HP 3000 Manuals HP 3000 Manuals
Handling and Storing Cassettes
Environmental conditions can affect the reliability of data stored on
cassette tapes. It is recommended that you only use cassettes labeled
"DDS" in your DDS-format tape drive. Do not use cassettes labeled "DAT,"
because the media is not certified and integrity cannot be guaranteed.
It is recommended that you only use DDS cassettes marketed by
Hewlett-Packard, which meet exacting high standards.
To ensure data integrity for your cassettes, follow these guidelines:
* Do not touch the tape or attempt to clean the tape path or tape
guides inside the cassette.
* Do not leave cassette tapes in excessively dry or humid
conditions.
* Do not leave cassette tapes in direct sunlight or in places where
magnetic fields are present (for example, under telephones or near
transformers).
* Do not drop cassettes or handle them roughly.
* Do not stick more than one label onto cassettes; extra labels
could cause the cassettes to jam in the tape drive.
* Store cassettes in their plastic cases when not in use.
* Do not let cassettes get dirty, and always stack the cassettes in
a clean environment.
* Do not use cassettes when the Caution signal is displayed by the
cassette light, located on the front panel. The light shows a
repeating pattern of green for 4.5 seconds, then off for 0.5
seconds. If this light pattern appears, it means that the tape
heads need cleaning or that the tape is nearing the end of its
useful life.
Temperature considerations
The cassettes should be used only at temperatures between 5 degrees C (41
degrees F) and 45 degrees C (113 degrees F). You can, however, store them
at temperatures down to -40 degrees C (-40 degrees F).
If you expose cassettes to temperatures outside the operating limits,
stabilize them before you use them. To do this, leave the cassettes in
the recommended operating temperature for a minimum of two hours.
To avoid temperature problems, observe these guidelines:
* Ensure that the tape drive is in a position where the temperature
is relatively stable, for example, away from open windows, fan
heaters, and doors.
* Avoid leaving cassettes in severe temperature conditions, for
example, in a car standing in bright sunlight.
* Avoid transferring data (reading from and writing to cassettes)
when the temperature is changing by more than 10 degrees C (50
degrees F) per hour.
Environmental and usage limits
Appropriate conditions of operating, storage (long-term), and
transporting environments for your cassette tapes are as follows:
* Operating temperature is 5 degrees C to 45 degrees C (41 degrees F
to 113 degrees F).
* Operating humidity is 20% to 80% relative humidity,
non-condensing. Maximum wet bulb temperature is 26 degrees C (79
degrees F).
* Storage temperature is 5 degrees C to 32 degrees C (41 degrees F
to 90 degrees F).
* Storage humidity is 20% to 60% relative humidity, non-condensing.
Maximum wet bulb temperature is 26 degrees C (79 degrees F).
* Transporting temperature is -40 degrees C to 45 degrees C (-40
degrees F to 113 degrees F).
* Transporting humidity is 5% to 80% relative humidity,
non-condensing. Maximum wet bulb temperature is 26 degrees C (79
degrees F).
* Recommended useful life of a cassette is 300 insertions into the
tape drive.
To determine storage life of a DDS cassette
Data can successfully be stored on DDS cassettes for a period of 10
years. You should give each cassette a full pass in the drive at least
once a year to prevent sticking. Store cassettes according to the
environmental specifications mentioned.