Specifications

Dell DDS/DAT Media Handbook Page 2
1 Introduction...............................................................................................5
2 Dell PowerVault DDS/DAT Drives and Media .........................................6
2.1 Drive Types and Basic Characteristics – DDS/DAT Drives...................................................... 6
2.2 Media types used in Dell PowerVault DDS/DAT drives........................................................... 7
2.3 Media Color Schemes and description ....................................................................................... 8
2.4 Invalid Media Symptoms............................................................................................................ 8
2.5 Migrating DDS/DAT media ....................................................................................................... 8
3 Cleaning & LED/LCD Definitions.............................................................9
3.1 Standalone Drive LED................................................................................................................ 9
3.2 Autoloader LCD and Magazine Layout ................................................................................... 10
3.3 Cleaning Cycles........................................................................................................................ 11
3.4 Cleaning media usage and drive cleaning lights ...................................................................... 11
3.5 Identifying Exhausted/Expired Cleaning Tape Characteristics................................................ 12
4 Stuck Tapes ............................................................................................13
5 Diagnostics .............................................................................................14
5.1 Troubleshooting Cleaning/Read/Write errors .......................................................................... 14
5.2 Dell PowerEdge Diagnostics .................................................................................................... 14
6 Erasing a prewritten DDS/DAT Tape.....................................................16
7 Media Handling ......................................................................................17
7.1 Perform a Thorough Inspection................................................................................................ 17
7.2 Handle the Cartridge Carefully................................................................................................. 17
7.3 Ensure Proper Packaging if shipping tapes .............................................................................. 17
7.4 Cartridge Storage Conditions ................................................................................................... 18
7.5 Cartridge life............................................................................................................................. 18
7.6 Media Do’s and Don’ts............................................................................................................. 19