SDLT Tape stuck in the drive.. what are my options?
 

I have an SDLT 220 tape stuck in the drive. Makes funny noises when I try to
eject it. What are my options of getting this tape out of the drive?

Depends how important it is.

Important: power off, remove drive and ship to a media recovery firm

Not important: power off, remove drive and open it up to remove the tape, most likely having to cut the tape and manually eject it.

Well.. data is not important since this is just a backup, but I can't send this out
for a replacement because what it contains sensitive data.

Since this is SDLT, its not so easy to open either..... :(

On the HP models we use, you can open up the drive and use a 9 volt battery on a set of contacts inside to eject the tape. I did it once several years ago on a hardware maintenance course, don't remember the details.

It's tough to tell what's malfunctioning just from the description. When you tried to eject the tape what happened? What step of the eject do you think it was trying? Did it sound like the drive was attempting to rewind? Actually Eject? etc..

Who makes the drive?

Have you called in yet?

The outer case is Sun and inside its a Quantum drive (I think HP uses the same too), but I don't see any special electrical contacts inside... lemme check again.

Uptede: Nope.. nothing besides the power, SCSI ID and the SCSI connector :(

Note: This drive has power and everything else.. just the tape seems to be stuck.. and I think its more than half of the tape is in the drive...

anyway.. i'm calling it a day... shall re-visit this tomorrow.

when I try to eject.. with funny noises.. and it stops with all the lights blinking... does not eject.

The outer case is Sun, inside drive is Quantum (like most SDLTs)

I'll call in for the replacement early next week. we have another drive
on hand that I can use mean while.

If it's just mechanically hosed you're just going to have to get Sun to replace it.

Forcibly removing the tape will probably damage the drive anyway. Good news is they're usually pretty good about getting the replacements out quickly.

Looks like thats the only option.. Thanks!

What is the model number of the drive?

Its SDLT 220, Sun brand case with Quantum inside. Single drive SCSI unit.
Don't know the exact part number. Its over a couple years old.

Sun StorEdge SDLT220 Desktop

Last Order Date: January 16, 2004
Last Ship Date: April 16, 2004
Last Service Availability Date: April 16, 2009

All I could find on SunSolve:

Although is sounds like a mechanical problem, have you tried power-cycling the device?

Yeap, same results.. :( and all 3 LEDs blink after it tries to eject the tape.

To my extreme annoyance, I have not found anything useful on the Sun website.

However, I believe this HP device to be the same mechanism as the StoreEdge 220.

It has a secton on removing a jammed tape.

Might be worth taking a look if you are handy with a screwdriver.

Drive support document

Thanks! This is it. HP and SUN both use Quantum. I think
Quantum makes all SDLT drives anyway.

I was afraid of this procedure. I can do this, but since this is in the
service contract, I'll let the sun FE take care of this.. or
open it when he is around.

I'm just afraid that there is something mechanically wrong
(broken or defective)
and I might get stuck in a blame game between the Tape
manufacturer and the drive manufacturer (been there)


littleo t, but are LTOs any better? SDLTs have been a pain
so far.. this being the worst.
(mechanical defects in the tapes.. read errors etc... etc.. )