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OCTOBER 2006 VXA-320 TAPE DRIVE
23
CLEANING THE TAPE DRIVE
STORING THE CARTRIDGES
If VXAtape cartridges are stored properly, you can expect to successfully
recover data from them for 30 years. Be aware that the 30-year storage life is
for an archival tape, not a tape being used for daily backups.
As a general rule, use a new (or relatively unused) cartridge to store any
critical data you may need to recover many years from now. Do not use a
cartridge that has reached its retirement point. For routine backups that get
overwritten each day or week, it is acceptable to reuse cartridges until they are
ready for retirement.
Proper storage of cartridges helps prevent media-related problems. To ensure
a storage period of 30 years, follow these guidelines:
Remove the cartridge from the tape drive and store it as soon as possible
after you have finished writing or reading data. Avoid handling the
cartridge excessively. Never open the cartridge door or touch the tape.
Label each cartridge.
Set the cartridge write-protect switch to prevent accidental over-writing by
moving the switch to the edge of the cartridge. (See page 22.)
Keep each cartridge in its protective case or a container designed for
cartridge storage.
Store cartridges away from copiers and printers to avoid contamination by
toner and paper dust.
Store cartridges away from objects or devices that emit strong magnetic
fields.
CLEANING THE TAPE DRIVE
This section describes when and how to clean the tape drive to maintain
optimal performance. Circulating air may introduce debris into the tape path.
If debris builds up on the heads, error rates increase and backups take longer
because the tape drive must rewrite the data. The VXA-320 tape drive includes
an internal cleaning wheel to remove contamination from the tape path.
However, you should still clean the tape drive regularly with a separate
cleaning cartridge to maximize tape drive reliability and the life of your tapes.
DETERMINING WHEN TO CLEAN THE TAPE DRIVE
When the tape drive requires cleaning, LED 2 flashes amber. The tape drive
should be cleaned as soon as possible after this LED begins flashing.
Note: Some software applications may notify you that the tape drive requires
cleaning. Refer to your software documentation for more information.