Using the Integrated Tape Drive
Handling Cartridges
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Handling Cartridges
To protect your data cartridges and the information on them, observe the guidelines and avoid the
pitfalls in the following table.
Applying Labels
When applying labels to a cartridge, observe the following precautions to prevent the cartridge
from getting stuck in the tape drive:
•
Apply labels firmly, only in recessed label areas on the top side of the cartridge.
•
Do not let labels extend beyond label areas or fold over the edge of a cartridge.
•
Do not apply labels over other labels.
Table 21. Cartridge Guidelines and Pitfalls
Guidelines to Follow...
Pitfalls to Avoid
Use DDS cartridges at temperatures from 5 °C
(40 °F) to 40 °C (104 °F). Cartridges can be stored
at temperatures down to -40 °C (-40 °F).
Do not expose cartridges to direct sunlight, mois-
ture, excessively dry or humid places, extreme
changes in temperature or humidity, or X-rays.
Handle cartridges gently.
Do not treat cartridges roughly or drop them.
Keep cartridges in plastic cases when they are not
in use.
Do not try to clean the tape guides or tape path
inside the cartridge.
Apply just one label to the designated area on the
cartridge. Affixing more labels can jam the drive.
Never touch the exposed tape media with your fin-
gers.
If your data is important, consider reading data off
of tapes and rewriting to new and perhaps more
modern tapes every few years.
Never leave cartridges close to magnetic fields,
such as near a monitor or telephone handset.
If cartridges are exposed to temperatures or humid-
ities outside the specified operating environment,
expose them to the operating environment for a
time equal to the period that the cartridges were
exposed to the out-of-specification environment (up
to a maximum of 24 hours).
Do not read from or write to cartridges when a tem-
perature change of 10 °C or more per hour is
occurring.
