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Dell PowerVault DLT, VS, and SDLT Media Handbook Version 2.0

www

.dell.com | support.dell.com

 

NOTE: 

In Table 1-3, the media types formatted in bold can read and write Type IV media only. 

 

NOTE: 

In Table 1-3, the media type formatted in italics can read and write VS1 media. It can also read 

Type IV media written by VS or DLT1 drives.

 

NOTE: 

In Table 1-3, the media types formatted in underlines can read and write SDLT media. They can 

also read Type IV media written by DLT4000, DLT7000, DLT8000, VS80, and DLT1 drives.

Orange alert/media light comes on.

The orange alert/media light illuminates and the tape is automatically ejected. The alert/media light will go off if readable 

media is inserted into the drive or power is cycled on the drive.

No lights will come on. The drive automatically ejects the tape.

No lights come on. Backup software shows bad media.

Orange (220) LED blinks indicating that a 220 formatted tape is in the drive.

No lights blink. The tape does not eject. There is no indicator on the SDLT that would indicate no data on tape.

* Under default settings the DLT 7000 and DLT8000 drives write to tape in their default density. 70 GB 2:1 compressed and 80 

GB 2:1 compressed respectively. Tapes written by these devices may be read by DLT4000, DLT1, and VS80 if density 20.0 is 
selected on the front panel of the drive prior to formatting the tape media with a DLT7000 or DLT8000 drive.  This will be data 
destructive.

** Density selection is not mechanically available on the front panel of SDLT drives. However, for backward compatibility 

reasons, an SDLT320 Density Select Utility is available on Quantum's website in the SDLT320 download area.  This software 
utility will allow an SDLT320 drive to write in an SDLT220 format. The utility is available for both Microsoft

®

 Windows

®

 and 

Linux platforms.

Table 1-3.

Type IV, VS1, and SDLT1 Media Read/Write Compatibility

Media Types

Read by 
DLT4000

Read by 
DLT7000

Read by 
DLT8000

Read by 
DLT1

Read by 
VS80

Read by 
VS160

Read by 
SDLT220

Read by 
SDLT320

New Unformatted Type IV

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

2

No

6

No

6

Type IV written by DLT4000

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No2

Yes1

Yes

Type IV written by DLT7000 

No*

Yes

Yes

No

2

*

No

2

*

No

2

Yes

1

Yes

Type IV written by DLT8000 

No*

No*

Yes

No

2

*

No

2

*

No

2

Yes

1

Yes

Type IV written by DLT1 

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

1

Yes

1

Yes

Type IV written by VS80

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

1

Yes

1

Yes

VS1 written by VS160

No

No

No

No

No

Yes

No

No

SDLT1 written by SDLT220  No

No

No

No

3

No

3

No

2

Yes

Yes

5

SDLT1 written by SDLT320 No

No

No

No

3

No

3

No

2

No

4

**

Yes

Summary of Contents for PowerVault 110T DLT VS160

Page 1: ...w w w d e l l c o m s u p p o r t d e l l c o m Dell PowerVault DLT VS and SDLT Media Handbook Version 2 0 ...

Page 2: ...ubject to change without notice 2005 Dell Inc All rights reserved Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc is strictly forbidden Trademarks used in this text Dell the DELL logo and PowerVault are trademarks of Dell Inc Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to ref...

Page 3: ...toms 5 Reusing Type IV Media Formatted by DLT7000 or DLT8000 in VS80 DLT1 Drives 5 DLT1 and VS80 Drives 5 VS160 Drives 5 SDLT320 and SDLT220 Drives 5 Cleaning Considerations 7 Exhausted Cleaning Media 8 Media Handling 9 Cartridge Features 9 Media Care Guidelines 10 ...

Page 4: ...2 ...

Page 5: ... NOTE This document will not cover DAT72 DDS4 LTO and LTO2 tape technologies Drives and Media Table 1 1 DLT Drive Types and Basic Characteristics Capacity native compressed Native Speed Primary Media Figure 1 1 DLT1 40 GB 80 GB 10 8 GB hr DLT Digital Linear Tape Type IV Figure 1 2 VS80 40 GB 80 GB 10 8 GB hr DLT Type IV Figure 1 3 VS160 80 GB 160 GB 28 8 GB hr VS1 Value Smart Tape Figure 1 4 SDLT2...

Page 6: ...le 1 1 DLT Drive Types and Basic Characteristics Capacity native compressed Native Speed Primary Media Table 1 2 Primary Media Type Per Drive Part No DLT4000 DLT7000 DLT8000 DLT1 VS80 VS160 SDLT220 SDLT320 Figure 1 6 Type IV Media 340 0444 Primary Primary Primary Primary Primary Read only Read only Read only Figure 1 7 VS1 Media 341 0117 No No No No No Primary No No Figure 1 8 SDLT Media 340 7844 ...

Page 7: ...ed by DLT 7000 and DLT 8000 unless the hardware compression level has been changed See Reusing Type IV Media Formatted by DLT7000 or DLT8000 in VS80 DLT1 Drives VS160 Drives VS160 drives use VS1 media to read and write VS160 drives can read Type IV media only if the media was formatted by DLT1 or VS80 drive They cannot read Type IV media formatted by DLT4000 They cannot write to Type IV media If a...

Page 8: ...0 GB 2 1 compressed and 80 GB 2 1 compressed respectively Tapes written by these devices may be read by DLT4000 DLT1 and VS80 if density 20 0 is selected on the front panel of the drive prior to formatting the tape media with a DLT7000 or DLT8000 drive This will be data destructive Density selection is not mechanically available on the front panel of SDLT drives However for backward compatibility ...

Page 9: ...g Tape III Cleaning material inside looks like standard black media tape N A NOTE Dell does not sell this media 20 times User needs to track the number of times the tape is used Figure 1 10 DLT VS Cleaning Tape Light brown colored May be designated DLT1 or VS80 Cleaning material is light in color and looks more like cloth than tape Tape leader is black in color and may appear to look like electrom...

Page 10: ...pecifically designed for SDLT220 and SDLT320 drives If expired cleaning media is reused the cartridge will get ejected and cleaning light will stay on NOTE Do not use VS160 cleaning media to clean SDLT drives 340 3349 20 times Tape can track usage On last use the cleaning light will go off and the drive will not eject cartridge User must manuallyeject cartridge and discard it from future use Table...

Page 11: ...d usage of the cleaning tape and discard after 20 uses The cartridge will have little or no effect on head cleaning after the recommended 20 uses Media Handling Cartridge Features Figure 1 13 Cartridge Tape Cartridge Leader Buckles with drive leader to pull media from cartridge Two types DLTtape cartridges mylar loop and Super DLTtape cartridges plastic buckle with metal pin Reel Locks Prevent med...

Page 12: ...1 and DLT VS160 Media Media Care Guidelines DLTtape cartridges are engineered to be reliable robust and durable They are manufactured to withstand 1 000 000 passes and have a shelf life of 30 years For best results follow these guidelines for media care Protect cartridges from shock vibration moisture and magnetic fields Keep media in protective cases and store vertically when not in use Write pro...

Page 13: ...ance Store media vertically in protective plastic cases Figure 1 17 Store Media Vertically in Protective Plastic Cases If you drop a cartridge perform a visual media inspection before inserting it into the drive NOTE The safety of your data relies on proper care and handling of media cartridges Visual Media Inspection A visual media inspection is to be performed Each time a tape is loaded or chang...

Page 14: ...t should snap into write protected mode and write enabled mode Cartridge Leader Gently inspect the cartridge leader to verify that it has not been damaged and is in the correct position DLTtape Cartridges Check the height of the leader to ensure that the loop is sticking up approximately 3 16 inch or 4 mm Ensure that the door operates DLT tape leader loop should be visible and undamaged Super DLTt...

Page 15: ...e 1 19 Super DLTtape Leader Buckle Reel Locks Check that both reel locks are visible Verify operation using a small flat blade screwdriver The reel locks should spring back when released If the reel locks are not visible do not use the cartridge Figure 1 20 Reel Locks ...

Page 16: ...bottom of the cartridge is properly tensioned and centered Press the hub it will spring back if operating properly Figure 1 21 Cartridge Hub The following graphic shows how the SDLT tape latches with the cartridge leader Figure 1 22 SDLT Tape Latch The following graphic shows how the loop on the Type IV media is engaged by the cartridge leader on the DLT VS80 drives ...

Page 17: ...ure 1 23 Type IV Media Engagement Cartridge Damage Examples Figure 1 24 DLT Cartridge Leader missing swallowed cartridge leader or broken tape Figure 1 25 DLT Cartridge Broken leader loop not always this obvious Figure 1 26 Media wrapped too loosely improper tension ...

Page 18: ...ails and bar parallel to the cartridge Figure 1 28 Good SDLT Leader Buckles Tests have shown that dropping the media can cause an excessive amount of stress to the spring loaded cartridge hub on impact This amount of stress will pull the tape media further into the media cartridge and bend the leader buckles See Figure 1 29 to identify bent in leader buckles Note that the plastic hooks are bent in...

Page 19: ...eel Cartridge Storage When storing cartridge avoid moisture and direct sunlight Exposure to moisture or sunlight can deform or ruin media Table 1 6 Normal Storage Conditions Nonarchival Temperature Relative Humidity Between 61ºF and 90ºF 16ºC and 32ºC Wet bulb temperature 78ºF 26ºC Between 20 and 80 Table 1 7 Archival Storage Conditions for one or more years Temperature Relative Humidity Between 6...

Page 20: ...nload cartridges prior to powering down the drive Allow a 24 hour conditioning period to the operating temperature and humidity before using new or stored cartridges The following should not be done when handling media Touch the media or leader with bare fingers Use pens or pencils during cartridge inspection Drop cartridge Stack cartridges horizontally Disassemble cartridges Use adhesive labels S...

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