Degaussers

Call to determine the correct type of Degausser for your Data Tapes

Degaussers

Degaussers provide a swift efficient method of removing all residual data signals (inc audio & video) from magnetic media. The need to degauss media includes:

• Data security - completely erase all traces of confidential data
• Conform to Privacy Laws - i.e. Data Protection Act
• Re-use of media - 'Start with a clean sheet' Periodic degaussing improves signal quality and data integrity
• Compatibility - DLT Write tapes on 7000/8000 which were originally initialised on DLT1 or 4000

Some Further Tips on Care and Handling of tape (Applies to all Tape Media)

All organisations today face the common challenge of secure data management. As the amount of data generated and stored during daily operations increases exponentially, successful data management emerges as the key to continued growth. It is for this reason that protecting valuable data is of the highest priority.

New half-inch tape technologies offer many advantages over previous technologies such as significantly increased capacity and improved overall system reliability. The compressed capacity of a single cartridge can approach 300GB, which is almost 500 times the compressed capacity of a 3480 cartridge. With today's growing capacity and performance demands, data centre managers must emphasise the care and handling of media to help prevent loss of valuable data, time and money. Continuing emphasis on cartridge handling, transportation, storage, and environment will not only protect valuable data written on cartridges, but also ensure that cartridges meet or exceed expected lifetimes.

Handling of Cartridges

All tape cartridges require the same basic care and handling. High capacity cartridges are more susceptible to damage due to increased linear density, increased track density, reduced substrate thickness, and the positioning of the data and servo tracks closer to the tape edges

Here are 5 basic rules for handling cartridges:

• No more than six cartridges should be stacked or carried at a time to minimize the risk of dropping the stack;
• Cartridges which are dirty or damaged should not be placed in a drive;
• Finger grips should be utilized, if present, for the most effective method of lifting a single cartridge;
• Leader blocks should not be removed and doors should not be opened to prevent tape damage;
• Tape surfaces should never be touched since residue from a fingerprint can create greater head-to-tape separation and result in loss of signal (data).

Dropped Cartridges

If a high density half-inch tape cartridge is dropped, there is a strong possibility that the media inside the cartridge has been damaged, even if there is no visible evidence of damage on the outside of the cartridge. Tape edge damage or misalignment of internal components, such as the hub or tape pack may occur. This damage may not present itself initially, but may develop over time. For this reason, it is recommended that for any dropped cartridge, the data on that cartridge should be copied to another cartridge, and the dropped cartridge be retired. With large amounts of data per cartridge, the importance of proper handling of cartridges cannot be overstated.

Transportation of Cartridges

Proper packaging of cartridges is imperative to guarantee the life of the cartridge, and the integrity of the data contained on it. Cartridges shipped with inadequate packaging could be damaged, which may result in data loss or reduced cartridge life.

There are many occasions that require a cartridge or cartridges be shipped offsite. In these situations it is imperative that the packaging that is used to ship the cartridges is strong enough to withstand shipping damage, does not allow for cartridges to hit or rub against each other, minimises the internal forces within the package, does not contaminate the cartridges.

Bulk Erasure

All 3590, 3590E, 9840, 9940, and Ultrium cartridges all contain factory pre-recorded servo tracks, and therefore must not be bulk erased. Check with specific hardware manufacturers for their procedure relative to data security erase.

No permanent magnet should be placed closer than 3 inches (76 mm) to a recorded surface at any time.