DLT8000 Tapes used in vs80?

[James Anker]

Hi,

Does anyone know if DLT IV tapes , previously written in a DLT8000, could be used in a vs80 drive without having to be bulk erased first??

Is it read write one way or both ways?

Thanks in advance.

Jim

[Leif Halvarsson_2 · Accepted solution]

Hi,
Medias medias used in DLT4000/7000/8000 drives must be bulk erased before used in DLT1 or DLT vs80 drives but, as I understand, it is no problem in the reverse direction (DLT1 media in a DLT8000 drive). The reason is different head tecnology. A DLT1/vs80 can't overvrite the media completly if it has been written in a DLT8000 before.

[Vincent Farrugia]

Hello,

The vs80 drive is backwards-READ-compatible only to DLT4000 drives. If the tape IV was written by a DLT7000 or DLT8000, they cannot be neither read nor written by a vs80.

They WON'T WORK even the other way round. If a DLT IV tape was written by a vs80 drive, there is no way a DLT4000/7000/8000 can read or write to it.

Unless bulk erased of course.

So, in short, no write is possible unless you bulk-erase. A vs80 can only READ a DLT4000-written tape.

Leif, please take note.

HTH,
Vince

[Eugeny Brychkov]

Jim,
http://forums.itrc.hp.com/cm/QuestionAnswer/1,,0xf74063f96280d711abdc0090277a778c,00.html
VS80 actually is Benchmark DLT1 drive
Eugeny

[Leif Halvarsson_2]

Hi,

Vincent,
Are you sure about it is not possible to write a DLT media in a DLT 8000 drive if it has been used in a vs80 before. I found this document:
http://www.hp.com/products1/storage/products/tapebackup/dlt_tapedrives/dltvs80_drives/faqs.html#faq5

I understand it as the problem is the stronger magnetic field in the DLT 8000 write head, the vs80 can't overvrite the data compleatly. But if this is true, there should be no problem for the DLT 8000 drive to overvrite the information from the vs80 head.

Unfourtunatly I have no vs80 drive to try with.

[Vincent Farrugia]

Hello,

Sorry for my late reply, but yes I am sure.

Check this out:

http://h20015.www2.hp.com/en/document.jhtml?lc=en&docName=lpg50139

HTH,
Vince

[Leif Halvarsson_2]

Hi,

I interpret this document different from you (but I don't say I am right).

It is clear that the media format is incompatible, a DLT8000 drive can't write vs80 media format (for example append data to a vs80 media) but this don't makes it impossible a DLT8000 drive can overvrite a vs80 media from the beginning (without bulk erasing).

Again, I am not sure. Anyone who has tried ?

[Vincent Farrugia]

Hello,

Look at "Tape format compatibility" from the same document for your answer:

http://h20015.www2.hp.com/en/document.jhtml?lc=en&docName=lpg50139#N10129

HTH,
Vince

[Dan_139]

It is strongly recomended by HP, to not Bulk erase the tapes. No matter what any documents say!

[Vladimir Vybiral]

Hello,
The reason behind incomaptibility is not that much a stronger magnetic field, but the different position of DLT70-80 heads. DLT70 and 80 are using an angled style of writing so the head is not in upright position = this way it enables to store more data on the cartridge. However, vs80 has smaller heads so the angled position is not needed to put 40 gigs native on the tape. so it does not have the servo to do that to keep the drive cheaper.
best regards,

Vladimir