SureStore LIbrary LTO Drives can't use Cleaning Tapes

[Ted Ellis_2]

I have a 4/60 Surestore library with Ultrium drives. The firmware has been updated to E31R, which actually fixed some serious issues we had with drive hangs. Now, however, it seems that none of the drives will accept a cleaning tape... when I try and clean a drive, or when the library tries, I see an error that states

1 11/06/02 01:17 1 Ultrium 1-SCSI Tape Drive Has Detected Invalid Cleaning Cartridge (23) CRITICAL

The cleaning cartridges are LTO, but not HP. They are IBM. Anyone heard or seen an issue where LTO drives are not accepting cleaning cartridges?

Ted

P.S. This thread has been moevd from Disk to Tape Libraries and Drives. - Hp forum Moderator

[David Bell_1]

Ted,

I have not specifically heard any issues to this regard. Have a look at the compatability table at this URL:

http://www.hp.com/cposupport/information_storage/support_doc/lpg75088.html

It would appear that the IBM cleaning cartridge should work unless I'm reading the table incorrectly. I think I would order an HP and see if it works properly.

HTH,

Dave

[David Bell_1]

Ted,

One other location that leans towards requiring an HP cartridge only.

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=lpg75094&locale=en_US&docId=80100

HTH,

Dave

[Ted Ellis_2]

good info... we have always used a variety of tape brands, never with an issue. All of a sudden the library complains. I have a bad drive that is being replaced today and I may ask the HP rep to see about getting me an HP cleaning tape to test, as this should not be happening

[Ted Ellis_2]

thanks, but I do not read that to indicate you should need HP cleaning tapes. That first matrix lists IBM cleaning cartridges as OK, so they should work... they used to. I am suspecting the firmware rev may have introduced a new problem.... I'm hoping someone else has the same firmware and uses IBM cleaning tapes that can either confirm or deny this

[Leif Halvarsson_2 · Accepted solution]

Hi
I use a 2/20 LTO library with the same firmware as you. There is no problem with drive cleaning so your problem seems to be the IBM tape (I use HP cleaning tape).

[Ted Ellis_2]

Had HP out here and apparently the drives with this firmware are sensitive to the HP brand. Pretty dissapointing since HP claims that the IBM tapes are OK. I will order some HP cleaning tapes and bite my toungue.... no more replies required

Ted