This was probably for the list... sent to owner-hp3000-l by mistake.
[\] Jeff
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
From: "Gwin, Marise/EUG" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Serious problems with HP 1.3 Gig DAT drives.
Date: Fri, 03 Feb 95 21:53:00 PST
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We probably don't replace tapes as often as we should, but some backups have
very long retention.  Even so, we clean once a week, change cleaning
cassettes as often as indicated, and handle our tapes carefully.  We have
had excellent performance from our DATs.  We recently replaced our oldest
(it came with the 948 (which I believe was in 1989-90).  It was still
working, but was starting to have suspicious problems.  This is on a CPU
that is not, repeat NOT, in a controlled environment but in a room open at
the ceiling, adjacent to our manufacturing floor.  The dirt is tremendous
and yet even the Beagle drives keep on ticking...
 ----------
In article <[log in to unmask]>, [log in to unmask] says...
>
>I crossposted this to the general hardware group, but I am specifically
>have trouble with MPE/iX machines.
>
>Hello.  Has anyone else had trouble with HP 1.3 Gigabyte disks delivered
>        with their PA-RISC systems?  I have a 937 and 947 and both have
>        had 3 different tape drives in 3 years.  I find this
unacceptable.
>        Is my dis-satisfaction unwarranted?
>
>        I also believe that the drives are damaging my tapes.  I
currently
>        perform a full dump every night, and each tape is used once a
month.
>        Each tape has been used about 30 times.  I realize this is the
low
>        end of expected life, but I really expected them to last quite a
bit
>        longer.  I have some tapes stored in the same place, that are
still
>        going strong, and have been used the same number of times.
>
>        So, what are your experiences?  You can email me and I'll
summarize,
>        or post if the consensus is that this is of general interest.
>
>Chris
>--
>Christopher L. Davis       Systems and Network Administrator
>The Principia                   PHONE:  (314)-434-2100
>13201 Clayton Road                FAX:  (314)-275-3538
>St. Louis, MO  63131         INTERNET:  [log in to unmask]
 
I have had mixed success with HP model HPC150#? DAT drives.  The problem
only seems to effect some of the drives.  The bad news is that the
refurbished drives that you get as a replacement may not be any better!
 
I have sent the following DDS guidelines out to my remote sites.  I hope
you find them useful.
 
To prevent problems with your tape drive, keep the following list in
mind:
1)  Are your tapes DDS certified?  This is indicated by a DDS(Digital
Data Storage) symbol on the tape.
2)  Do you replace your tapes on a regular basis?  HP recommends tape
replacement after approximately 300 uses.
3)  Do you clean your drives at regular intervals?  Drives should be
cleaned after 25 hours of use (Calculate this at approximately 2 hours
for each tape use) or whenever the Cassette indictor light flashes the
Caution signal (indicated by an alternating green light for 4.5 seconds
and and no light for 0.5 seconds.)
4)  Do you replace the cleaning cassette at regular intervals?  Each time
a cleaning cassette is used, the date of use should be marked on the
label.  After 25 cleanings, the cleaning cassette must be replaced.  If
you fail to record each use of the cleaning cassette, after 25 uses the
cleaning cassette may appear to be working normally, but it will be doing
nothing.
 
The source of this information was HP's success with DDS brouchure and my
local CE.