Networker

Re: [Networker] Cleaning tape

2009-05-12 05:54:26
Subject: Re: [Networker] Cleaning tape
From: Preston de Guise <enterprise.backup AT GMAIL DOT COM>
To: NETWORKER AT LISTSERV.TEMPLE DOT EDU
Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 19:44:58 +1000
On 12/05/2009, at 16:39 , Catalin Scarlet wrote:

Hi,

Why you don't set up the cleaning on the library and let the library to clean the drive when is necessary?
Be aware that IBM LTO3-4 drives require more cleaning than previous.

It's one of those 50-50 decisions, normally.

Talk to some hardware engineers at tape drive vendors, and they 100% insist that you should let tape cleaning be done solely by the tape library, only when the drive requests it.

Talk to other hardware engineers at the same vendors and they 100% insist that you should run cleaning every X weeks, regardless of whether the drive indicates it needs it or not.

These days NetWorker is certainly better at working with library- controlled cleaning. It used to get into quite a bit of a snit if it went to do something with a drive and found cleaning was in progress - now it just reports that cleaning is in progress and tries again.

Ultimately it comes down to the air quality of the environment and usage. I've configured sites where cleaning was literally required every week due to excessive amounts of coal dust in the computer room. I've equally worked with sites where cleaning cartridges have been used at most once every 6 months.

These days it really does come down to a personal preference on-site.

Cheers,

Preston.

--
Preston de Guise


"Enterprise Systems Backup and Recovery: A Corporate Insurance Policy":

http://www.amazon.com/Enterprise-Systems-Backup-Recovery-Corporate/dp/1420076396

http://www.enterprisesystemsbackup.com

NetWorker blog: http://nsrd.wordpress.com

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