LTO Tape Drive User’s Guide
3 - Tape Media
10400934-001
©2020 Overland-Tandberg
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c.
Place the leader pin (
) into the cavity ( ) of the leader pin attach
tool.
NOTE: To prevent the leader pin from rolling into the cartridge, in the following step use care
when the tape is folded over the pin.
d.
Fold the tape over the leader pin ( ) and hold it with your fingers.
e.
Close the pivot arm ( ) of the leader pin attach tool by swinging it over the leader
pin so that the C-clip snaps onto the pin and the tape.
f.
Swing the pivot arm open and trim the excess tape ( ) so that it is flush with the
reattached leader pin ( ).
g.
Use your fingers to remove the leader pin from the cavity ( ) in the leader pin attach
tool.
h.
Use the cartridge manual rewind tool to wind the tape back into the cartridge (wind
the tape clockwise).
Ensure that the leader pin is latched by the pin-retaining spring clips on each end of
the leader pin.
i.
Remove the rewind tool.
j.
Remove the leader pin attach tool by lifting its end away from the cartridge.
Cartridge Memory (LTO-CM)
The LTO cartridge contains a contact-less silicon storage device that is physically part of the
cartridge. This device is known as the LTO-CM (Linear Tape Open - Cartridge Memory). The
U832 standard provides a description of the cartridge memory.
The LTO-CM holds information about that specific cartridge, the media in the cartridge, and
the data on the media. The LTO-CM is located in the left rear corner of the cartridge.
Fields within the LTO-CM are used to enhance drive performance (such as locating records
rapidly), store information usable by application programs, and aid serviceability (such as
through the use of TapeAlert flags). The drive is required to update information in the LTO-
CM as a normal part of drive operation.
There is a section of memory in the LTO-CM reserved for application program use. This
section is available through SCSI READ ATTRIBUTE command and WRITE ATTRIBUTE
command. See the
Ultrium 8 SCSI Reference
for more details.
Communication between the drive and the LTO-CM is via a low-level RF field transmitted by
the drive to the cartridge. This field is modulated by the drive to query the LTO-CM and to
write data into the LTO-CM. The field is modulated by the cartridge in response to commands
received from the drive. The LTO-CM is powered by the RF field; it requires no additional
power source.
Environmental and Shipping Specifications for Tape Cartridges
Before you use a tape cartridge, acclimate it to the operating environment for 24 hours or the
time necessary to prevent condensation in the drive. The time varies, depending on the
environmental extremes to which the cartridge was exposed.
