User`s guide

Chapter 4 Operation
Cleaning the Tape Drive
LTO-3 Half-Height Tape Drive User’s Guide 41
Cleaning the Tape Drive
Excessive tape debris or other material can accumulate on the tape heads
if the drive is:
• Used with non-approved media
• Operated in a hot, dusty environment
When this happens, the drive can experience excessive errors while
reading or writing, and illuminate the amber Status LED continuously
during operation. This means that the drive needs to be cleaned.
The LTO cleaning cartridge has the same dimensions as the tape cartridge
and contains an LTO Cartridge Memory (LTO-CM), but is loaded with
cleaning media instead of recording media. Always keep the LTO
cleaning cartridge in its protective case when not in use.
Procedure
To clean the LTO-3 Half-Height Tape Drive:
1 Load an LTO cleaning cartridge into the tape drive.
2 Observe that both the Status and Activity LEDs are on steady during
the cleaning process.
3 After the cleaning process completes, depending on the drive
configuration, either:
a The drive automatically ejects the LTO cleaning cartridge, or
b You must press the Eject button to eject the LTO cleaning
cartridge.
4 Write the date on the cartridge label for future reference.
Note: If the LTO-3 Half-Height Tape Drive does not recognize
the cartridge as an LTO cleaning cartridge, the drive stops
the cleaning process and ejects the cartridge.