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Service Hints & Tips |
Document ID: MCGN-3PEJUU |
This document is provided to IBM and our Business Partners to help sell and/or service IBM products. It is not to be distributed beyond that audience or used for any other purpose. |
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" |
FRU p/n59H3536,16G8454 |
- IBM 4/10GB 4mm tape drive 3.5" Supported IBM Tape Cartridge |
FRU p/n16G8456 |
- IBM 12/24GB 4mm tape drive Supported IBM Tape Cartridge |
FRU p/n02K1150 |
- IBM 4/8GB TR4 SCSI tape drive Supported IBM Tape Cartridge |
FRU p/n02K1129 |
- IBM 4/8GB TR4 EIDE tape drive Supported IBM Tape Cartridge |
FRU p/n02K3397 |
- IBM 20/40GB 8mm tape drive Supported IBM Tape Cartridge |
FRU p/n76H0487 |
- IBM 35/70GB DLT tape drive Supported IBM Tape Cartridge |
FRU p/n00K7898 |
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 |
Owning B.U.: USA, USA=A, EMA=A, AFE=A , Date last altered: A97/12/04 |