Server Options - Tape drive cleaning strategies for servers

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Service Hints & Tips

Document ID: MCGN-3PEJUU

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Server Options - Tape drive cleaning strategies for servers

Applicable to: World-Wide

The intention of this document is to identify preventative maintenance strategies for cleaning tape drives and how these
strategies pertain to tape drive problem determination on the following IBM tape drives:

- IBM 4/10GB 4mm tape drive 5.25"

Supported IBM Tape Cartridge
Approved IBM Tape Cleaning Cartridge

FRU p/n59H3536,16G8454
Option p/n74H8631
p/n8191160 (5pack)
p/n21F8763

- IBM 4/10GB 4mm tape drive 3.5"

Supported IBM Tape Cartridge
Approved IBM Tape Cleaning Cartridge

FRU p/n16G8456
Option p/n74H8632
p/n8191160 (5pack)
p/n21F8763

- IBM 12/24GB 4mm tape drive

Supported IBM Tape Cartridge
Approved IBM Tape Cleaning Cartridge

FRU p/n02K1150
Option p/n01K1282
p/n59H3465 (5pack)
p/n59H3090

- IBM 4/8GB TR4 SCSI tape drive

Supported IBM Tape Cartridge
Approved IBM Tape Cleaning Cartridge

FRU p/n02K1129
Option p/n06H9716
3M 84-9802-2974-8 (5pack)
GEN001-1(Geneva Corp)

- IBM 4/8GB TR4 EIDE tape drive

Supported IBM Tape Cartridge
Approved IBM Tape Cleaning Cartridge

FRU p/n02K3397
Option p/n06H9720
3M 84-9802-2974-8 (5pack)
GEN001-1(Geneva Corp)

- IBM 20/40GB 8mm tape drive

Supported IBM Tape Cartridge
Approved IBM Tape Cleaning Cartridge

FRU p/n76H0487
Option p/n76H0485
p/n59H2679 (5pack)
p/n59H2898

- IBM 35/70GB DLT tape drive

Supported IBM Tape Cartridge
Approved IBM Tape Cleaning Cartridge

FRU p/n00K7898
Option p/n00K7900
p/n59H3040 (5pack)
p/n59H3092

Dirty tape drives can cause a multitude of problems, usually starting with frequent error messages to clean the drive (either
by a solid amber LED on the tape drive to actual text messages from the backup application), finally ending with outright drive failures.

Problem determination of tape drives in servers should always include the elimination of tape drive cleaning issues such as
cycle life of cleaning cartridges, environment, frequency of cleaning, and frequency / duration of use. However, problem determination of any tape drive issue in a Server should always begin with verification of the hardware configuration as well as the Software configuration relative to the "Server Proven" Matrices. Matrices of Server Type/Model Hardware/Software are located on the IBM Website at URL:
http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/compat/index.html

Select categories from the "Compatibility Information on Options and Software" pulldown box, then click "GO"

After determining that these issues are not the cause, then applying diagnostics specific to the tape drive would be in
order. Final problem determination would require searching the RETAIN database as well as the IBM TechTips data base for relative issues. IBM TechTips may be accessed via the IBM Website at URL:
http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/support

1- Select "IBM PC Server Support" or "IBM Netfinity Support" (whichever is relative to the total configuration).
2- Select a Server from the "Select Family" box, then click "GO"
3- Select "Hints and TIPS"

PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE CHECKLIST:

- Routinely clean the tape drive with a approved cleaning cartridge.

- Clean the tape drive whenever the cleaning LED (amber LED) is on.

- Clean the tape drive after using a new media cartridge.

- Clean the tape drive after every 24 hours of tape motion.

See RETAIN Record # H133024 as a companion to this Tip with reference to the IBM 4/10 GB 4mm Tape Drive.

WORLD-WIDE SOURCES FOR TAPE DRIVE CARTRIDGES AND CLEANING CARTRIDGES:

US/Canada/Puerto Rico - 888-IBM-MEDIA
Central America - +1-305-539-3470
Mexico - 525-726-6203
South America - 305-599-0375
Spain - 900 983131
Italy - 1678 78349
France - 0590 5871
Germany - 0130 818 005
Sweden - 0207 94270
Norway - 800 11389
Denmark - 800 15534
Finland - 08001 13110
UK - 0800 968679
EMEA - +31 433 502 756
Japan - 03-3808-8486



SAS KEYWORDS:

    PSYS2              PSYSTAPE           UNCLASSIFIED       D/T8638

    D/T8639            D/T8640            D/T8641            D/T8642

    D/T8650            D/T8651            59H3536            76H0487

    00K7898            02K1150            02K1129            02K3397

    TAPE DRIVE         PC SERVER          NETFINITY 7000     CLEANING

Search Keywords

PSYS2, PSYSTAPE, UNCLASSIFIED, D/T8638, D/T8639, D/T8640, D/T8641, D/T8642, D/T8650, D/T8651, 59H3536, 76H0487, 00K7898, 02K1150, 02K1129, 02K3397, TAPE DRIVE, PC SERVER, NETFINITY 7000, CLEANING

Hint Category

Tape Drives, Retain

Date Created

03-12-97

Last Updated

07-01-99

Revision Date

07-01-2000

Brand

IBM PC Server

Product Family

PC Server 300, PC Server 310, PC Server 315, PC Server 320, PC Server 325, PC Server 330, PC Server 500, PC Server 520, PC Server 704, PC Server 720

Machine Type

8640, 8639, 8638, 8650, 8642

Model

Various

TypeModel

Retain Tip (if applicable)

H161972

Reverse Doclinks
and Admin Purposes

Owning B.U.: USA, USA=A, EMA=A, AFE=A , Date last altered: A97/12/04

- IBM 4/10GB 4mm tape drive 5.25" Supported IBM Tape Cartridge Approved IBM Tape Cleaning Cartridge	FRU p/n59H3536,16G8454 Option p/n74H8631 p/n8191160 (5pack) p/n21F8763
- IBM 4/10GB 4mm tape drive 3.5" Supported IBM Tape Cartridge Approved IBM Tape Cleaning Cartridge	FRU p/n16G8456 Option p/n74H8632 p/n8191160 (5pack) p/n21F8763
- IBM 12/24GB 4mm tape drive Supported IBM Tape Cartridge Approved IBM Tape Cleaning Cartridge	FRU p/n02K1150 Option p/n01K1282 p/n59H3465 (5pack) p/n59H3090
- IBM 4/8GB TR4 SCSI tape drive Supported IBM Tape Cartridge Approved IBM Tape Cleaning Cartridge	FRU p/n02K1129 Option p/n06H9716 3M 84-9802-2974-8 (5pack) GEN001-1(Geneva Corp)
- IBM 4/8GB TR4 EIDE tape drive Supported IBM Tape Cartridge Approved IBM Tape Cleaning Cartridge	FRU p/n02K3397 Option p/n06H9720 3M 84-9802-2974-8 (5pack) GEN001-1(Geneva Corp)
- IBM 20/40GB 8mm tape drive Supported IBM Tape Cartridge Approved IBM Tape Cleaning Cartridge	FRU p/n76H0487 Option p/n76H0485 p/n59H2679 (5pack) p/n59H2898
- IBM 35/70GB DLT tape drive Supported IBM Tape Cartridge Approved IBM Tape Cleaning Cartridge	FRU p/n00K7898 Option p/n00K7900 p/n59H3040 (5pack) p/n59H3092

	Search Keywords	PSYS2, PSYSTAPE, UNCLASSIFIED, D/T8638, D/T8639, D/T8640, D/T8641, D/T8642, D/T8650, D/T8651, 59H3536, 76H0487, 00K7898, 02K1150, 02K1129, 02K3397, TAPE DRIVE, PC SERVER, NETFINITY 7000, CLEANING
	Hint Category	Tape Drives, Retain
	Date Created	03-12-97
	Last Updated	07-01-99
	Revision Date	07-01-2000
	Brand	IBM PC Server
	Product Family	PC Server 300, PC Server 310, PC Server 315, PC Server 320, PC Server 325, PC Server 330, PC Server 500, PC Server 520, PC Server 704, PC Server 720
	Machine Type	8640, 8639, 8638, 8650, 8642
	Model	Various
	TypeModel
	Retain Tip (if applicable)	H161972
	Reverse Doclinks and Admin Purposes	Owning B.U.: USA, USA=A, EMA=A, AFE=A , Date last altered: A97/12/04