We've been using Imation tapes. We're using first generation SDLT tapes
in a Quantum ATL P1000 SDLT library with 2 SDLT drives. We've been happy
with the Imation media thus far. In my earlier posting I'd mentioned
problems with LTO -- nothing as high as 30%, though -- but I think most
of those are due to these strange SCSI errors we see on the bus
sporadically and not the media itself.

George

Ken Gehring wrote:
>
>    We've found the same problem, but we think that the problem is mainly
> with the
> media (Maxell) rather than the drives. Out of 200 Maxell tapes we have had a
> failure rate of 30% so far (thats 60 tapes) and it just keeps growing. With
> our
> Quantum tapes we have see a failure rate for tapes in the 2 to 3% range but
> are still doing a bit of investigation on these tapes.
>    It also seems that Maxell is unwilling to honor their warranty. They've
> had
> 5 "bad" tapes for testing for 10 weeks now with no answer back from them.
> The testing was to take 2 weeks. They won't even answer emails. I hate to
> slam
> vendors, but I would stay away from Maxell.
>
> Ken Gehring
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Steven Frost" <Steven.Frost AT POWERCO.CO DOT NZ>
> To: <NETWORKER AT LISTMAIL.TEMPLE DOT EDU>
> Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2003 4:10 PM
> Subject: [Networker] SDLT tape reliability.
>
> Hi there. I am finding that the attrition rate on our Super DLT tapes seems
> rather high.
> For tape that is purported to last 1,000,000 passes , we should not have ANY
> media problems.
> For example , a volume previously had 250GB+ written during the normal
> savegroup process and was marked as full
> without errors. On it's next cycle a media I/O error happens after, say,
> 25GB, and Legato uses another
> volume from the jukebox inventory. The tape with the media error is now
> useless ( after 25GB anyway).
> Is this normal?
> Our volumes at most would only have 20 saves done over the last 18 months,
> as we have had our SDLT drives since April 2002, and the tapes are re-used
> monthly. Out of 140 cartridges, nearly 22 are now dodgy. Is there a way to
> rejuvenate these?
> We have had dual Compaq/HP SDLT 160/320 drives in a Compaq MSL5026 Jukebox
> since November, beforehand they were 110/220 drives. We have replaced one of
> these drives twice now , as there were too many tape problems. If a
> tapedrive is 'shoeshining', would that affect the tape media?
> Any comments or similar experiences ? Thanks .
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