Tape Media Tips and Relevant Links

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CCI has compiled a list of helpful tips useful in maintaining tape media. We hope this helps ensure long and dependable tape life!

Use only data grade media of the proper type and length for your drive.
Always keep the cartridge in its storage case when it is not in use.
Store the tapes in a cabinet in a cool, dry area with the cartridge "supply side up", or in the vertical position.
Keep tapes away from monitors, motors, or any other source of strong magnetic fields.
Whenever media has been exposed to temperatures and/or humidity extremes, such as during shipment, re-condition the tape by storing it in the system environment for at least twenty-four hours before use.
Perform a re-tension cycle on the new tapes after re-conditioning them and on any tape after repeated start-stop operation. NOTE: even in the streaming mode, the tape may start and stop many times due to mis-matches in the data transfer rates of the system, controller, and drive.
In order to minimize the possibility of data errors, do not use the software erase or overwrite commands. Instead, use a bulk degausser to fully and cleanly demagnetize the tapes. The same process should be used on all new tapes before they are first used. Sprague Magnetics carries the model P5-215 hand held degausser which is appropriate for this job.
Clean the tape head on the drive at the intervals recommended by the drive manufacturer, using the materials and methods recommended by the drive manufacturer. Please refer to your user manual for these recommendations. NOTE: use of other materials or methods may damage the drive.
Make sure that all cables are plugged in correctly and securely. Do not forget to attach any ground wires to the frame or the case.
Do not rely on only one tape for your backup cycles. For example, if you backup once per week, use at least a rotating three tape cycle, namely tape 1 for week 1, tape 2 for week 2, tape 3 for week 3, and then tape 1 for week 4. Always label your tapes, and keep the label current as the tape is cycled through
Always do a directory or verify of the tape after the backup is complete to ensure that the data was written to the tape and can be read back by the drive

Prepared by: Service 1, a division of Sprague Magnetics

Links

Tape Media Manufacturers: lists of and links to media manufacturers and the products they sell

Tape Drive Manufacturers: lists of and links to drive manufacturers and the products they sell

Password Recovery Companies: lists of and links to password recovery companies and the products they sell

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