Tandberg Data SDLT 600 - Manual (Page 27)

SDLT 600 Product Manual Chapter 2: SDLT 600 Tape Drive Product Information
81-81184-02 REV A01 March 2004 2-9
2.5 Quantum Diagnostics Tools
Quantum, the manufacturer of your drive, frequently provides new and updated tools to use with its
tape drives. These tools
include such items as upgrades for product software and firmware, and
diagnostic software that may be newly developed. All these tools are available on Quantum’s web site.
N OTE : These tools are only available to registered Quantum customers.
Refer to the following procedure to access these tools.
1. Go to the Quantum web site: http://www.quantum.com.
2. Click SERVICE AND SUPPORT in the upper menu bar. This opens the Service and Support window.
3. Explore the various pages that comprise Service and Support until you find what you need.
New tools and utilities get added frequently, so check back often.
2.6 TapeAlert
SDLT 600 tape drives are delivered with TapeAlert

features built in. The internal SDLT firmware
constantly monitors the device’s hardware and media, checking for errors and potential difficulties. It
flags any problems identified on the SCSI log page, where 64 bytes are reserved for use by TapeAlert.
After a backup, the TapeAlert-compatible backup application automatically reads the device’s
TapeAlert SCSI log page to check for any problems. If an error is flagged, your backup software
displays a clear warning message on your screen, and adds the TapeAlert messages to its logs. These
messages are standard across all applications that support TapeAlert, and give clear explanation of the
problem and suggested resolution. For example, if you were attempting to back up onto an expired
tape, you would see the following message:
WARNING: The data cartridge has reached the end of its useful life:
Copy any data you need to another tape.
Discard the old tape.