>But we still get the SIM/MIMs and would love a key into more
>info besides cleaning flags.

Joe - You may want to have a look at the SARS manual...

SARS                                    Statistical Analysis and Reporting
                                        System, in 3590 tape technology. SARS
                                        analyzes and reports on tape drive and
                                        tape cartridge performance to help you
                                        determine whether the tape cartridge or
                                        the hardware in the tape drive is
                                        causing errors, determine if the tape
                                        media is degrading over time, and
                                        determine if the tape drive hardware is
                                        degrading over time.  Manual:
                                        "Statistical Analysis and Reporting
                                        System User Guide", available at
                                        /www.storage.ibm.com/hardsoft/tape/pubs/
                                        pubs3590.html

 Richard Sims, BU