5190/5194 Modular Tape Subsystem Manual

Operating the Cartridge Tape Drive and ACL
5190/5194 Modular Tape Subsystem Manual—426878-002
4-27
Cleaning a Tape Drive
Cleaning a Tape Drive
Cartridge tape drives require cleaning on a regular basis to ensure trouble-free
operation. Cleaning cartridges provide a safe, convenient way to clean a drive. A
cleaning cartridge looks like a regular tape cartridge but contains a cleaning ribbon
instead of magnetic tape.
Most cleaning cartridges are clearly marked with the number of cleaning cycles they
provide. Use only cartridges from a reputable manufacturer that provide 100 cleaning
cycles. To prevent problems with reading and writing tape, even if you have a
500-count cleaning cartridge, do not use the cleaning cartridge for more than 100
cleaning cycles.
Cleaning a Tape Drive With an ACL
When you install a tape drive that has an ACL, you must load a cleaning cartridge into
a chamber within the ACL. This self-contained cleaning cartridge automatically cleans
the drive after the tape equivalent of 20 cartridges has passed over the drive heads. If
you believe more frequent cleaning is necessary, you can use the operator buttons on
the ACL control panel to load the cleaning cartridge and clean the drive.
Use this procedure to begin the ACL cleaning cycle:
1. Unload any cartridge currently in the tape drive, and press the RESET button until
the message panel displays an asterisk (*).
2. Verify that the ACL is in the auto mode. If it is not, press the MODE SEL button to
set the ACL into the auto mode.
3. Press the POSITION button repeatedly until the cartridge position indicator
displays the letter C.
4. Press START. The ACL loads the cleaning cartridge and begins the cleaning
cycle. The tape position LEDs show the status of the cleaning cycle. When
cleaning is finished, the autoloader returns the cleaning cartridge to its storage
chamber inside the ACL.
A message appears on the ACL message panel when the cleaning cartridge needs to
be replaced. To replace the ACL cleaning cartridge, see Replacing a Cleaning
Cartridge in an ACL on page 6-10.
Caution. Do not attempt to remove the cleaning cartridge from the cleaning chamber by hand.
Doing so could damage the autoloader. See Removing a Cleaning Cartridge From an ACL on
page 6-11 and Replacing a Cleaning Cartridge in an ACL on page 6-10.
Caution. The cleaning cycle lasts about 90 seconds and cannot be interrupted. Do not turn
off power to the tape drive during the cleaning cycle. The cleaning tape could become lodged
in the drive.