Reading Compaq 35/70GB DLT IV Tape with HP DLTVS80 TapeDrive

[Armin Muljadi]

I'd like to restore data from a Compaq 35/70GB DLT IV Tape with HP StorageWorks DLTVS80 TapeDrive (Firmware: 583B). Each time I insert the Tape into VS80, it will be ejected by the tape drive. Can someone help? Thanks.

[Vernny · Accepted solution]

Hi,

I was looking for compatibility information from DLT 7000 and DLT VS80 and it seems that they don't have backward compatibility. They use different format and for this reason DLT VS80 can't accept the tape.

You can visit this websites for more compatibility questing for your DLT drives:

HP Compatibility Media Matrix
http://www.hptapecompat.com/

DLT VS QuickSpecs
http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/11403_div/11403_div.html

Compaq 35/70-GB DLT Drive
http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/10235_div/10235_div.html


Thank you,
Vernny D.

[Ken Krubsack]

Not gonna work. This is one major gripe I had with the whole DLT-IV family of tape drives - there were no less than 4 tape formats (DLT 35/70, DLT 40/80, DLT VS80, and something called DLT1) and little to no compatibility across 'em. All of these used the same physical DLT-IV cartridges.

You'll have to find a "straight" DLT-IV tape drive - like a DLT 40/80 - to read that 35/70 tape. The VS is an animal unto itself.

[Armin Muljadi]

@Vernny, @Ken: Thanks for the reply.