Very Computer

By default I have just become the unix guru for the small company I work
for...I am comfortable in DOS but AIX is a little intimidating.

I have an EDGE Microlite backup tape drive 4mm. There is nothing listed in
any documentation that gives me a command for running the tape to clean the
tape drive read heads.

When I eject a tape the drive activates for a short time...should I put in
the cleaning tape and let it run when it ejects?

I know I need to do this on a regular basis! I live in terror that the
backups won't be accurate.

Also is there a good book that can give me an overview for AIX...I'm
planning on taking a course ASAP but I really need documentation
(supplemental). The documentation that came with the RISC 6000 etc. is for a
system administrator...I may be there someday...but not quite yet.

Thanks

Laurie

Our  (IBM) 4 mms will  log an error message and show a yellow light
when they want cleaning.  With daily backups this usually happens once
a month, we clean ours once a week just to stay ahead of it.

Quote:> By default I have just become the unix guru for the small company I
work
> for...I am comfortable in DOS but AIX is a little intimidating.

> I have an EDGE Microlite backup tape drive 4mm. There is nothing
listed in
> any documentation that gives me a command for running the tape to
clean the
> tape drive read heads.

> When I eject a tape the drive activates for a short time...should I
put in
> the cleaning tape and let it run when it ejects?

> I know I need to do this on a regular basis! I live in terror that the
> backups won't be accurate.

> Also is there a good book that can give me an overview for AIX...I'm
> planning on taking a course ASAP but I really need documentation
> (supplemental). The documentation that came with the RISC 6000 etc.
is for a
> system administrator...I may be there someday...but not quite yet.

> Thanks

> Laurie

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Quote:>By default I have just become the unix guru for the small company I work
>for...I am comfortable in DOS but AIX is a little intimidating.

>I have an EDGE Microlite backup tape drive 4mm. There is nothing listed in
>any documentation that gives me a command for running the tape to clean the
>tape drive read heads.

>When I eject a tape the drive activates for a short time...should I put in
>the cleaning tape and let it run when it ejects?

Just load the cleaning tape and let it run. It will eject when it has
finished.

Ted.
==============================================================

| BSc GradDipDP CNA MACS PCP                                 |
| Nunawading, Victoria , Australia                           |
==============================================================

Hello

You should insert a cleaning tape about every 20 to 35 h of tape drive use
You just insert the cleazning tape and wait for it to be ejected by the drive.
You must also note a cross on the cleaning tape to know how many time you've
used it(
usually you can use a cleaning tape about 20 rounds).

Good luck

LAURA R PROPHATER a crit :

Quote:> By default I have just become the unix guru for the small company I work
> for...I am comfortable in DOS but AIX is a little intimidating.

> I have an EDGE Microlite backup tape drive 4mm. There is nothing listed in
> any documentation that gives me a command for running the tape to clean the
> tape drive read heads.

> When I eject a tape the drive activates for a short time...should I put in
> the cleaning tape and let it run when it ejects?

> I know I need to do this on a regular basis! I live in terror that the
> backups won't be accurate.

> Also is there a good book that can give me an overview for AIX...I'm
> planning on taking a course ASAP but I really need documentation
> (supplemental). The documentation that came with the RISC 6000 etc. is for a
> system administrator...I may be there someday...but not quite yet.

> Thanks

> Laurie

--
proverbe Troll : "L'homme sage coute quand le troll parle"

hreibel.vcf < 1K Download

Quote:>usually you can use a cleaning tape about 20 rounds).

Magstar 3570 cleaning cartridges have a recommended life of 100 cleans.

Everyone has been pretty accurate about tape cleaning thus far.  Little
yellow light on drive means it needs cleaning.  Stick tape in let it
cycle and it will eject on its own.  Try to stay ahead of the
cleaning.  But most importantly with all backups attempt to restore 2-3
files every couple of weeks just to be sure your backup and recovery
plan is good and that the media you are writing to is good for
recovery.  I have read alot of horror stories over the years were
people could not restore because of bad media or that backups were not
actually putting anything anything on tape etc.

A place for good reading is Redbooks.IBM.COM Tons of info on anything
IBM.  Type in CPIO or TAR and see what hits you get!  Also for general
UNIX reading I suggest the O'Rielly books they have great books
Regardless of what you might want, you are the system admin now and as
such have the resposibility of administrating that UNIX box so read all
you can it is not that tough.  Think of it like elegant DOS not a
Monster!

Lewis Darwin

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