IBM magstar mp 3570, Maintenance Information

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Initializing the Tape Volume Serial Number
The cartridge label bar code on the Magstar MP cartridge is unique and is used to identify each cartridge.
For Standard Label tape processing using the Bar Code Reader, the bar code labels and internally
recorded VOLSER must match. Most IBM tape management systems, like ADSM and BRMS/400, use
Standard Label tape processing. To maintain compatibility with Standard Label tape processing, it is
required that the operator initialize tape cartridges using the VOLSER printed on the Bar Code Label. The
internal VOLSER on the tape should be identical with the external VOLSER that appears on the two
matching Bar Code Labels (
1
,
2
, and
3
in Figure 256) of each cartridge. To use cartridges in a
Magstar MP Tape Subsystem with the Bar Code Reader, the internal VOLSER must match the Bar
Code Label.
Figure 256. Magstar MP Tape Cartridge Labels
PROC
Bar Code Format
The bar code is seven characters in length not including the start/stop characters.
The first character (left-most character) is the media type character and is an upper case "G" for
C-format cartridges (see Figure 256
3
) and an upper case "F" for all B-format cartridges and the
cleaning cartridge.
The remaining six (right most) are used to uniquely identify the cartridges. The valid bar code
characters are as follows:
– Uppercase Alphabetic - A through Z
– Numeric - 0 through 9
– Blanks (or Spaces) - Trailing only.
The bar code can be any mixture of alphabetic and numeric characters such as the following:
– “
GABC123
” “
GA1B2C3
” “
G123ABC
”
– “
G12345
” (with a trailing blank character)
– “
GA3B
” (with 3 trailing blank characters)
The bar code is located on two labels on the Magstar MP cartridge, (items
1
,
2
and
3
in
Figure 256).
Common Procedures
PROC-25