I have had that clip installed in all the drives, so I am pretty sure that
it is a tape problem. I am sending the tapes off to Fuji for them to
investigate.

Thanks,
Matt


-----Original Message-----
From: Dan Foster [mailto:dsf AT GLOBALCROSSING DOT NET]
Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 2004 2:31 PM
To: ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU
Subject: Re: A quick question

Hot Diggety! David Longo was rumored to have written:
> I have used only IBM LTO1 tapes in my 3584 Fibre drives.
> I did have a few (3 or 4 in a year or so.)  As I slowly
> gathered over this time, there were two problems.
>
> 1.  The cases on early LTO 1 tapes didn't have the halves
> "welded" together.  Therefore if when loading, the leader
> pin was pushed in slightly, it could partially open the case
> and the leader ping would then get stuck and IBM would have
> to open the drive to get tape out.
> Later LTO1 tapes (as off about a year ago or so) are supposed
> to be "welded" and LTO 2 tapes from the start.
>
> 2.  There also was a mechanical mod to the LTO1 drives,
> that would reduce or elimimate the problem.  It involved
> installing a "clip" in the LTO1 drive.   I had this done on
> mine and have not had the problem since.  Don't know offhand
> the EC number on this, I think you have to ask about this one,
> and press a little bit to get it.  I understand it originated in Europe.
>
> If you can't get info on it from your IBM CE, let me know and
> I'll dig up info.

Talked with the IBM CE here, and he looked it up.

The clip is put over the tape retension spring inside the drive.

It's ECA 009, which is not a mandatory EC. Should be applied only if the
customer sees frequent B881 errors in the library.

If so, the CE needs to order part #18P7835 to get the parts and tool for
the EC.

Also says the work takes an half hour per drive.

We're seeing a lot of these B881 (tape unload from drive issue) errors!
Scheduling installation of these clips now. And, yes, we do have the
original generation of IBM LTO1 tapes. :) B881 errors certainly makes
sense now since there's only a few common major culprits for such
errors; leader pin being out of alignment certainly does it.

We haven't seen these errors with the other 3584 at another site, but
will keep this EC in mind.

-Dan