Dell PowerVault 136T LTO User manual

DellTM LTO Media Handbook
Version 2.1
Last Modified 1/4/06
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
© 2005 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly
forbidden.
Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, PowerEdge, and PowerVault are
trademarks of Dell Inc.; Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft
Corporation.
Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities
claiming the marks and names or their products. Dell Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in
trademarks and trade names other than its own.
May 2005
2/27/2006

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Table of Contents
1List of Tables............................................................................................4
2List of Figures..........................................................................................5
3Introduction..............................................................................................6
4Dell PowerVault 110T LTO Drives and Media........................................7
4.1 Drive Types and Basic Characteristics – Dell LTO-1 Drives ...................................................7
4.2 Drive Types and Basic Characteristics – Dell LTO-2 and LTO-2-L Drives.............................8
4.3 Drive Types and Basic Characteristics – Dell LTO-3 Drives ...................................................9
4.4 Media types used in Dell PowerVault 110T LTO drives........................................................10
4.5 Media Color Schemes..............................................................................................................10
5Invalid Media Symptoms....................................................................... 12
6Cartridge Memory (CM) ......................................................................... 13
7Migrating LTO media............................................................................. 14
8WORM Media.......................................................................................... 15
9Cleaning.................................................................................................. 16
9.1 Label designations on LTO cleaning media............................................................................16
9.2 Cleaning media usage and drive cleaning lights......................................................................16
9.3 Expired Cleaning Tape Characteristics ...................................................................................17
10 Stuck Tapes............................................................................................ 19
11 Diagnostics ............................................................................................ 20
11.1 Troubleshooting Cleaning/Read/Write errors .........................................................................20
11.2 Dell PowerEdge Diagnostics...................................................................................................20
11.3 Drives with internal self test features ......................................................................................21
12 Erasing a prewritten LTO Tape............................................................. 23
13 Media Handling ..................................................................................... 24
13.1 Media description....................................................................................................................24
13.2 Perform a Thorough Inspection...............................................................................................24
13.3 Handle the Cartridge Carefully................................................................................................25
13.4 Ensure Proper Packaging if shipping tapes.............................................................................26
13.5 Cartridge Storage Conditions ..................................................................................................27
13.6 Cartridge life............................................................................................................................27
13.7 Media Do’s and Do Not’s........................................................................................................28
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1 List of Tables
Table 1 - LTO Drive Types and Basic Characteristics ...................................................................................7
Table 2 - LTO-2 and LTO-2-L Drive Types and Basic Characteristics .........................................................8
Table 3 - LTO-3 Drive Types and Basic Characteristics................................................................................9
Table 4 - Media Type per Drive....................................................................................................................10
Table 5 - Cleaning Characteristics Per Drive................................................................................................17
Table 6 - Characteristics of expired LTO cleaning tape in various drives....................................................17
Table 7 - Tape Environmental Specifications...............................................................................................27
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2 List of Figures
Figure 1- Dell PowerVault 110T LTO............................................................................................................7
Figure 2- Dell PowerVault 110T LTO-1........................................................................................................7
Figure 3- Dell PowerVault 110T LTO-1........................................................................................................7
Figure 4 - Dell PowerVault 110T LTO2.........................................................................................................8
Figure 5 - Dell PowerVault 110T LTO-2-L (Certance)..................................................................................8
Figure 6 - Dell PowerVault 110T LTO-2-L (Tandberg).................................................................................8
Figure 7 - Dell PowerVault 110T LTO 3........................................................................................................9
Figure 8 - Ultrium-1 Media..........................................................................................................................10
Figure 9 - Ultrium-2 Media...........................................................................................................................10
Figure 10 - Ultrium-3 Media.........................................................................................................................10
Figure 11 - WORM media - two toned.........................................................................................................10
Figure 12 - Universal Cleaning Tapes..........................................................................................................16
Figure 13 - DellOnline PowerEdge Diagnostics – Tape...............................................................................20
Figure 14- Setting the Write-Protect Switch.................................................................................................23
Figure 15- LTO Ultrium Data Cartridge.......................................................................................................24
Figure 16- Correct leader pin location..........................................................................................................24
Figure 17- Media Inspection 1- bad tape......................................................................................................25
Figure 18- Split seam on LTO tape...............................................................................................................26
Figure 19- Media Inspection 2- good tape....................................................................................................26
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3Introduction
This document describes media compatibility, handling, and usage for all DellTM PowerVaultTM 110T LTO
Drives.
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4Dell PowerVault 110T LTO Drives and Media
4.1 Drive Types and Basic Characteristics – Dell LTO-1 Drives
Figure 1- Dell PowerVault 110T LTO
Figure 2- Dell PowerVault 110T LTO-1
Figure 3- Dell PowerVault 110T
LTO-1
Capacity
(native/compressed) 100 GB/200 GB 100 GB/200 GB 100 GB/200 GB
Native Speed 15 MB/s 15 MB/s 15 MB/s
Primary Media Ultrium-1 Ultrium-1 Ultrium-1
Physical Device
Description •Single air intake along
bottom.
•Eject button in top right
corner
•Status lights (Vertical)
- Power
- Activity
- Error
- Status
•Ultrium–1 label on drive
bezel.
•Split air intakes on both
corners at the bottom
•Flush mount eject button
•Status lights (Vertical )
- Ready
- Drive error
- Tape error
- Use cleaning cartridge
•7 segment display
•Only sold on 132T
drive sled
Used in: •Dell PV110T LTO table
top and internal
standalone
•Dell PV 122T
•Dell PV 136T
•Dell PV 114T
•Dell PV110T LTO-1 table top
and internal standalone
•Dell PV 132T
Table 1 LTO Drive Types and Basic Characteristics
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4.2 Drive Types and Basic Characteristics – Dell LTO-2 Drives
Figure 4 - Dell PowerVault 110T LTO2
Figure 5 - Dell PowerVault 110T LTO-2-L
(Certance)
Figure 6 - Dell PowerVault 110T LTO-2-L
(Tandberg)
Capacity
(native/
compressed)
200 GB/400 GB 200 GB/400 GB 200GB/400GB
Native Speed 35 MB/s 24 MB/s 24 MB/s
Primary Media Ultrium-2 Ultrium-2 Ultrium-2
Physical Device
Description •7 segment display
•Full height
•Ultrium-2 label
•Ultrium-2 label
•Int drive has full height
expander
•LEDs (Vertical)
- Power
- Activity
- Error
- Status
•Ultrium-2 label
•Half Height
•LEDs arranged horizontally
with symbols
Used in: •Dell PV 132T
•Dell PV136T
•Dell PV 122T
•Dell PV110T LTO-2 table
top and internal standalone
•Dell PV 114T
•Dell PV110T LTO-2-L table
top and internal standalone
•Dell PV114T
•Dell PV124T
•Supported internally on
select servers
•Dell PV 110T LTO-2-L
internal standalone
•Supported internally on
select servers
Table 2 - LTO-2 and LTO-2-L Drive Types and Basic Characteristics
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4.3 Drive Types and Basic Characteristics – Dell LTO-3 Drives
Figure 7 - Dell PowerVault 110T LTO 3
Capacity (native/compressed) 400 GB/800 GB
Native Speed 80 MB/s
Primary Media Ultrium-3
Physical Device Description •7 segment display
•Ultrium-3 label
•Full height
Used in: •Dell PV132T (SCSI and Native Fibre)
•Dell PV 136T
•Dell PV110T LTO-3 table top and internal standalone
•Dell PV114T
•Dell PV124T
Table 3 - LTO-3 Drive Types and Basic Characteristics
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4.4 Media types used in Dell PowerVault 110T LTO drives
Figure 8 - Ultrium-1
Media
Figure 9 - Ultrium-2 Media
Figure 10 - Ultrium-3
Media
Figure 11 - WORM media -
two toned
Part No. 340-7240 340-8701 341-2645
341-2655
Dell PowerVault
110T LTO Primary Not Supported Not Supported Not Supported
Dell PowerVault
110T LTO-1 Primary Not Supported Not Supported Not Supported
Dell PowerVault
110T LTO-2 Backward Compatible – Read/Write Primary Not Supported Not Supported
Dell PowerVault
110T LTO-2- L
(Certance)
Backward Compatible –
Read/Write Primary Not Supported Not Supported
Dell PowerVault
110T LTO2- L
(Tandberg)
Backward Compatible –
Read/Write Primary Not Supported Not Supported
Dell PowerVault
110T LTO 3 Backward Compatible – Read-Only Backward Compatible – Read/Write Primary Supported
Table 4 - Media Type per Drive
4.5 Media Color Schemes
•Dell LTO-1 media is black and marked with the Ultrium-1 label. (See figure 8)
•Dell LTO-2 media is purple and marked with the Ultrium-2 label. (See figure 9)
•Dell LTO-3 media is blue-gray and marked with the Ultrium-3 label. (See figure 10)
•Dell LTO-3 WORM (write once read many) media is gray on the bottom and the same blue-gray color
on the top and is marked with a WORM label. (See figure 11)
Note: WORM media that is not labeled “Dell” is always two toned with gray on the bottom and uses the
respective color chosen by the tape vendor on the top. The WORM label will be present on the media
regardless of media vendor..
•All Dell LTO cleaning media is black. Depending on the vintage of the cartridge it may be marked
Ultrium 1, 2, 3 or a combination of the 3. Please see section 9 on “Cleaning” for more details on
cleaning media.
Note: There can be no guarantee that all Ultrium- xtapes will be the same color. Please pay attention
to the Ultrium label on the tape to determine correct media for your drive. Although Dell brands their
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own media, all certified media vendors are supported for use in Dell products. Dell recommends the use
of Dell branded media in all Dell PowerVault LTO drives.
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5Invalid Media Symptoms
Symptoms of using invalid media as reported by the drive:
1. Cleaning light comes on
2. Media light may flash or stay on
3. Tape ejects
4. Nothing – backup software says invalid media
5. Drives with a seven segment display displays a 7on the LEDs
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6Cartridge Memory (CM)
Tape drives require information about the tape cartridge being used. For LTO tape cartridges, this information is
stored in a small chip within the tape itself referred to as Cartridge Memory (CM). This chip contains nonvolatile
memory which responds through a passive radio frequency interface.
In addition to the type of cartridge, the CM holds a selection of important information which the drive uses to
setup and calibrate. The CM also contains a tape directory to be able to quickly search for data sets. If for some
reason the cartridge memory is damaged or corrupted, the user will experience difficulty with the cartridge.
If the cartridge memory fails, the user data can be recovered. To recover the data, set the write protect tab on the
cartridge and the load the cartridge into an Ultrium drive. The drive stores enough information on tape to be able
to recognize the tape. The data directory however is lost. For this reason the drive can only search from the
beginning of tape (BOT) to end of tape (EOT) across all wraps to find the data. The drive cannot search fast (Fast
Search option) to the correct location to find the needed data set. Recovery of a full tape of data could take up to 3
hours.
Symptom Cause Solution
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7Migrating LTO media
Known issues for media migration from one manufacturer to another have been fixed through drive
firmware. Regardless of what vendor or OEM product is being used to create media, always use the latest
available firmware for the drive. This will ensure optimal performance for migrating tape between different
drive vendors.
Note: Linear Tape-Open (LTO) technology is built on an open standard. Migrating media from one drive
manufacturer to another is fully supported.
Note: As of LTO-3 all LTO media is at least backward read compatible. (see table 4 for details)
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8WORM Media
LTO-3 WORM media stands for Write Once, Read Many. This means once data is written to a piece of WORM
media, the data on the tape cannot be changed or overwritten. WORM media can be appended to if data is
already present on the tape. The media also stores unique identifiers which allow the drive to determine whether
or not the media has been tampered with.
WORM media offers a method of data retention for compliance laws such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Specific WORM media barcode labels will end in LT. Currently, only Dell LTO-3 drives have the ability to read
from and write to WORM media. WORM media is not compatible with Dell LTO-1, LTO-2, and LTO-2-L
drives.
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9Cleaning
Note: LTO drives in general do not require frequent cleaning.
9.1 Label designations on LTO cleaning media.
For the last several years, cleaning tapes for LTO drives have been UCC (universal cleaning cartridges).
Prior to the universal or for use with all designation of cleaning media, vendor specific cleaning media was
used. For the purposes of this document only universal or for use with all cleaning media will be discussed. If a
tape is not labeled universal or for use with all,then Dell recommends the user to purchase a tape with that
designation.
Note: As of this document, LTO-1, 2, and 3 all use the same cleaning media although it might not be labeled as
such depending on the vintage of the tape.
9.2 Cleaning media usage and drive cleaning lights
Note: New Dell UCC tapes are labeled as "For Use With All Ultrium 1, 2, & 3 Drives”
Figure 12 - Universal Cleaning Tapes
Physical
Description Black tape labeled with “For Use With All Ultrium X drives” Ultrium 2 and 3 may or may not be written on the tape
Part Number 310-5084
Drive Type # of Tape Motion Hours before
Cleaning Light Illuminates # of uses before cleaning tape expires How is the cleaning required displayed
Dell PowerVault
110T LTO Not Supported 15 Use cleaning Cartridge light
Dell PowerVault
110T LTO-1 500 50
Status light
Dell PowerVault
110T LTO-2-L
(Certance) 500 50
Power light on Solid-Green, Status
light on Solid-Amber
Dell PowerVault
110T LTO-2-L
(Tandberg) 100 50 Cleaning LED (amber) ON
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Dell PowerVault
110T LTO-2 Not Supported 50 Con 7 segment display
Dell PowerVault
110T LTO-3 40 full tape passes = 16TB or
8TB with verify enabled *50 Con 7 segment display
Table 5 -Cleaning Characteristics Per Drive
* The Dell PowerVault LTO-3 tape drive has enabled period (maintenance) cleaning on the drive by default. Do
not be alarmed if you are seeing cleaning light come on more frequently than you are used to seeing on Dell
PowerVault LTO-2. If you perform a backup with verify, you will see a cleaning request twice as frequently as
when verify is not used. This is because verify enabled will double the amount of passes the tape makes over the
head. Most backup applications support Tape Alerts. If the drive is requesting cleaning the backup software
should notify the user of the need to clean.
9.3 Expired Cleaning Tape Characteristics
Drive Type Cleaning with a Good Tape Cleaning with an Expired Tape
Dell PowerVault 110T LTO Ready light blinks green - Use cleaning
cartridge light comes on solid - ejects
tape.
Ready light blinks green - ejects tape
out shortly after loading.
Dell PowerVault 110T LTO-1 (Power light on Solid-Green, Activity
light on Solid-Green, Status light on
Solid-Amber) Eject tape when done.
Power light on Solid-Green, Activity
light on Solid-Green, Status light
Blinks-Amber and the tape is ejected
shortly after inserting.
Dell PowerVault 110T LTO-2 No 7 segment display indicator.
Activity light blinks green and tape
ejects when finished.
Pre firmware 53Y3 - No 7 segment
display indicator. Activity light blinks
green but ejects tape much quicker -
shortly after loading.
Firmware 53Y3 and newer. – 7
segment display shows 7, Activity light
blinks amber, and tape is ejected shortly
after inserting. When tape is
completely removed all light indicators
go out.
Dell PowerVault 110T LTO-2-L
(Certance)
Power light on Solid-Green, Activity
light on Solid-Green, Status light on
Solid-Amber. Ejects tape when done.
Power light on Solid-Green, Activity
light on Solid-Green, Status light
Blinks-Amber and the tape is ejected
shortly after inserting.
Dell PowerVault 110T LTO-2-L
(Tandberg)
Press and hold the Eject button for 6
sec. The drive enters “Service mode”
shown by all LED’s flashing slowly.
Press Eject twice, the Activity LED
flashes fast, the double-click the Eject
button.
Cleaning light ON, Activity Light
Flashing, Fault Light Flashing,
Cartridge hold in the drive
When pressing Eject button, the
Cartridge is ejected and the Cleaning
light stays ON.
Dell PowerVault 110T LTO-3 No 7 segment display indicator.
Activity light blinks green and tape
ejects when finished.
7 segment display shows 7, Activity
light blinks amber, and tape is ejected
shortly after inserting. When tape is
completely removed all light indicators
go out.
Table 6 Characteristics of expired LTO cleaning tape in various drives
The cleaning light on an LTO drive can come on for two reasons.
1. A periodic maintenance threshold has been exceeded.
2. A high error rate has occurred
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This can happen for 3 reasons.
•A head clog
•A hardware failure on the drive
•Bad or marginal media. (see Troubleshooting Cleaning/Read/Write errors)
Note-1: Run Dell Online PowerEdgeTM Diagnostics to determine media or hardware related failures.
Note-2: Dell Online Power Edge Diagnostics does not support Dell PowerVault 110T LTO (see figure 1)
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10 Stuck Tapes
There is a good possibility that a stuck tape was generated by dropped or damaged media. Different drives will
react differently if damaged media is inserted. Some may eject a tape and some tapes may become permanently
stuck in the drive and require the drive to be returned. Most LTO drives have a capability to reset the drive in the
event of a stuck tape or other non-responsive drive issues. Attempting this drive reset may or may not help in
removing a stuck tape.
Note: Dell PowerEdge Diagnostics also includes a Media Eject test that can be run to force an eject on a tape.
How to perform a device reset on Dell PowerVault 110T LTO
drives
Dell PowerVault 110T LTO Insert a paper clip into the reset hole on the front panel of the drive
Dell PowerVault 110T LTO-1 Press and hold the Eject button for more than 5 seconds and release the Eject button –
press Eject again to eject tape
Dell PowerVault 110T LTO-2-L
(Certance) Press and hold the Eject button for more than 5 seconds. The tape should eject within 40
seconds.
Dell PowerVault 110T LTO-2-L
(Tandberg) Press and hold the Eject button for 6 sec. The drive enters “Service mode” shown by all LED’s flashing slowly. Press Eject twice, the Activity LED flashes fast, then double-click
the Eject button.
Dell PowerVault 110T LTO-2 Press and hold the Eject button for more than 10 seconds and release the Eject button –
press Eject again to eject tape.
Dell PowerVault 110T LTO-3 Press and hold the Eject button for more than 10 seconds and release the Eject button -
press Eject again to eject tape
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11 Diagnostics
11.1 Troubleshooting Cleaning/Read/Write errors
If Clean, Read, or Write errors are reported by backup software try alternate pieces of media before replacing tape
drives.
To troubleshoot errors with tape drives, you need to determine the root of the problem. Tape related problems
can come from two primary sources; Media and Hardware. Dell Online PowerEdge Diagnostics can be used
under either Microsoft® Windows® or Linux to narrow down the likely cause. This tool can be downloaded for
free from support.dell.com.
Within the Diagnostic tools there is a Media test which can be run in a long test or quick test mode to help with
the diagnosis. The quick test will fill 20 percent of the tape and the long test will write to 80 percent. Reading,
writing, spacing, and verifying will all happen during this test so do not use it as a performance tool.
Note: The Media test will overwrite data on the tape. Dell suggests using a blank (new) or scratch piece of
media.
In the event of a failure complete the following procedure.
1. Run the test on one tape. (We suggest running the full test if you think the errors occur later in the
backup – run the short test if errors tend to occur early in the backup)
2. If a failure occurs, mark the tape and set it aside.
3. Insert another tape and rerun the same test.
4. If failure occurs, clean the drive and try a 3rd tape.
5. If failures persist, contact Dell Support.
11.2 Dell PowerEdge Diagnostics
Figure 13 - DellOnline PowerEdge Diagnostics – Tape
Dell Online PowerEdge Diagnostics can be used to troubleshoot tape drives in Linux and Windows.
Note: At the time this document is being written, a tape device driver must be loaded in Windows device
manager in order to run Dell PowerEdge Diags Version 2.2. Future version may eliminate this
requirement.
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