Working With Cartridges and Barcodes
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Working With Cartridges and Barcodes: Dell™
PowerVault™ ML6000 Tape Library User's Guide
Handling Cartridges Properly
Write-Protecting Cartridges
Barcode Requirements
Installing Barcode Labels
This chapter describes how to work with cartridges and barcodes. When working with tape cartridges, certain considerations
should be taken into account. For example, all tape cartridges in the library must have a barcode label. In addition, when
loading your library, you should be aware of whether or not your cartridges are write-protected.
This chapter discusses these types of items in general terms. See
Library Specifications for information on what type of tape
cartridges are supported for each drive type.
Handling Cartridges Properly
To ensure the longest possible life for your cartridges, follow these guidelines:
• Select a visible location to post procedures that describe proper media handling.
• Ensure that anyone who handles cartridges has been properly trained on all procedures.
• Do not drop or strike cartridges. Excessive shock could damage the internal contents of cartridges or the casings
themselves, rendering the cartridges unusable.
• Do not expose cartridges to direct sunlight or sources of heat, including portable heaters and heating ducts.
• Do not stack cartridges more than five high.
• The operating temperature range for Linear Tape Open (LTO) cartridges is 10º to 45ºC. The storage temperature
range is 16º to 32ºC in a dust-free environment with a relative humidity range between 20% and 80%
(noncondensing).
• If cartridges have been exposed to temperatures outside the ranges specified above, stabilize the cartridges at room
temperature for the same amount of time they were exposed to extreme temperatures or 24 hours, whichever is less.
• Do not place cartridges near sources of electromagnetic energy or strong magnetic fields, such as computer monitors,
electric motors, speakers, or x-ray equipment. Exposure to electromagnetic energy or magnetic fields can destroy
data and the embedded servo code written on the media by the cartridge manufacturer, rendering the cartridges
unusable.
• Place identification labels only in the designated slots on the cartridges.
• If you ship cartridges, ship them in their original packaging or something stronger.
• Do not insert damaged cartridges into tape drives.
• Do not touch the tape or tape leader.
For more information on determining when a tape is damaged, consult the Dell LTO Media Handbook (see
Other Documents
You Might Need).
Caution: Do not degauss cartridges that you intend to reuse.
Write-Protecting Cartridges
All cartridges have a write-protect (write-inhibit) switch to prevent accidental erasure or overwriting of data. Before loading a
cartridge into the library, make sure that the write-protect switch is positioned correctly (either on or off).
Slide the red or orange write-protect switch to the right so that the padlock shows in the closed position. The switch is located
on the left side of the cartridge front.
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