RM Logo
Technical Rating: 
Support Home PageSupport
Print This PagePrint This Page
Add to 'My Library' Add to 'My Library'
Forward to a ColleagueForward to a Colleague

Sony AIT tape drive cleaning procedure
Published Date : 25 Apr 2006   Last Updated : 04 Aug 2010   Content Ref: TEC620736  


Operating SystemMS Windows 2000 Server, MS Windows 2003 Server
Part No17B-365, 108-074, 18M-850, 17X-003, 178-909, 170-002, 16M-179, 14U-627, 14R-522, 14R-252, 14N-416, 14G-709, 145-086, 144-541, 135-018, 0VZ-781, 0TT-730, 0JU-376, 18M-851
SummarySony AIT tape drives need to be regularly cleaned to ensure reliable operation.



Procedure

Cleaning Sony AIT tape drives

Sony AIT tape drives need to be regularly cleaned using a cleaning tape to ensure reliable operation. RM has found that around 36% of faulty tape drives, which had been replaced by RM, could have been fixed by using a cleaning tape.

We recommend that the cleaning tape is used at least once a week and whenever the cleaning LED indicator illuminates on the front of the drive.

To use the cleaning tape:

  1. Make sure the server is powered on and no backup software is running.
  2. Insert the cleaning tape into the drive.
  3. The cleaning process runs automatically.
  4. Once cleaning is complete, the cleaning tape will be ejected.

In cases of severe dust contamination, the cleaning tape can be reinserted to clean the drive again. Run a backup once the clean is complete and verify that the backup was successful by performing a verify operation.



Checks

Number of cleans per tape

Cleaning tapes have a finite life span. Once the tape inside has moved completely over to the right-hand reel, the tape has finished and should be replaced. Replacement cleaning tapes can be purchased from RM. Please see below the two different cleaning tapes available from RM. Choose the correct cleaning tape based on the AIT tape drive you have.

Part number Description Number of cleans
17B-365 CARTRIDGE-AIT CLEANING TAPE AIT4 SDX4-CL 50 Cleans
108-074 CARTRIDGE-AIT CLEANING TAPE AIT1/2/3 55 Cleans

Labels are usually supplied with cleaning tapes to allow you to mark-off how many times the tape has been used.



Possible Issues

Other reasons why backups could be failing
The backup tapes degrade over time with use. Since your backup data is very important, new tapes should be purchased regularly. If a tape is over written with new data many times, it can become damaged and the data on it lost.


Other Useful Articles

What do the indicator LEDs on the front of a Sony AIT tape drive mean? (TEC276914)
Sony AIT drives will not eject tapes (TEC172866)
Information on AIT Tape Drives (FAQ) (TEC6150)

Other Useful Links

RM ValueCare for Servers

FEEDBACK
Did the information in this article help answer your question?
 Yes
 No
 Just browsing or article not relevant
Please add any comments about this article in the box below. If you answered No then it is important you tell us why so that we can change the article if required. Note: If you need help with a technical query, please log a call online or telephone our support team. We can only respond if you log in to the RM Support Web site or provide your contact details.
Thank you for your feedback, which is sent directly to the RM Knowledge team. We address every message received with the intention of improving our Knowledge Library articles. If you have an unresolved technical issue, please contact RM Support.


If this article has not helped provide a solution then it is also possible to log a call...



Document Keywords: ait1, ait2, ait3, ait4


Please read - important disclaimer information.
http://www.rm.com/_RMVirtual/Includes/csredirect.asp?cref=&title=Standard Content Disclaimer


Top Of PageTop of page
ForwardForward this page to a friend
Terms and Conditions
Privacy Statement