LTO Tape Drive User’s Guide
3 - Tape Media
10400934-001
©2020 Overland-Tandberg
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Remove the label from the label sheet carefully. Do not stretch the label or cause the
edges to curl.
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Position the label within the recessed label area.
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With light finger pressure, smooth the label so that no wrinkles or bubbles exist on its
surface.
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Verify that the label is smooth and parallel, and has no roll-up or roll-over. The label
must be flat to within 0.5mm (0.02 in.) over the length of the label and have no folds,
missing pieces, or smudges.
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Do not place other machine-readable labels on other surfaces of the cartridge. They
might interfere with the ability of the drive to load the cartridge.
Cartridge Write-Protect Switch
The position of the write-protect switch on the tape cartridge determines whether you can
write to the tape:
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If the switch is slid to the right and shows the lock icon, data cannot be written to the
tape.
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If the switch is slid to the left to unlock, data can be written to the tape.
To set the switch, slide it left or right to the desired position.
If possible, use your server’s application software to write-protect your cartridges (rather than
manually setting the write-protect switch). This setting allows the server’s software to identify
a cartridge that no longer contains current data and is eligible to become a scratch (blank)
data cartridge. Do not write-protect scratch (blank) cartridges; the tape drive is not able to
write new data to them.
Handling Cartridges
IMPORTANT: Do not insert a damaged tape cartridge into the drive. A damaged cartridge can
interfere with the reliability of a drive and might void the warranties of the drive and the
cartridge. Before a tape cartridge is inserted, inspect the cartridge case, cartridge door, and
write-protect switch for breaks.
Incorrect handling or an incorrect environment can damage cartridges or their magnetic tape.
To avoid damage to your tape cartridges and to ensure the continued high reliability of your
LTO tape drives, use the following guidelines:
Providing Training
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Post procedures that describe appropriate media handling in places where people
gather.
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Ensure that anyone who handles tape is properly trained in handling and shipping
procedures. This training includes operators, users, programmers, archival services, and
shipping personnel.
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Ensure that any service or contract personnel who complete archiving procedures are
properly trained in media-handling procedures.
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Include media-handling procedures as part of any services contract.
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Define and make personnel aware of data recovery procedures.
