Communicator e3000 MPE/iX Release 6.5 (Non-Platform Software Release C.65.00 (30216-90291)

Chapter 4 105
Data Center Management
DLT4000/DLT7000 Differential Tape Support on MPE/IX
IMPORTANT Tapes created on a DLT4000 can always be read by the DLT7000; however,
DLT4000 drives are not capable of reading tapes created on DLT7000s. Since
both drives use the same physical media type, shops with a mixture of DLT
types will have to manage media created on DLT7000 separately so as not to
attempt to read it on a DLT4000. Typically if a DLT7000 tape is put into a
DLT4000, the “Use Cleaning Tape” indicator will be illuminated. If a
DLT7000 tape is to be over-written by a DLT4000, just ignore the “Use
Cleaning Tape” indicator and proceed overwriting the tape (do not clean the
drive). The “Use Cleaning Tape” will go off automatically when the tape is
overwritten or removed from the drive.
DLT is designed as a high-volume back-up solution. The tape media can endure
approximately 500,000 passes and has a shelf life of 10 years. The DLT4000 has a head life
of 10,000 tape motion hours and MTBF of 80,000 based on a 100% duty cycle. The
DLT7000 has a head life of 30,000 tape motion hours and MTBF of 200,000 hours with a
100% duty cycle (per Quantum’s literature). Unlike DDS drives, you should only clean DLT
devices when the cleaning light actually comes on. If you clean a DLT more often than is
indicated, you will reduce the life of the heads.