How to clean LTO4 drives on a HP ESL322 Tape library.

[MO_4]

My HP Data Protector Cell Manager reports the following when a backup is using one of the LTO4 HP drives.

root 845 1313 7 12:01:26 ? 7:28 /opt/omni/lbin/bma -lport uxdp.npd.com 55526 -name LTO4_Drive_03 -policy 10 -type 13 -library A - LTO4 UXDP Library -cleanme -d

Does anyone know how to clean the drive?

[Torsten.]

The manual says:

"By default, Autoclean is disabled. Ensure your application software supports this feature before enabling
it.
If a drive experiences read/write errors when the Autoclean function is enabled, the library issues an
error message stating that drive cleaning is required. Without user intervention, the media picker replaces
the data cartridge with a cleaning cartridge. When the cleaning procedure ï¬ nishes, the media picker
returns the data cartridge to the drive. "

[Marino Meloni_1]

I think it is better to not have the automatic cleaning enable anyway.
with a read/write error, you cannot be sure the problem is coming from the tape cartridge or from the tape drive.
You should use human jugement in order to understand where the problem come from.
Then if you suspect the drive really need cleaning, just load manually a cleaning tape on that drive, and the cleaning cycle will take place automatically.
Then eject the cleaning cartridge again to a reserved slot or in the load port and store it away.
LTO drives already have inside automatic cleaning feature, so it is usually not frequent they need a manual cleaning cycle using cleaning tape, especially inside a Tape Library where the environment is a bit protected.

[Jasvir819]

To clean the tape Drive:

1. Move a cleaning Tape into the drive using your application software. The tape drive automatically loads the tape and cleans the heads. The cleaning cycle can take up to five to ten minutes.

2. Move the cleaning tape back to the proper storage bin using the application software