Media error best practice

[banched]

What is the best practise for handling media errors?



We have TSM 5.1.1 on W2K server, with a Storagetek L80. Over the past few weeks media errors have been reported for the LTO tapes. However, some of the tapes which were once being reported as having media errors then, are not now, and have been checked in no problem.



If a tape is in media error, should I consider re-using it at all? Does a media error really mean that the tape has a physical fault (they are all new)?

 

[rcard]

This used to worry me when we first started using LTO, but I've learnt through experience that once the problem has been sorted (usually either by doing a RESTORE VOLUME or a MOVE DATA) and the tape becomes scratch, I can use the tape again with no further problems. I think it's probably a 'feature' of LTO that we get these media errors when there really is nothing physically wrong with the tape!