Chapter 4
C
HAPTER
4
DLT VS80 Use
This chapter explains how to use your DLT VS80 tape drive. It describes the front panel LEDs and controls, how to load and eject DLTtape IV data cartridges, how to use and care for DLTtape IV data cartridges, and how to use the cleaning cartridge.
N
OTE
: For current information on operating system, application, and tape driver compatibility, visit: www.quantum.com
4.1
Front Panel Controls and Indicators
This section explains what the front-panel controls and indicators are, and how they are used. See
Figure 4-1
.
External Power LED
(tabletop tape drive only)
Data cartridge door
Drive Error LED
Ready LED
Clean/Media LED
Figure 4-1.
Tabletop Tape Drive Front Panel Layout
Unload button
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Chapter 4: DLT VS80 Use
4.1.1 Indicator Activity During Power-On Self-Test (POST)
Every time you power on your tape drive, it conducts a power-on self-test (POST). This test ensures that your tape drive is working properly and is ready to use. While POST is in progress, watch the front panel LEDs.
1.
The LEDs illuminate all at once and then turn off.
2.
The Ready (green) LED blinks during initialization and remains illuminated after POST.
3.
The tape drive emits a buzzing sound as it calibrates the read/write head’s position. POST is complete only after the buzzing sound stops.
POST takes sever seconds to complete, after which the tape drive is ready to use.
4.1.2 Indicator Activity During Tape Drive Operation
When your tape drive is in use, a variety of indicator LEDs can blink or be illuminated.
Table 4-1
describes the circumstances under which one or more indicators are illuminated or blinking immediately after POST.
Table 4-1.
Tape Drive Status and Indicator Activity
Tape Drive Status
Power to the tape drive
No power to the tape drive
The tape drive detected an unrecoverable hard error condition
The tape drive detected a recoverable read/write error
Indicator Activity
The Ready LED is on
The Ready LED is off
The Drive Error LED is on
The Clean/Media LED blinks
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DLT VS80 Tape Drive Installation and Operations Guide
Table 4-2
describes what each front panel indicator means.
Table 4-2.
Indicator Activity
Indicator
Drive Error (amber)
Ready (green)
Clean /Media (amber)
All three LEDs
External Power LED
State
Blinking
Off
On
Operating Condition
An unrecoverable tape drive error or a POST error has occurred— call Technical Support.
No tape drive Errors.
Power to the tape drive.
Off No power to the tape drive.
Blinking (constant period & duty cycle)
Tape is in motion.
Reserved.
Blinking (dual period & duty cycle)
Blinking A hard read/write error that is probably recoverable has occurred. Clean the tape drive.
The LED is off after completing a cleaning cycle with a DLT1 cleaning cartridge or after loading a properly formatted data cartridge into the tape drive.
Cycling the power to the tape drive also turns off the LED.
Off
On
Blinking
On
Off
Cleaning is not required.
POST is starting.
Firmware upgrade is in progress.
Power to the tape drive.
No power to the tape drive.
N
OTE
: Refer to
Table 3-2, “Understanding Errors Indicated by Front Panel
LEDs” on page 3-20
for help troubleshooting your tape drive.
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Chapter 4: DLT VS80 Use
4.2
Data Cartridge Use and Care
Your tape drive uses only DLTtape IV data cartridges. Your tape drive can read—but not write to—
DLTtape IV data cartridges previously written in the DLT 4000 format.
N
OTE
: Your tape drive automatically unloads any other data cartridge types and any data cartridges whose format it cannot read. Make sure all data cartridges that you use for writing are either unformatted or have been used with your tape drive before loading them.
4.2.1 Loading a Data Cartridge
After the tape drive completes POST, insert the DLTtape IV data cartridge into the data cartridge slot,
oriented as shown in the Figure 4-2 , and push the data cartridge gently into the tape drive until it stops.
Figure 4-2.
Loading a DLTtape IV Data Cartridge
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DLT VS80 Tape Drive Installation and Operations Guide
4.2.2 Unloading a Data Cartridge
C
AUTION
Remove the data cartridge from your tape drive before powering off the tabletop tape drive or the host server or workstation for an internal tape drive. Leaving a data cartridge in the tape drive when power is off can result in data cartridge and tape drive damage and may cause data loss because the header/catalog data may not be properly written before the tape drive loses power.
To unload a data cartridge from your tape drive, follow these steps:
1.
Press the Unload button or use your backup software to unload the data cartridge. The Ready LED blinks while the tape drive rewinds the tape. When the tape drive has rewound the tape, it unloads the data cartridge.
2.
Gently remove the data cartridge from the tape drive by pulling it directly out as shown in
Figure 4-3
.
Figure 4-3.
Unloading a DLTtape IV Data Cartridge
3.
Return the data cartridge to its storage case to prolong data cartridge life.
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Chapter 4: DLT VS80 Use
4.2.3 Write-Protecting Data Cartridges
All DLTtape IV data cartridges have a write-protect switch to prevent accidental erasure of data.
Before loading a DLTtape IV data cartridge into your tape drive, make sure the write-protect switch on the front of the data cartridge is in the position you need.
Orange indicator
Write-protected
Write-protect switch
Write-enabled
Figure 4-4.
Data Cartridge Write-Protect Switch
Slide the switch to the left to write-protect the data cartridge. A small orange rectangle is visible, indicating that the data cartridge is write-protected.
Slide the switch to the right to allow your tape drive to write data to the data cartridge.
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4.2.4 Caring for Your Data Cartridges
To ensure the longest possible life for all of your DLTtape IV data cartridges, follow these guidelines:
•
Do not drop or strike a data cartridge. Excessive shock can displace the tape leader, making the data cartridge unusable and possibly damaging your tape drive.
•
Store your DLTtape IV data cartridges in their storage cases.
•
Do not expose your DLTtape IV data cartridges to direct sunlight or sources of heat, including portable heaters and heating ducts.
•
The operating temperature range for your DLTtape IV data cartridges is 50 ºF to 104 ºF (10 ºC to
40 ºC). The storage temperature range is 60 ºF to 90 ºF (16 ºC to 32 ºC). Always store your
DLTtape IV data cartridges in their storage cases.
•
If a DLTtape IV data cartridge has been exposed to temperatures outside the ranges specified above, stabilize the data cartridge at room temperature for the same amount of time it was exposed to extreme temperatures, up to 24 hours.
•
Store your DLTtape IV data cartridges in a dust-free environment in which relative humidity is always between 20% and 80% (noncondensing). The ideal storage relative humidity is 40%,
±
20%.
•
Do not place DLTtape IV data cartridges near sources of electromagnetic energy or strong magnetic fields, such as computer monitors, electric motors, speakers, or X-ray equipment.
Exposure to electromagnetic energy or magnetic fields can destroy data on data cartridges.
•
Place identification labels only in the slide-in slot on the front of the data cartridge.
•
Never use any type of adhesive labels on your DLTtape IV data cartridges.
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4.2.5 Using the Cleaning Cartridge
When the Clean/Media LED is illuminated, your tape drive’s read/write head may need to be cleaned.
Follow the instructions on
page 4-4 to load the cleaning cartridge. Cleaning typically takes several
minutes, during which the Ready LED blinks.
C
AUTION
Use only Quantum-approved cleaning cartridges in your tape drive. Use of any other type of cleaning cartridge can damage the read/write head in your tape drive. If you load any other type of cleaning cartridge or method, your tape drive unloads it within approximately 25 seconds. The part number for the
Quantum cleaning cartridge is BHXHC-02.
4-8
Figure 4-5.
DLT Cleaning Cartridge
Each cleaning cartridge has a useful life of 20 cleanings. The cleaning cartridge includes a label with
20 small boxes printed on it. Always place a check mark in a box each time you use the cleaning cartridge to clean the tape drive. Replace the cleaning cartridge when you have checked all the boxes.
When the cleaning cartridge has cleaned the read/write head, the Clean/Media LED turns off and the tape drive ejects the cleaning cartridge.
N
OTE
: If any LEDs blink or if the Clean/Media LED is illuminated when you insert another data cartridge immediately after cleaning, see
Table 4-2 on page 4-3
for more information.
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