HP OpenVMS Systems

API for DLT Cleaning Tape request?

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The Question is:

 
We have a number of TZ8x tape drives in remote locations for our backup
 operations. Our problem is that the people who change the tapes for us are not
 computer people, and occasionally a cleaning tape is required. My question is:
 How can I tell from VMS (
F$getdvi?) if a TZ tape drive is requesting a cleaning tape?
 
Thanks,
 

The Answer is :

 
  The drives in some recent libraries will set the exception bit in
  the drive's Read Element Status data and set the ASC/ASCQ values
  to a vendor unique that means "needs cleaning".
 
  On a system supporting the MRU API, it would not be difficult
  to write a program to do periodic scans of the DLT drives looking
  for the specific exception, track down the cleaning tape (assuming
  the standard CLN prefix barcode), and move it to the DLT drive and
  then back when done.
 

  

     

     
answer written or last revised on ( 29-JUN-2000 )
     
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