sliding labels provided. Do not use adhesive labels or Post-it® notes. · Do not write directly on the cartridge. · Write in pen, not pencil. Using a pencil can introduce contaminants to the tape path. Proper Storage Conditions Media Use Proper Conditions Normal Storage (Non Archival) · Between 61 F and 90 F (16 C and 32 C) · Between 20% and 80% relative humidity · Maximum wet bulb temperature 78 F (26 C) · Between 64 F and 79 F (18 C and 26 C) · Between 40% and 60% relative humidity Data Archival Storage (for one or more years) 3 Media Care Overview DLTtape Media Care Guide 4 Visual Inspection When Do I Perform a Visual Inspection? · Best practices: Each time a tape is loaded or changed. · When a tape cartridge is dropped or subject to a hard physical shock. · When a shipment of tapes show any signs of shipping damage. · If the DLT, DLT VS or SDLT drive becomes inoperable after loading a tape. · If a drive error occurs, inspect the current and previous cartridge used in that drive. How Do I Perform a Visual Inspection? · Go through all inspection steps in Group 1, 2 and 3 (see below). · If issues are found in Group 1 only and no issues found in Groups 2 or 3 then use cartridge with caution. · Monitor software log for media degradation. · Consider copying the data onto a new cartridge and retiring the old cartridge. · If any issues are found in Group 2 or 3 then retire the media and use a different cartridge. Group 1: Case and Reel Inspection Case Inspect the case for cracks, chips, or signs of damage. Cartridge Hub Confirm that the spring-loaded hub on the bottom of the cartridge is centered. Press the hub. It should spring back if operating properly. Operation of the reel locks may release the hub and re-center. 4 Visual Inspection DLTtape Media Care Guide 4.1 Visual Inspection Cont'd Visual Inspection Group 2: External Cartridge Inspection Cartridge Inspect the exterior of the cartridge for chips, cracks, dents or missing screws. Gently shake the cartridge, listening for rattles or loose pieces. Write Protection Switch Move the switch. It should be able to snap into write-protected mode and write-enabled mode. Reel Locks Check that both reel locks are visible. Verify operation using a small flat blade screwdriver. The reel locks should spring back when released. Cartridge Door Ensure the door is movable and that the spring is present. 4.1 Visual Inspection Cont'd DLTtape Media Care Guide 4.2 Visual Inspection: Spotting Damaged DLTtape Media Visual Inspection Group 3: Inspecting the Leader: DLTtape Cartridges Normal Normal DLTtape leader. Tape Leader Missing Swallowed cartridge leader or broken tape. Broken Tape Leader Not always this obvious. Excessive Debris Stuck to tape leader and to tape. DLT Media Wrapped too Loosely Excessive slack apparant. (Note: OK to use cartridge if small amount of slack at the tape leader is present, but inspect cartridge again after use.) 4.2 Visual Inspection | DLTtape Cartridges | DLTtape Media DLTtape Media Care Guide 4.3 Visual Inspection: Spotting Damaged Super DLTtape Media Visual Inspection Group 3: Inspecting the Leader: Super DLTtape Cartridges Normal Normal SDLT tape leader. Toed-In Buckle Buckle ends clearly extend past edge of reel. Buckle Missing No buckle present. Buckle Bent One buckle end is bent and buckle is not symmetrical. SDLT Gap from Tape Leader Slack Tape Leader is clearly visible. Buckle Separated from Tape Leader Buckle has broken through tape leader on one side. Excessive Debris Stuck to tape. 4.3 Visual Inspection | Super DLTtape | Super DLTtape Media DLTtape Media Care Guide 5 Shipping and Storing Media How Do I Pack Cartridges for Shipping? ! Do Not Use the following shipping materials: Air pillows, Peanut packaging, Oversized boxes, Standard Flat boxes, Fed Ex boxes for example Wrap Each Cartridge Properly 2' x 2' sheets of bubble wrap, 1" thick Use the Correct Shipping Box Small box: 10" x 6" x 6" (Holds one cartridge ONLY) Large box: 14" x 10" x 6" / Multiple Cartridge Box with bubble wrap 2` 1` 2` 2` Packing Single or Multiple Cartridges # of Cartridges Bubble Wrap # of Boxes 6" 10" 1 2 3 4 5 6+ 1 sheet 1 small box 2 sheets 2 small boxes 3 sheets 1 large box 4 sheets 1 large box, 1 small box 5 sheets 1 large box, 2 small boxes Ship in multiple boxes in combination following the above guidelines. 6" 10" 6" 14" ! Orient tapes vertically in the shipping box Fill in all air space with bubble wrap. 5 Shipping Cartridges DLTtape Media Care Guide 6 Media Do's and Don'ts Media Care Do's Storage · Store cartridges in their protective cases. · Align cartridges so grooves in cases interlock. Media Care Don'ts Storage + Shipping · Don't store near magnetic fields. · Don't ship cartridges in drive. · Don't stack cartridges horizontally. Handling · Handle cartridges with great care. · Don't touch the tape or tape leader with bare fingers. Handling · Don't touch the media or leader with bare fingers. · Don't use pens or pencils during cartridge inspection. · Don't use adhesive labels. · Don't disassemble cartridges. Usage · Inspect cartridges prior to each use. · Unload cartridges prior to powering down the drive · Before using a new or stored cartridge, allow the cartridge 24 hours to adjust to the present operating temperature and humidity. Usage · Don't drop cartridge or use a dropped cartridge. 6 Media Do's and Don'ts DLTtape Media Care Guide For more information, visit our website at www.maxell-data.com For technical support call 1-800-377-5887. Maxell Corporation of America 22-08 Route 208, Fair Lawn, New Jersey 07410 Maxell Canada 50 Locke St. Unit#2, Concord, Ontario, Canada l4K5r4 Maxell Latin America Plaza Btesh, Calle 50, Panama City, Panama © 2005 Maxell Corporation of America