Tape Cartridge Usage
68 SSL1016 Tape Autoloader Reference Guide
Transporting Tape Cartridges
To safely transport tape cartridges:
■ Always keep each tape cartridge in its protective plastic case when it is not in
the tape drive.
■ When carrying tape cartridges in their cases, always orient the cases so that
the grooves in the cases interlock. This prevents the cases from slipping apart
and falling.
■ Do not carry cartridges loosely in a box or in any other container. Allowing
cartridges to hit together exposes them to unnecessary physical shock.
Storing Tape Cartridges
To store tape cartridges properly:
■ Never stack more than five tape cartridges.
■ When placing tape cartridges in archival storage, make sure you stand each
tape cartridge vertically.
■ Store tape cartridges in their plastic containers and in the environmental
conditions recommended in your tape media documentation.
■ If storage and/or transportation of a tape cartridge has exposed it to conditions
outside the recommended environment, “condition” the tape cartridge to its
operating environment for a 24-hour period.
■ Do not place cartridges on or near devices that may produce magnetic fields
such as computer monitors, motors, or video equipment. Such exposure can
alter or erase data on the tape.