Dell PowerVault ML6000 - Manual (Page 415)

Chapter 14 Working With Cartridges and Barcodes
Handling Cartridges Properly
Dell PowerVault ML6000 User’s Guide 415
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.
• Store cartridges in a location that is as free from dust as possible. Dust
can damage or degrade performance of tape media.
• For external long-term vaulted storage, store cartridges in a vertical
orientation.
• If cartridges must be stacked horizontally for moving and handling,
do not stack cartridges more than five high.
• The operating temperature range for Linear Tape Open (LTO)
cartridges is 50ºF to 113ºF (10ºC to 45ºC). The operating relative
humidity range is 10% to 80% (non-condensing). The storage
temperature range is 60.8ºF to 89.6ºF (16º to 32ºC). Temperatures
above 125.6ºF (52ºC) can cause permanent damage.
• 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 barcode labels only in the designated slots on the cartridges.