[. . . ] DLTtape Media Care Guide DLTtape Media Care Guide 1 2 3 4 5 6 How to care for, handle, inspect and ship your cartridges. DLTtape Media Care Guide 1 Why Media Care Is Important DLTtape cartridges are engineered to be reliable, robust and durable. To get the most from your DLTtape media follow the guidelines in this booklet. [. . . ] Dust and oils from your skin can contaminate the tape and affect performance. · Avoid direct sunlight­can deform cartridge and /or ruin media. · Use the sliding labels provided. Using a pencil can introduce contaminants to the tape path. Proper Storage Conditions Media Use Proper Conditions Normal Storage (Non Archival) · Between 61 F and 90 F (16 C and 32 C) · Between 20% and 80% relative humidity · Maximum wet bulb temperature 78 F (26 C) · Between 64 F and 79 F (18 C and 26 C) · Between 40% and 60% relative humidity Data Archival Storage (for one or more years) 3 Media Care Overview DLTtape Media Care Guide 4 Visual Inspection When Do I Perform a Visual Inspection? · Best practices: Each time a tape is loaded or changed. · When a tape cartridge is dropped or subject to a hard physical shock. · If the DLT, DLT VS or SDLT drive becomes inoperable after loading a tape. · If a drive error occurs, inspect the current and previous cartridge used in that drive. How Do I Perform a Visual Inspection? · Go through all inspection steps in Group 1, 2 and 3 (see below). · If issues are found in Group 1 only and no issues found in Groups 2 or 3 then use cartridge with caution. · Consider copying the data onto a new cartridge and retiring the old cartridge. · If any issues are found in Group 2 or 3 then retire the media and use a different cartridge. Group 1: Case and Reel Inspection Case Inspect the case for cracks, chips, or signs of damage. Cartridge Hub Confirm that the spring-loaded hub on the bottom of the cartridge is centered. Operation of the reel locks may release the hub and re-center. 4 Visual Inspection DLTtape Media Care Guide 4. 1 Visual Inspection Cont'd Visual Inspection Group 2: External Cartridge Inspection Cartridge Inspect the exterior of the cartridge for chips, cracks, dents or missing screws. Gently shake the cartridge, listening for rattles or loose pieces. Write Protection Switch Move the switch. It should be able to snap into write-protected mode and write-enabled mode. Reel Locks Check that both reel locks are visible. The reel locks should spring back when released. Cartridge Door Ensure the door is movable and that the spring is present. 4. 1 Visual Inspection Cont'd DLTtape Media Care Guide 4. 2 Visual Inspection: Spotting Damaged DLTtape Media Visual Inspection Group 3: Inspecting the Leader: DLTtape Cartridges Normal Normal DLTtape leader. Tape Leader Missing Swallowed cartridge leader or broken tape. Broken Tape Leader Not always this obvious. Excessive Debris Stuck to tape leader and to tape. DLT Media Wrapped too Loosely Excessive slack apparant. [. . . ] Maxell Corporation of America 22-08 Route 208, Fair Lawn, New Jersey 07410 Maxell Canada 50 Locke St. Unit#2, Concord, Ontario, Canada l4K5r4 Maxell Latin America Plaza Btesh, Calle 50, Panama City, Panama © 2005 Maxell Corporation of America [. . . ]