Quantum DLT 8000 Manual

123456
How to care for, handle, inspect
and ship your cartridges.
DLTtape
Media Care
Guide
www.quantum.com

123456
Why Media
Care Is
Important
Get To Know
Your Cartridge
Media Care
Overview
Visual
Inspection
Shipping
and Storing
Cartridges
Quick Guide:
Do’s + Don’ts
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.
• 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
• How do I ship cartridges?
• Packing materials
• How do I pack cartridges?
A quick and easy guide
to caring for your media
and troubleshooting
problems.
Table of Contents
11
DLTtape Media Care Guide www.quantum.com

Write Protect SwitchCartridge Features
Get To Know
Your Cartridge
Tape Leader
Buckles with drive leader to
pull media from cartridge.
DLTtape cartridges (mylar loop)
Super DLTtape cartridges
(plastic buckle with metal pin)
Prevents overwrite or erasure of data.
You can change the position of the write
protect switch at any time.
Reel Lock
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.
Cartridge Hub
Mechanical interconnect
between the cartridge and
the drive reel motor.
Serial Number
Needed for identification purposes
if calling for service.
1
DLTtape and
SUPER DLTtape
Write protected–
slide down toward label.
Orange indicator should
be displayed.
DLTtape VS1 and
DLT VS160 Cleaning
Write protected -
Indicator on top
points to closed lock
2
3
Cartridge Door
Provides access to the tape leader.
4
5
2
4
1
3
5
2
Super DLTtape
DLTtape
2
2
1
Get to Know Your Cartridge
2
DLTtape Media Care Guide www.quantum.com

Proper Storage 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)
Media Use Proper Conditions
Protecting Your Cartridge Labeling Your Cartridge
Media Care
Overview
3
• 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.
• 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 sunlight–can deform
cartridge and /or ruin media.
www.quantum.com
Media Care Overview
DLTtape Media Care Guide
3

Group 1: Case and Reel Inspection
When Do I Perform a Visual Inspection?
How 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.
• 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.
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.
Visual
Inspection
4
www.quantum.com
DLTtape Media Care Guide
Visual Inspection
4

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.
Visual Inspection
Visual
Inspection
Cont’d
4.1
Cartridge Door
Ensure the door is
movable and that
the spring is present.
www.quantum.com
DLTtape Media Care Guide
Visual Inspection Cont’d
4.1

Group 3: Inspecting the Leader: DLTtape Cartridges
Visual Inspection
Normal
Normal DLTtape leader.
Tape Leader Missing
Swallowed cartridge leader or broken tape.
Excessive Debris
Stuck to tape leader and to tape.
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.)
Broken Tape Leader
Not always this obvious.
Visual
Inspection:
Spotting
Damaged
DLTtape Media
DLT
4.2
www.quantum.com
DLTtape Media Care Guide
Visual Inspection | DLTtape Cartridges | DLTtape Media
4.2

Group 3: Inspecting the Leader: Super DLTtape Cartridges
Visual Inspection
Excessive Debris
Stuck to tape.
Visual
Inspection:
Spotting
Damaged
Super DLTtape
Media
4.3
SDLT
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.
Gap from Tape Leader Slack
Tape Leader is clearly visible.
Buckle Separated from
Tape Leader
Buckle has broken through tape
leader on one side.
www.quantum.com
DLTtape Media Care Guide
Visual Inspection | Super DLTtape | Super DLTtape Media
4.3

Shipping
and Storing
Media
5
2‘
2‘
2‘
10”
10”
6”
6”
14”
6“
1‘
!
!
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
Fill in all air space with bubble wrap.
Orient tapes vertically in the shipping box
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
Packing Single or Multiple Cartridges
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.
# of Cartridges Bubble Wrap # of Boxes
www.quantum.com
DLTtape Media Care Guide
Shipping Cartridges
5

Media Do’s
and Don’ts
6Media Care Do’s Media Care Don’ts
Storage
• Store cartridges in their protective cases.
• Align cartridges so grooves in cases interlock.
Handling
• Handle cartridges with great care.
• Don’t touch the tape or tape leader with bare
fingers.
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.
Storage + Shipping
• Don’t store near magnetic fields.
• Don’t ship cartridges in drive.
• Don’t stack cartridges horizontally.
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
• Don’t drop cartridge or use a dropped cartridge.
For more information,
www.quantum.com
DLTtape Media Care Guide
visit quantum.com
United States of America
Quantum Corporation
141 Innovation Drive
Irvine, CA 92617
U.S.A.
phone [phone]
fax [phone]
European Headquarters
Quantum Corporaton
3 Bracknell Beeches
Old Bracknell Lane West
Bracknell
Berkshire RG12 7BW
United Kingdom
phone [phone]
fax [phone]
Asia Pacific
Quantum Corporaton
9 Temasek Boulevard, #08-03
Suntec Tower Two
Singapore 038989
phone [phone]
fax [phone]
©2006Quantum Corporation. Quantum, the Quantum logo, and the DLTtape logo are all registered trademarks of Quantum Corporation. SDLT and Super DLTtape are trademarks of
Quantum Corporation. Other trademarks may be mentioned herein which belong to other companies.
81-81564-01 A01 February 2006