Dell PowerVault LTO3-060 - Manual (Page 6)

A Standalone Diagnostic test requires a tape that is not write-protected. The media type can be any media type that
supports a tape format that can be written by the drive.
Notice: Since the test involves write operations, the existing tape contents will be destroyed.
Note: If the Clean LED is On, it will remain On after a test is run. To clear the Clean LED, run a cleaning cartridge.
1. Ensure that no cartridge is loaded. If a cartridge is loaded it can be ejected by double-clicking the eject button.
2. Enter Service Mode by keeping the Eject button pressed for at least 6 seconds.
The Ready LED (on the left) starts flashing quickly (indicating the drive is in Service Mode and that Service entry
number 1 is active).
3. Insert the tape cartridge into the drive within 15 seconds.
The drive loads the cartridge and the Ready LED starts flashing indicating that Standalone Diagnostics has started.
The eject button has now returned to normal mode. During the Standalone Diagnostics test, it is possible to abort
the test and eject the cartridge by clicking the eject button. The drive indicates the detection of the abort request
by flashing both the Ready and Activity LEDs. Depending on which stage the test is aborted, it may take a while
before the drive starts the eject operation. When the cartridge has been ejected, all LEDs are turned off. The
Clean LED may still be On.
The Ready LED will continuously flash during the entire testing process. The Activity LED will flash as the tape is in
motion during testing.
If no cartridge has been inserted after 15 seconds, the LEDs revert back to their initial state and the eject button
must be pressed for 6 seconds again to get back to Service Mode.
Test Sequence
The Standalone Diagnostics test will perform the following operations:
Collect Information: Reads and stores drive and media information:
Firmware and drive ID
Tape type and format
Cartridge serial number
Error History Log and Log page 0x33 from EEPROM
Run-time counters from EEPROM
Mainboard Test. Tests the mainboard hardware.
Cartridge Manipulation Test: The Cartridge Manipulation Test performs the same mechanical movement operations as
those performed during Cartridge Load and Eject.
Read/Write Test: This test involves actual reading and writing on the tape medium. A write pass and a read pass are
executed.
When the test has completed without errors the tape cartridge is ejected. No LEDs will be lit. The Clean LED may be On.
Failure Indication
When a failure has been detected the tape is not ejected and the Failure LED will be flashing.
Note for programmers:
Detailed test results are available through the Receive Diagnostics SCSI command. To use this command, Support-only
tools are required.
If a write protected, unsupported, or damaged tape cartridge is inserted prior to starting the Standalone Diagnostics test,
it will be ejected by the drive and the Failure and Activity LEDs will be flashing while the Ready LED is off. The two
flashing LEDs can be turned off by clicking the eject button.
Media Management Reporting
Media Management (MM) is a feature embedded in the PowerVault LTO-2-024 tape drive’s firmware that monitors the
read and write performance of the tape drive and media. Write performance information is written on the media header
every time the media is rewound, and before the media is unloaded.