Tim - we have been running SDLT code for going on 3 years now and this
problem has followed us on all our STK L40 libraries with 220 and 320 SDLT
drives.  Basically take a new tape, mount and label this new tape with
microcode older then the current v70 and run a test backup.  Then upgrade
the microcode to v70 and try to label the tape or run backups to it.  It
will error out like bad media.  Degaussing often does not even clean the
tape up to a state where Networker and the SDLT drive is happy again the
tape.  STK has confirmed this to be a problem.  So, we keep stacking up
random tapes that cause problems across the country.  Problem doesn't seem
to be as problematic in our STK L700's with SDLT though.

Jeff



On Thu, 27 May 2004 19:48:57 -0500, Tim Mooney
<mooney AT DOGBERT.CC.NDSU.NODAK DOT EDU> wrote:

>In regard to: [Networker] Quantum SDLT Microcode backwards
compatibility...:
>
>> We have the problem where STK and the Quantum SDLT 220/320 drives have a
>> backwards compatibility issue with their microcode.
>> We have found and STK finally admitted that when we upgrade to newer
>> firmware levels, any tape that was *originally labeled for the first time
>> with an older microcode* then the present code level, will experience
>> difficulties when re-used within the library.
>
>What kind of difficulties, exactly?  We have an STK library with SDLT
>drives, and I can't say I've noticed any problems, but we may not (yet)
>be at the firmware levels where it makes a difference.
>
>You've definitely piqued my curiosity.
>
>Tim
>--
>Tim Mooney                              mooney AT dogbert.cc.ndsu.NoDak DOT edu
>Information Technology Services         (701) 231-1076 (Voice)
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