FAQ

HANDLING DURING TRANSPORTATION

• The transit time of 3480 type tape cartridges should be as short as practical, preferably, no longer than 5 days.

• Do not leave 3480 media that are to be shipped on the loading dock. The 3480-type tape cartridges should be taken directly from the computer room to an air-conditioned vehicle.

• Avoid mechanical loads that would distort the 3480-type cartridge shape.

• Avoid dropping the 3480-type tape cartridge.

• Keep the 3480 type tape cartridges out of direct sunlight.

CONDITIONING TO NEW ENVIRONMENTS

The 3480 type tape cartridges exposed to temperature excursions may experience interlayer slip, which can cause other failures such as cinching.

The 3480 type tape drives have no mechanical buffering or capstan, so the control circuitry can only tolerate a limited amount of shifting or slippage of the tape layers. Not only may this tension problem cause mechanical damage to the tape, but also it is expensive to wait for the drive to retention the tape.

To eliminate this problem, let the 3480-type tape cartridge stabilize for at least 24 hours to the computer room environment before using them.

GENERAL CARE AND HANDLING TIPS

• Leave the 3480 type tape cartridges in their protective packaging until you are ready to use them.

• Visually inspect every cartridge when unwrapping and ensure that the leader block is latched. If the leader block must be manually latched into the cartridge, be certain that the large rounded end is inserted first. Excessive force will be required if the slotted end is inserted first and the cartridge may be damaged.

• Do not use sharp instruments to unpack cartridges.

• Condition the 3480 type media to the operating environment for at least 24 hours.

• Keep the outside of the cartridge clean and free of damage. The external surface of a cartridge may be cleaned with a lint-free cloth dampened with isopropyl alcohol.

• Store the 3480 type tape cartridges in a vertical position.

• Do not attempt to carry more than one cartridge at a time. The cartridges do not have detents to interlock with corresponding detents on the other cartridges, which may be stacked on top of it. Therefore, stacks of 3480 type tape cartridges are not structurally stable and will topple.

• Do not manually unspool the tape from the cartridge.

• Do not attempt to pull the leader block from the cartridge.

• If you must pull the leader block from the cartridge, use the brake release (winder) tool supplied in the leader block replacement kit. Without this tool, you can easily damage the tape and reduce cartridge reliability.

• Do not force the 3480-type tape cartridge into the drive. If it does not insert smoothly, something is wrong and forcing it may cause damage.

• Keep the 3480 type tape cartridges away from any heating devices (e.g., radiators, space heaters, etc.).

• Never return to service a 3480-type tape cartridge, which has been dropped, contaminated or damaged in any way.

STORAGE ENVIRONMENT

The 3480 type tape cartridges should be stored under the following conditions:

Temperature: 5 ° C to 20 ° C (62 ° F to 68 ° F).

Relative Humidity: 35% to 45%

TRANSPORTATION ENVIRONMENT

During shipping and transportation of recorded 3480 type media, the temperature and humidity should be kept within the following limits:

Temperature: 5° C to 32 ° C (40 ° F to 90 ° F).

Relative Humidity: 20% to 80%

	OPERATION	STORAGE	TRANSPORT
Temperature ° C (° F)	16 to 32 (60 to 90)	17 to 20 (62 to 68)	5 to 32 (40 to 90)
Relative Humidity %	40 to 60	35 to 45	20 to 80

OPERATIONAL AND STORAGE ENVIRONMENTAL MAINTENANCE

The primary concern for the care and handling of any magnetic media is the environmental maintenance of the computer room and storage library. When the facility for your computer and storage vaults is designed, one or more of the following documents should be referenced to ensure a debris-free, temperature and humidity controlled environment:

• Cray Research, Inc. – Site Design and Operational Guide
• Amdahl Physical Planning Manual – Publication MM-108334-10
• IBM Installation Manual – Publication Gc22-7072-1
• Unisys Installation Manual – Publication MA5227
• Memorex Engineering Specification – Publication 9885-4920
• Federal Air Standard 209B for Airborne Contaminants

Although the 3480-type tape is protected by its cartridge, corrosive agents such as chloride ions and ozone may damage the media. Chloride ions are a commonly found agent in cleaners and ozone is generated by laser printers. In addition, closely situated photo laboratories and other chemical supply areas may increase the contamination-producing equipment outside the 3480 type cartridge usage and storage areas.

Furthermore, ventilation system intakes, which are situated near contaminant sources, such as loading docks where diesel engines are idling or photo laboratory and other chemical supply area fumes, can also introduce contaminants into the environment.

The following are general tips for the maintenance of the computer room and storage environment:

• Computer rooms and storage vaults should have positive air pressure. That is conditioned air should blow toward you when you open the door to enter the facility.

• Never remove more than a few tiles from the raised floor, as this will defeat the original airflow design of the room. Be sure to replace and firmly reseat the tiles as soon as the under-floor work is complete.

• Access to the computer room and storage vaults should be limited to essential personnel, both for security purposes and to keep dirt and dust to a minimum.

• Schedule the preventative maintenance of the air conditioning systems for a climatically moderate time of the year.

• Computer room and storage vault floors should be cleaned periodically with a mop dampened with water. Never bring buckets of water into the 3480type tape cartridge usage or storage area.

• Do not use wax or cleaning agents on the computer room or storage vault floors. This action contaminates the environment with solvents wax particles and debris from the buffer and its motor.

• Do not shut down the air conditioner on weekends or holidays. This puts the magnetic media through temperature and humidity excursions that can cause the media to fatigue or break down.

CINCHING

The 3480 type tape cartridges that are not maintained in a steady-state temperature and humidity environment will experience expansion and contraction leading to inter-layer slip. Since a physical void exists between layers of tape, the upper layer can buckle and pile up between adjacent layers when tape motion is initiated. To avoid this mode of failure, 3480 type tape cartridges should always be conditioned to the operating environment at least 24 hours before usage is required.

CREEP

Any magnetic tape under the imposed stresses of winding and usage is expected to creep in the direction of stress and elongate with time until the elongation has relieved the stress. This can lead to read errors due to the changes in the physical positioning of the data. Soft hub designs, which absorb some of these stresses and the proper maintenance of the environment, will delay the onset of creep.

MAGNETIC

The magnetization loss of the 3480 type media that occurs with time is approximately of the same order of magnitude as that of the 9-track open reel tapes. One media manufacturer reports that the magnetic signals on a 3480 type tape cartridge can decay over 18% and the system will still be able to correctly read the data, even without the 3480 type tape drive’s error correction capabilities. With the 3480 type tape drive’s error correction, higher signal amplitude loss can be tolerated.

TEMPERATURE EFFECTS ON MAGNETIZATION

In general, the magnetic signals recorded on a tape will decrease in amplitude over time. The 9-track open reel tapes, which employ gamma ferric oxide particles (gamma-Fe₂0₃), are capable of retaining their magnetization up to a temperature of approximately 675 ° C (1247 ° F). C_r0₂ particles that are used in the 3480 type tape cartridges will lose their magnetization at a temperature of approximately 135 ° C (200 ° F). This temperature is known as the Curie temperature. As a practical matter, loss of magnetization is due to high temperatures that are never seen because chemical and mechanical failures of the media will be observed at temperatures well below the Curie temperature.

MAGNETOSTRICTION

Magnetic signals will decay when exposed to sharp mechanical bending. This phenomenon is known as magnetostriction. Due to the mechanical design of the way the 3480 type tape drive handles the tape, it is unlikely that demagnetization as a result of mechanical bending will occur.

STRAY MAGNETIC FIELDS

Previous studies showed that the data contained on the magnetic tapes can be erased by devices, which emit magnetic field energy such as, anti-hijacking metal detection devices, airport signal fields, x-ray energy, and other electromagnetic devices. Magnetic fields can erase data, since these fields are used for the recording, erasing and overwriting of the data on magnetic tape. However, to erase data the strength of the erasing field must exceed the coercivity of the magnetic media. The coercivity, which is measured in ampere-turn per meter (A/m) (oersteds (Oe)), is the media’s ability to resist erasure of its recorded information. C_rO₂ tapes, such as the 3480 type media, have a coercivity of approximately 43.768 x 10³ A/m (550 Oe), while the 9-track open reel tapes coercivity is approximately 29.842 x 10³ A/m (375 Oe). As a result, the 3480 is less susceptible to erasure from stray magnetic fields than are 9-track open reel tapes. In either case, the risk of stray magnetic fields erasing the recorded information on magnetic media is low.

3480 TYPE TAPE DRIVE MAINTENANCE

Cleanliness of the 3480 type tape drives is important. The accumulation of dust, dirt and tape by products on the tape drive components may reduce the life and reliability of the equipment. Furthermore, these contaminants will corrupt the tapes used on poorly maintained drives by migrating dirt and debris to them.

3480 TYPE CLEANING CARTRIDGE

The 3480 type tape drives prompt the user to insert a 3480 type tape cleaning cartridge periodically. When this cleaning cartridge was introduced, it was recommended that its usage be limited to 500 cleaning passes. The cartridge has 500 small circles, one to be filled in for each use. When the circles are all marked, the cleaning cartridge is to be discarded and replaced with a clean one. Some users have questioned, "Can the cleaning cartridge recontaminate the drive once it becomes dirty?"

Some cleaning cartridge and drive manufacturers recommend a reduction in the number of uses to 100 passes. This suggestion is based on the fact that the cleaning efficiency drops, as the ribbon gets dirty. It is prudent to discard the cleaning cartridge after 100 cleaning passes.

WET CLEANING

It is recommended that the 3480-type tape drive be "wet cleaned" periodically by a trained and certified service technician. Wet cleaning involves the cleaning of tape drive components, such as the cleaning blades and the take-up reel, with reagent grade isopropyl alcohol and lint-free tissues. Poorer grades of isopropyl alcohol should not be used since they may contain contaminants.

This type of cleaning, as well as the periodic replacement of vacuum lines and air filters, should be specified in the tape drive service contract.

It would be useful if a recommendation could be made on the number of usage hours before wet cleaning should be performed. However, variations in environmental cleanliness and tape quality make it impossible to make such a recommendation.

Instead, the wet cleaning frequency requirements for a specific 3480 type tape drive should be determined by visual inspection and consultation with a qualified service technician.

FIRE PROTECTION RECOMMENDATIONS

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a good extinguisher for computer tape fire protection, since it is clean and will not harm the 3480 type media. However, the use of CO₂ is limited to the use of extinguishers and cannot be used in automatic systems because it is lethal to humans.

CO₂ is heavier than Oxygen (O₂), and therefore sinks to the bottom of a room. Exhaust vents are generally located near the ceiling, and do a good job of removing any O₂ displaced by the CO₂ released during fire extinction operations. If a person were to walk into one of these rooms, which has not been ventilated after the fire is extinguished, that person could suffocate.

Properly designed Halon 1301 systems can be used in areas inhabited by people without endangering their lives. Furthermore, Halon is clean and does not damage the 3480 type media. However, Halon depletes the Earth’s ozone layer. As a result, the United States Environmental Protection Agency has initiated a program to phase out the use of Halon systems. Future changeover of Halon to its replacement could simply be a change in the gas used.

Water fire protection systems are currently the most acceptable option for tape vault extinguisher systems. Water is harmful to 3480 type media, but is not immediately destructive to the data stored on the media.

The following are some general tips for computer room and storage vault fire protection:

• Minimize the storage of paper, wood, cleaning fluids, and all other combustible materials in the tape storage area.

• Keep the tape storage area orderly; clean and unencumbered so that the spread of a fire is slowed and fire fighting can be performed efficiently.

• Do not use open flame producers, such as matches and lighters in the tape storage areas. Smoking should always be prohibited in these areas.

• Areas in the 3480 type tapes are to be stored should be designed with the maximum protection against fire as a major consideration.

• Ensure that fire and smoke detection/suppressive systems are installed and functioning properly. Periodic inspection is required.

• Store duplicate copies of tapes containing vital information in alternate offsite locations. When secondary copies exist, tertiary copies can be made when the primary tapes are exposed to disaster conditions.

WATER PROTECTION RECOMMENDATIONS

The cartridge surrounding the 3480 type tape provides some protection from the ingress of water. The 3480 type tape cartridges exposed to water require immediate attention due to the fact that water may cause tape layers to adhere to one another. This layer-to-layer adhesion can make the recovery of data impossible. When the layers of tape are pulled apart, the magnetic coating may be pulled off the PET substrate, resulting in data loss.

The most obvious way to protect a data library of 3480 type media from any disaster is to maintain secondary off-site backups. If disaster strikes the primary tapes, tertiary tapes can be made from the off-site secondary tapes and the damaged tapes can be discarded.

The probability of both sets of information being destroyed is unlikely. However, if no backup of information exists, data on water damage tapes may be recovered. Some anecdotal accounts and conventional recommendations suggest that data on tapes can be recovered using the following procedures:

• Release the leader block and drain the water from the cartridge.

• Rinse the tape cartridges with clean preferably distilled water.

• Dry the tapes by vacuum drying. Do not force-dry the tapes with heat. This may cause hydrolytic degradation.

• Allow the tapes to dry under the normally recommended storage temperature and humidity conditions for at least 48 hours.

• Clean the damaged tapes with a device employing lint-free tissues. Do not run damaged tapes over cleaning blades.

• Copy the data to new tape cartridges and discard the water-damaged tapes.

• Do not use the main or backup library drive for this copying activity since water damaged tapes may contaminate the tape drive.

These activities introduce a large expense and effort to recovery data. The probability of recovery 100% of the data is low. It is strongly recommended that the method of protection by multiple off-site backups be used.

However, if disaster does strike a library with no off-site library backup, the media manufacturer should be consulted immediately. Since the media manufacturer’s tape formula is proprietary, they would be the best authority on the methods required for recovery.

CONTAMINATION MIGRATION AVOIDANCE RECOMMENDATIONS

Dust, dirt and tape byproducts can migrate from one tape or tape drive throughout an entire library. This migration of contaminants can readily destroy data.

For example, if a 3480 type tape cartridge that is experiencing hydrolytic degradation comes into the data center from a field collection site and is read on the computer rooms 3480-type tape drive, sticky, gummy tape byproducts may contaminate the drive. If other tapes are then read or written on that same drive, they will be contaminated as well. It is possible for the spread of such contaminants to destroy a major part of the main and backup libraries unless some means is used to avoid this risk.

To avoid the migration of contamination, tapes and tape drives should be separated into groups. These groups should consist of the following: import/export, main library, and backup library. Each of the tapes in a group should only be used on a tape drive from that same group. This will prevent the physical contact of tapes, which are used in the field for data collection, main library tapes and backup library tapes. Diligent observation of this care and handling technique will greatly reduce the risk associated with the migration of contamination.