A Tape Cartridges

Tape cartridges are not shipped as part of the T10000 tape drive; you must order them separately. See "Ordering Media and Cartridge Labels" for more information.

This appendix lists and describes the tape cartridges used with the StorageTek T10000 tape drives.

Figure A-1 Tape Cartridge Types

Surrounding text describes Figure A-1 .

Illustration Legend:


1 - Label area
2 - Door (black = data, red = sport, white = cleaning, and yellow = VolSafe)
3 - Write protect switch

Disclaimer

Media Usage:

The storage media (tape cartridges) used in a library and tape drive can have a significant impact on the overall performance. The following is a policy regarding tape storage media:

  • StorageTek-branded media has a warranty.

  • The customer is responsible for all expenses and costs related to the repair or replacement of hardware damaged by non-StorageTek branded tape storage media.

Tape Cartridges

Optimized for high capacity, these cartridges use a single reel hub to maximize performance. The basic types of cartridges are:

  • StorageTek T10000 (for the T10000A or B tape drives)

    • Standard

    • Sport

    • VolSafe (standard or sport)

    • Cleaning

  • StorageTek T10000 T2 (for the T10000C or D tape drive)

    • Standard

    • Sport

    • VolSafe (standard or sport)

    • Cleaning

Standard Cartridges

Standard cartridges are the common read or write data cartridges. You can identify a standard cartridge by the black access door.

  • Each standard data cartridge has a native capacity of:

    • StorageTek T10000: 500 GB (T10000A) or 1 TB (T10000B)

    • StorageTek T10000 T2: 5 TB (T10000C) or 8 TB (T10000D)

      When Max Capacity is enabled, the capacity is 5.5 TB (T10000C) and 8.5 TB (T10000D).

  • The StorageTek T10000 data cartridge specification supports 15,000 mounts. The StorageTek T10000 T2 data cartridge specification supports 25,000 mounts. The tape drive issues a warning message to the host when that number is exceeded.

    Note:

    A mount is defined as the tape drive threading the tape onto the take-up reel and moving to the load point.

Sport Cartridges

Sport cartridges are a smaller version of the standard data cartridges. You can identify a sport cartridge by the red access door.

  • Each sport data cartridge has a native capacity of:

    • StorageTek T10000: 120 GB (T10000A) or 240 GB (T10000B)

    • StorageTek T10000 T2: 1 TB (T10000C) or 1.6TB (T10000D)

  • The StorageTek T10000 cartridge specification supports 15,000 mounts. The StorageTek T10000 T2 cartridge specification supports 25,000 mounts. The tape drive issues a warning message when that number is exceeded.

VolSafe Cartridges

VolSafe is an extension of the write protect function. Use VolSafe cartridges for write-once, read-many (WORM) applications. You cannot erase them without destroying the tape itself.

You can identify a VolSafe cartridge by the yellow access door.

  • T10000 writes data to a VolSafe tape and then the drive can append a multitude of data sets onto the cartridge until the cartridge is full. In this way, VolSafe enables permanent archival of data on the tape without the possibility of data loss.

  • VolSafe cartridges come in both standard and sport capacities.

  • The StorageTek T10000 cartridge specification supports 15,000 mounts. The StorageTek T10000 T2 cartridge specification supports 25,000 mounts. The tape drive issues a warning message to the host when that number is exceeded.

VolSafe and WORM technologies are ideal for data storage, protection, and archive for a variety of applications such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act was signed into law on July 30, 2002. This act introduced highly significant legislative changes to financial practice and corporate governance regulation. It introduced stringent new rules with the stated objective: ”to protect investors by improving the accuracy and reliability of corporate disclosures made pursuant to the securities laws.”

Cleaning Cartridges

As the name implies, use a cleaning cartridge to clean a tape drive's head and tape path.

Note:

After the tape drive transports a predetermined length of tape or records a pre-determined number of errors, the drive automatically requests cleaning.

You can use a cleaning cartridge to clean a drive's head up to the rated number of passes. An attempt to use a cleaning cartridge beyond that results in the tape drive rejecting the cartridge and posting an error message to the host.

You can identify these cartridges by a white leader access door.

Additional Cartridge Components

The T10000 tape cartridge has two additional components ("Radio Frequency Identification" and "Media Information").

Radio Frequency Identification

The T10000 drive RFID circuitry reads the information in the RFID chip located in the cartridge when a tape is loaded. This information helps determine the type of tape and the state of the media information region (MIR).

  • When the tape is loaded, the MIR is marked as invalid—or, subject to change—then updated with new information when it is unloaded.

  • When the tape is released from the drive, the RFID chip is refreshed by the drive with the current MIR information, statistics, and status.

Media Information

The T10000 tape drives use information recorded on each tape cartridge to reduce access times and manage the useful life of the cartridge. This information is recorded in the cartridge's radio frequency identification (RFID) chip and at the beginning of tape in an area known as the media information region (MIR). The information stored in the RFID is a proper subset of the information stored in the MIR. The media information falls into two categories: statistical counters and data pointers.

Statistical Counters

Statistical counters reflect use of the cartridge and includes read or write activity, error activity, cumulative mounts, and other information about its use.

Data Pointers

The data pointer information is a directory (map) used to locate the customer (logical) data on the physical tape media. Because customer data is compressed and written in drive controlled blocks on the tape, a map is needed to efficiently locate the data after it is written. This map provides an index between customer data and the physical block on the tape media. After data is written, the drive accesses this map to optimize access to the customer data.

To locate or space to customer data, the logical object that identifies the block is translated to the physical location on the tape media, and the drive determines the quickest method to read the block. If the block is some physical distance from the current location, a calculation results in a high-speed locate to the block location and is followed by a normal speed read.

The existence of the media information is usually transparent to the customer unless it has a problem. This can occur if the information update fails during a dismount. The impact of invalid media information occurs in several areas. Because it enables high speed positioning, invalid media information forces all operations to a slow speed mode. This has no impact on a sequential read from the beginning of the tape. However, any operation using locate defaults to a sequential slow speed read to the requested block, which can result in longer processing time.

Note:

Invalid media information might be suspected if you observe poor performance on a specific tape cartridge.

The following sections describe how media information is processed and some potential implications of problems with the information.

Normal Processing

Every time a tape cartridge is loaded, the media information is read from the tape media and saved in drive-resident memory. After being loaded in drive memory, a read-invalid state is written in the tape-resident RFID. The tape-resident media information is marked open, read-invalid because it does not reflect results of activity in the current mount session. All subsequent media information accesses during the current mount session are saved in the drive-resident information. If no writes are performed to the cartridge, the RFID remains in the read-invalid state meaning the MIR directory information is still completely valid. After a write takes place, the RFID is marked write-invalid meaning the MIR directory information on tape is invalid.

The T10000 drives use the drive-resident copy of the information to access customer data pointers for read-only functions. Statistical counters are continuously updated in the memory-resident information with any drive activity.

When the cartridge is unloaded as part of the unload routine, the drive-resident information is written to the cartridge's RFID and the tape-resident MIR with the closed state indication set.

Cross-Density Cartridge Processing

Whenever a data cartridge is loaded that was written in a data density format that is different from the one used when the drive writes, model-specific MIR processing occurs. In an environment with mixed T10000 drive models, a mandatory firmware update provides the capability for the lower-density drive to read the RFID of a higher-density drive.

For a standard data cartridge or Sport cartridge written by a T10000A drive, the:

  • RFID can be read or updated by a T10000A, B, C, or D drive.

  • MIR can be read by a T10000A, B, C, or D drive.

  • MIR cannot be updated by a T10000B, C, or D drive.

  • T10000A, B, C, or D drive counters can be updated after appropriate firmware updates are installed.

  • Cartridge can be reclaimed by a T10000A or B drive.

For a standard data cartridge or Sport cartridge written by a T10000B drive, the:

  • RFID can be:

    • Read by a T10000A, B, C, or D drive

    • Updated by a T10000B, C, or D drive

  • MIR can be read by a T10000B, C, or D drive.

  • MIR cannot be updated by a T10000A, C, or D drive.

  • T10000B, C, or D drive counters can be updated after appropriate firmware updates are installed.

  • Cartridge can be reclaimed by a T10000A or B drive.

    Note:

    When the T10000A or B drive identifies the data cartridge as an unreadable-density data format, it displays 3215 on the Virtual Operator Panel (VOP) or the physical operator panel of the rack mount drive.

For a standard data cartridge or Sport cartridge written by a T10000C drive, the:

  • RFID can be:

    • Read by a T10000A, B, C, or D drive

    • Updated by a T10000C or D drive

  • MIR can be read by a T10000C or D drive.

  • MIR cannot be updated by a T10000A or B drive.

  • T10000C drive counters can be updated after appropriate firmware updates are installed.

  • Cartridge can be reclaimed by a T10000C or D drive.

For a standard data cartridge or Sport cartridge written by a T10000D drive, the:

  • RFID can be:

    • Read by a T10000A, B, C, or D drive

    • Updated by a T10000D drive

  • MIR can be read by a T10000D drive.

  • MIR cannot be updated by a T10000A, B, or C drive.

  • T10000D drive counters can be updated after appropriate firmware updates are installed.

  • Cartridge can be reclaimed by a T10000D drive.

Invalid Media Information Conditions

There are four media invalid conditions for the T10000 drives:

  1. Cartridge's RFID is unreadable. The drive refuses to mount the cartridge (FSC of 403B). Return the cartridge to engineering to recover the customer data.

  2. Cartridge's RFID can be partially read. The drive mounts the cartridge as read-only.

  3. RFID and MIR are out-of-sync. None of the block information, coarse-grained in the RFID or fine-grained in the MIR, can be trusted. The cartridge is usable but the drive must rebuild the block information as it sequentially reads all of the data up to the desired customer data.

    Note:

    This scenario can cause the drive to spend an hour or more rebuilding the block information, potentially causing the application running on the host to time out.

  4. MIR is corrupted or unreadable. The fine-grained block location information on the cartridge cannot be used; the tape can be used with the coarse-grained block information on the RFID but with lower performance.

The drive posts a 4031 or 4032 informational FSC whenever it loads a cartridge with an invalid MIR. When a tape cartridge has an invalid media information, some action is required to correct it. Invalid media information can be corrected in several ways:

  • Run the media correction utility through the VOP.

  • The drive recovers the media information as it processes host commands, but very slowly.

Cartridge Environmental Requirements

Operating (tape path):

  • Temperature: 10° to 45°C (50° to 113°F)

  • Relative humidity (non-condensing): 20% to 80%

  • Wet bulb (maximum): 26°C (79°F) with no condensation

    Note:

    Conditioning time before use is 24 hours minimum but 72 hours preferred.

Storage (less than four weeks):

  • Temperature: 10° to 32°C (50° to 90°F)

  • Relative humidity (non-condensing): 5% to 80%

  • Wet bulb (maximum): 26°C (79°F) with no condensation

Archival:

  • Temperature: 15° to 26°C (59° to 79°F)

  • Relative humidity (non-condensing): 15% to 50%

  • Wet bulb (maximum): 26°C (79°F) with no condensation

Shipping (less than 10 days):

  • Temperature: -23° to 49°C (-9° to 120°F)

  • Relative humidity (non-condensing): 5% to 80%

  • Wet bulb (maximum): 26°C (79°F) with no condensation

    Note:

    The shipping environment must not exceed the limit of the storage environment, archive or non-archive, for longer than 10 days.

Tape Cartridge Specifications

Physical specifications:

  • Height: 2.45 centimeters (0.964 inches)

  • Length: 12.5 centimeters (4.92 inches)

  • Depth (width): 10.9 centimeters (4.29 inches)

  • Weight:

    • StorageTek T10000 cartridges (used with T10000A or B drives):

      Standard data cartridge: 262.5 grams (9.26 ounces)

      Sport data cartridge: 187 grams (6.60 ounces)

      Cleaning cartridge: 196.3 grams (6.94 ounces)

    • StorageTek T10000 T2 cartridges (used with the T10000C or D drive):

      Standard data cartridge: 270 grams (9.52 ounces)

      Sport data cartridge: 191 grams (6.74 ounces)

      Cleaning cartridge: 196.3 grams (6.94 ounces)

  • Cartridge life:

    • StorageTek T10000 (used with T10000A or B drives): 15,000 mounts

    • StorageTek T10000 T2 (used with the T10000C or D drive): 25,000 mounts

      Note:

      A mount is defined as the tape drive threading the tape onto the take-up reel and moving to the load point.

Tape media data:

  • StorageTek T10000 cartridges (used with T10000A or B drives):

    • Standard data cartridge:

      Capacity: 500 gigabytes (T10000A) or 1 terabyte (T10000B)

      Media length: 917 meters (3,009 feet) [recordable 855 meters (2,805 feet)]

    • Sport data cartridge:

      Capacity: 120 gigabytes (T10000A) or 240 gigabytes (T10000B)

      Media length: 267 meters (876 feet) [recordable 205 meters (672.6 feet))]

    • Media thickness: 6.5 microns

    • Tracks:

      T10000A: 768 (32 channels and 24 wraps)

      T10000B: 1,152 (32 channels and 36 wraps)

  • StorageTek T10000 T2 cartridges (used with the T10000C or D drive):

    • Standard data cartridge:

      Capacity: 5 terabytes (T10000C) or 8 terabytes (T10000D)

      Media length: 1,147 meters (3,763 feet) [recordable 1,107 meters (3,632 feet)]

    • Sport data cartridge:

      Capacity: 1 terabyte

      Media length: 334 meters (1,096 feet) [recordable 303 meters (994 feet)]

    • Media thickness: 5.2 microns

    • Tracks:

      T10000C: 3,584 (32 channels and 112 wraps)

      T10000D: 4,608 (32 channels and 144 wraps)

      Caution:

      Servo track damage: Bulk-erase will destroy pre-recorded servo tracks. Do not degauss T10000 tape cartridges.

Labels

A cartridge label contains bar codes and visual characters. The visual characters do not need to line up with the bar code.

If you are using cartridges in rack mount tape drives, the cartridges may be labeled on the rear of the cartridge as desired.

If you are using the cartridges in a StorageTek library, see the User's Guide for that library regarding the label requirements.

The following specifications are pertinent to the label:

  • AIM Uniform Symbology Specification USS-39

  • ANSI MH10.8M-1993 ANSI Code 39 Barcode Specification

Standard and Sport Cartridge Labels

Data cartridge labels consist of eight characters and the associated barcode. These characters may consist of letters A–Z and numbers 0–9. No special characters (&$%@# and so on) are allowed. The first six characters in the label are the customer volume ID or volume serial number (VOLSER). The last two characters are the media ID usually with a white background.

  • T1 for the StorageTek T10000 cartridge

  • TS for the StorageTek T10000 Sport cartridge

  • T2 for StorageTek T10000 T2 cartridge

  • TT for the StorageTek T10000 T2 Sport cartridge

Figure A-2 shows an example of a data cartridge label for the T10000A or B tape drive.

Figure A-2 Data Cartridge Label Example

Surrounding text describes Figure A-2 .

Note:

VolSafe cartridge labels are the same as data cartridge labels except that the background color of the media ID is usually yellow.

Diagnostic Cartridge Labels

The label must start with DG <space> so a library can recognize a diagnostic cartridge. The next three characters can be 000 to 999 while the last two characters indicate the media ID.

  • T1 for a cartridge used with a T10000A or B tape drive

  • T2 for a cartridge used with the T10000C or D tape drive

Figure A-3 shows an example of a diagnostic cartridge label for the T10000A or B tape drive.

Figure A-3 Diagnostic Cartridge Label Example

Surrounding text describes Figure A-3 .

Cleaning Cartridge Labels

The cleaning label is ”CLNxxx” where xxx is 00 to 99 to identify each individual cleaning tape. The library recognizes a cleaning cartridge by the label media identifier.

  • CT for a T10000A or B drive

  • CC for a cartridge used with a T10000C drive

  • CL for a cartridge used with any model in the T10000 drive family

Figure A-4 shows an example of a cleaning cartridge label for the T10000A or B tape drive.

Figure A-4 Cleaning Cartridge Label Example

Surrounding text describes Figure A-4 .

Tape Cartridge Care

T10000 cartridges require care to ensure proper operation and longevity.

New Cartridges

Unpack new tape cartridges in the area in which they will be used and allow them to acclimate for a period of at least 24 hours.

Handling

Caution:

Tape and cartridge damage: Tape cartridges are easily damaged and you must handle them carefully. Follow these tape cartridge handling guidelines:

  • Do not open a tape cartridge or touch the tape.

  • Do not carry tape cartridges loosely in a container.

  • Do not expose the tape or cartridge to direct sunlight or moisture.

  • Do not expose a recorded tape cartridge to magnetic fields.

  • Maintain clean operating, working, and storage environments.

Cleaning

Wipe all dust, dirt, and moisture from the cartridge case with a lint-free cloth.

Storing

Always store tape cartridges in an environment within the specified range of temperature and humidity. Follow these recommendations when you store cartridges:

  • Do not take tape cartridges out of their protective wrapping until you need them. Use the tear string, not a sharp instrument, to remove wrapping.

  • Store tape cartridges in a dirt-free environment that, if possible, duplicates the conditions of the data processing center.

  • Before you use tape cartridges that have been in tape storage, acclimate them to the operating environment for at least 72 hours.

Shipping

Caution:

Tape and cartridge damage: Tape cartridges are easily damaged. Proper packaging is required for shipping.

If you must ship cartridges, especially if they are for remote system backup, remote database duplication, or disaster recovery, follow these guidelines:

  1. Save the original factory packaging when you receive new tape cartridges. Use this packaging material, or the equivalent, to package tape cartridges for shipment.

  2. Wrap the tape cartridges in plastic to block moisture and contamination from entering the tape cartridges.

  3. Pack the tape cartridges on edge, with the leader door on top. If you pack the tape cartridges flat, shipping vibration causes the clutches in the tape cartridges to disengage and slip.

  4. Pad the tape cartridges on all six (6) sides.

    If you are using factory packaging to ship fewer tape cartridges than the packaging originally held, or if you are using other packaging, fill voids in the packaging with foam padding equivalent to the original contents.

  5. Label the outside of the shipping carton clearly with text or accepted symbols that indicate:

    • Do not expose to magnetic fields

    • Do not expose to moisture

    • Fragile

    • This end up