StorageWorks DLT 10/20 GB Cartridge Tape Drive
4–14
Order Number: EK–SM1TB–UG. E01
4.7
Selecting Density
The 10/20-GB DLT Cartridge Tape Drive is designed to write and read in either 10-GB
(uncompressed) or 20-GB (compressed) data format on DLT cartridge tapes. The tape drive
also can both read and write in lower-density formats used in earlier DLT systems, as desig-
nated in Table 4–9. All selections, including the compression mode (which constitutes an-
other density selection), are selectable by the Density Select push-button switch. This section
describes the 10/20-GB DLT Cartridge Tape Drive’s density select features.
Table 4–9 Density Selections Available On 10/20-GB DLT Cartridge Tape Drive
Front Panel
Designation
Cartridge Type/Format
Storage Capacity
TK85
CompacTape III/TK85
2.6 GBF
TK86
CompacTape III/TK86
6.0 GBF
TZ87
CompacTape III/TZ87
10.0 GBF, uncompressed;
20.0 GBF, compressed
CAUTION
If you reuse a tape on which other data was previously recorded,
and write from the beginning of the tape (BOT), all previously
recorded data is lost, including density changes.
4.7.1 How To Select Density At The Front Panel
To select density with the 10/20-GB DLT Cartridge Tape Drive:
1. Insert a tape cartridge into the tape drive. The yellow T
APE IN
U
SE
indicator blinks while
the tape loads and calibrates.
2. Wait until the yellow T
APE IN
U
SE
indicator becomes and remains steadily lit, indicating
completion of the calibration process.
3. Press and release the Density Select push-button on the front panel’s left side one time
(momentary depression only; do not hold down) to enter the density-select mode. the
D
ENSITY
O
VERRIDE
indicator lights. If this is a previously recorded cartridge, the indica-
tor corresponding to the density selection used the last time this tape was written to also
lights.
4. Press and release the Density Select switch again (momentary depression, only) to cause
the indicator corresponding to the next-in-sequence density option to blink, and repeat
this action as necessary until the indicator corresponding to the desired density option is
blinking. (If this cartridge was previously recorded in a different format, the indicator
corresponding to the tape’s current density selection remains steadily lit. If this is a blank
tape, each indicator goes out when the next-in-sequence density is selected, except that
the TZ87 indicator remains lit if you press the D
ENSITY
S
ELECT
button again to enable
compression mode, in which case both the TZ87 and C
OMPRESS
indicators will be
blinking.)
5. After the host system writes new data to the tape in the selected format, the indicator
corresponding to the selected density lights steadily, and the indicator identifying the
last-used density option goes out.
