Surestore Tape Cleaning

[CA887185]

I've heard that it takes a tape with 5 retentions and call it good. Here's the kicker, we've got Backup Exec and any retention only ends up with the message to please clean the tape drive. What's up with THAT!!!

The thing too is that I got TapeAssure loaded and operational on the Novell 5 server. It went through all the diagnostics successfully except for the read/write test which failed for some reason when a valid tape was seated properly inside the drive. Said "a tape was not available". ARGHHHHH!

Time to punt me thinks...
Unless a wisened user lets me know different...

[Eugeny Brychkov]

Loren,
if you're talking about DDS (DAT) drive then you should clean this drive every 5 full backups or 20 tape pulling hours.
If you're talking about DLT/LTO then you should clean it only by drive's request.
Do not forget to trow away cleaning tape when it expires.
Cleaning problem may occur because of SCSI problems. Check cable, terminators (at both bus ends with corrent type terminators), and SCSI card.
Did this config ever work? Did you replace any part recently?
Eugeny