Dell branded auto loaders

[mspope]

I've got a Dell T130 autoloader with four tape DLT 7000 tape heads & 27 slots. I've own this thing since November of 2000 and have had to replace a tape head six times. I'm about to call in for a seventh swap. The symptoms are all the same - at first a few errors, a backup failure then it can't even mount a tape.

Tape cleaning are set (in arc serve) for every 50 hours and I clean them whenever I notice one requesting a cleaning.

I'm just wondering if anybody else has had a similar experience with Dell branded drives.

I have a Digital DLT 4000 Autoloader that's nearing ten years old without a single problem. And two Compaq 2 head DLT 7000 auto loaders nearing 4 years old with no problems.

 

[davidmichel]

Have not heard of this problem with Dell DLT drives.

By the way all Quantum makes all those drives, they just put the Compaq, Dell or whatever name on it.

Are all these libraries at the same location?

DLT drives should not need cleaning every 50 hours. Quantum recommends cleaning only when the drive requests it. Perhaps it is an environmental issue that is causing the premature failure.

 

[NickFerrar]

Yeah DLT cleaning tapes are abrasive and manufacturer advice is not to run routine cleaning, only do it upon request.

I have a Dell 120T (I think...) here (DLT7000 single head, 7 slot) that's not had a problem for a couple of years. We do have a lot of failures on Dell single drive units though (DLT1, DLT7000 and LTO)...