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Chapter 3 Using Your Tape Drive
Cleaning the Tape Mechanism
SDLT 600A Product Manual
41
When to Use the Cleaning
Tape
3
The SDLT 600A tape drive uses a built-in tape cleaning algorithm in
conjunction with a
cleaning tape
. The SDLT CleaningTape is packaged in a
plastic case, and is light gray in color.
A yellow LED located on the front bezel of the SDLT 600A tape drive
indicates when cleaning is needed;
figure 22
on page 32 shows the
location of this LED (and other front bezel LEDs).
Life Expectancy of the
Cleaning Tape
3
Each SDLT CleaningTape is good for 20 uses. Use one of the labels that is
supplied with the tape to track the number of uses. If the cleaning LED
stays lit after you clean the drive, the tape life has expired. Acquire a new
cleaning tape and repeat the cleaning process.
Compatibility of the
Cleaning Tape
3
The SDLT CleaningTape is intended for use in SDLT 600A tape drives
Alternatively stated, the SDLT CleaningTape only cleans the SDLT MRC
heads.
Loading the Cleaning Tape
Into a Tabletop Tape Drive
3
Follow these steps to load an SDLT CleaningTape into an SDLT 600A
tape drive:
1
Insert the cleaning tape, with the Front Slide Label Slot facing
outward, into the tape drive until the tape drive engages with the
cleaning tape and begins to take up the cleaning media. The green
Drive Status
LED flashes and the cleaning cycle begins automatically.
2
When the cleaning cycle completes, the cleaning tape automatically
ejects from the tape drive and the yellow alert LED turns off.
3
Remove the cleaning tape, place it back into its plastic case, and mark
the label after each cleaning.
Note:
On the last cleaning, the cleaning tape will not eject. Use
the
Eject
button on the front of the tape drive to eject the
expired cleaning tape and dispose of the cleaning tape.