TapeAlert Descriptions

TapeAlert is an open industry standard that flags errors and provides possible solutions for storage devices and their media. This topic provides information about TapeAlert flags issued by tape drives, including the identifying number, severity, recommended message, and probable cause.

Support for specific TapeAlert flags may vary based on tape drive type and firmware revision. Not all tape drives support every TapeAlert. Consult your tape drive SCSI manual for more information.

For more information on TapeAlert, see http://www.t10.org/index.html for INCITS SCSI Stream Commands - 3 (SSC-3).

I

=

Informational.

W

=

Warning — The system may not be operating optimally. Continued operation without corrective action may cause a failure or raise critical TapeAlert flags.

C

=

Critical — Either a failure has already occurred or a failure is imminent. Corrective action is required.

 

No.

Flag

Type

Required Host Message

Cause

1

Read Warning

W

The tape drive is having problems reading data. No data has been lost, but there has been a reduction in the performance of the tape.

The drive is having severe trouble reading.

2

Write Warning

W

The tape drive is having problems writing data. No data has been lost, but there has been a reduction in the capacity of the tape.

The drive is having severe trouble writing.

3

Hard Error

W

The operation has stopped because an error has occurred while reading or writing data which the drive cannot correct.

The drive had a hard read or write error.

4

Media

C

Your data is at risk:

  1. Copy any data you require from this tape.
  2. Do not use this tape again.
  3. Restart the operation with a different tape.

Media can no longer be written/read, or performance is severely degraded.

5

Read Failure

C

The tape is damaged or the drive is faulty. Call the tape drive supplier help line.¹

The drive can no longer read data from the tape.

6

Write Failure

C

The tape is from a faulty batch or the tape drive is faulty:

  1. Use a good tape to test the drive.
  2. If the problem persists, call the tape drive supplier help line.¹

The drive can no longer write data to the tape.

7

Media Life

W

The tape cartridge has reached the end of its calculated useful life:

  1. Copy any data you need to another tape.
  2. Discard the old tape.

The media has exceeded its specified life.

8

Not Data Grade

W

The tape cartridge is not data-grade. Any data you back up to the tape is at risk. Replace the cartridge with a data-grade tape.

The drive has not been able to read the MRS stripes.²

9

Write Protect

C

You are trying to write to a write-protected cartridge. Remove the write-protection or use another tape.

Write command is attempted to a write-protected tape.

10

Media removal prevented

I

You cannot eject the cartridge because the tape drive is in use. Wait until the operation is complete before ejecting the cartridge.

Manual or software unload attempted when prevent media removal on.

11

Cleaning Media

I

The tape in the drive is a cleaning cartridge.

Cleaning tape loaded into drive.

12

Unsupported Format

I

You have tried to load a cartridge of a type which is not supported by this drive.

Attempted load of unsupported tape format.

13

Recoverable mechanical cartridge failure

C

The operation has failed because the tape in the drive has experienced a mechanical failure:

  1. Discard the old tape.
  2. Restart the operation with a different tape.

Tape snapped/cut or other cartridge mechanical failure in the drive where medium can be demounted.

14

Unrecoverable mechanical cartridge failure

C

The operation has failed because the tape in the drive has experienced a mechanical failure:

  1. Do not attempt to extract the tape cartridge.
  2. Call the tape drive supplier help line.¹

Tape snapped/cut or other cartridge mechanical failure in the drive where medium cannot be demounted.

15

Memory Chip in Cartridge Failure

W

The memory in the tape cartridge has failed, which reduces performance. Do not use the cartridge for further write operations.

Memory chip failed in cartridge.

16

Forced Eject

C

The operation has failed because the tape cartridge was manually demounted while the tape drive was actively writing or reading.

Manual or forced eject while drive actively writing or reading.

17

Read Only Format

W

You have loaded a cartridge of a type that is read-only in this drive. The cartridge will appear as write-protected.

Media loaded that is read-only format.

18

Tape directory corrupted on load

W

The directory on the tape cartridge has been corrupted. File search performance will be degraded. The tape directory can be rebuilt by reading all the data on the cartridge.

Tape drive powered down with tape loaded, or permanent error prevented the tape directory being updated.

19

Nearing Media Life

I

The tape cartridge is nearing the end of its calculated life. It is recommended that you:

  1. Use another tape cartridge for your next backup.
  2. Store this tape cartridge in a safe place in case you need to restore data from it.

Media may have exceeded its specified number of passes.

20

Cleaning required

C

The tape drive needs cleaning:

  1. If the operation has stopped, eject the tape and clean the drive.
  2. If the operation has not stopped, wait for it to finish and then clean the drive.

Check the tape drive user's manual for device-specific cleaning instructions.

The drive thinks it has a head clog, or needs cleaning.

21

Cleaning requested

W

The tape drive is due for routine cleaning:

  1. Wait for the current operation to finish.
  2. Then use a cleaning cartridge.

Check the tape drive user's manual for device-specific cleaning instructions.

The drive is ready for a periodic cleaning.

22

Expired Cleaning Media

C

The last cleaning cartridge used in the tape drive has worn out:

  1. Discard the worn-out cleaning cartridge.
  2. Wait for the current operation to finish.
  3. Then use a new cleaning cartridge.

The cleaning tape has expired.

23

Invalid Cleaning Tape

C

The last cleaning cartridge used in the tape drive was an invalid type:

  1. Do not use this cleaning cartridge in this drive.
  2. Wait for the current operation to finish.
  3. Then use a valid cleaning cartridge.

Invalid cleaning tape type used

24

Retension Requested

W

The tape drive has requested a retension operation

The drive is having severe trouble reading or writing, which will be resolved by a retension cycle.

25

Multi-port interface error on a primary port

W

A redundant interface port on the tape drive has failed

Failure of one interface port in a dual-port configuration (for example, Fibre Channel).

26

Cooling Fan Failure

W

A tape drive cooling fan has failed.

Fan failure inside tape drive mechanism or tape drive enclosure.

27

Power Supply failure

W

A redundant power supply has failed inside the tape drive enclosure. Check the enclosure user's manual for instructions on replacing the failed power supply.

Redundant power supply unit failure inside the tape drive enclosure or rack subsystem.

28

Power Consumption

W

The tape drive power consumption is outside the specified range.

Power consumption of the tape drive is outside specified range.

29

Drive preventive maintenance required

W

Preventive maintenance of the tape drive is required. Check the tape drive user's manual for device-specific preventive maintenance tasks or call the tape drive supplier help line.¹

The drive requires preventive maintenance (not cleaning).

30

Hardware A

C

The tape drive has a hardware fault:

  1. Eject the tape or magazine.
  2. Reset the drive.
  3. Restart the operation.

The drive has a hardware fault that requires reset to recover.

31

Hardware B

C

The tape drive has a hardware fault:

  1. Turn the tape drive off and then on again.
  2. Restart the operation.
  3. If the problem persists, call the tape drive supplier help line.¹

The drive has a hardware fault that is not read/write related or requires a power cycle to recover.

32

Primary interface

W

The tape drive has a problem with the host interface:

  1. Check the cables and cable connections.
  2. Restart the operation.

The drive has identified an interface fault.

33

Eject media

C

The operation has failed:

  1. Eject the tape or magazine.
  2. Insert the tape or magazine again.
  3. Restart the operation.

Error recovery action.

34

Microcode update fail

W

The microcode update has failed because you have tried to use the incorrect microcode for this tape drive. Obtain the correct microcode and try again.

Microcode update failed.

35

Drive Humidity

W

Environmental conditions inside the tape drive are outside the specified humidity range.

Drive humidity limits exceeded.

36

Drive Temperature

W

Environmental conditions inside the tape drive are outside the specified temperature range.

Cooling problem.

37

Drive Voltage

W

The voltage supply to the tape drive is outside the specified range.

Drive voltage limits exceeded.

38

Predictive Failure

C

A hardware failure of the tape drive is predicted.

Call the tape drive supplier help line.¹

Predictive failure of drive hardware.

39

Diagnostics Required

W

The tape drive may have a hardware fault. Run extended diagnostics to verify and diagnose the problem. Check the tape drive user's manual for device-specific instructions on running extended diagnostic tests.

The drive may have had a hardware fault that may be identified by extended diagnostics (i.e., SEND DIAGNOSTIC command).

40 – 46

Obsolete

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47 – 49

Reserved

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50

Lost Statistics

W

Media statistics have been lost at some time in the past.

Drive or library powered down with tape loaded.

51

Tape directory invalid at unload

W

The tape directory on the tape cartridge just unloaded has been corrupted. File search performance will be degraded. The tape directory can be rebuilt by reading all the data.

Error prevented the tape directory being updated on unload.

52

Tape system area write failure

C

The tape just unloaded could not write its system area successfully:

  1. Copy data to another tape cartridge.
  2. Discard the old cartridge.

Write errors while writing the system area on unload.

53

Tape system area read failure

C

The tape system area could not be read successfully at load time:

  1. Copy data to another tape cartridge.
  2. Discard the old cartridge.

Read errors while reading the system area on load.

54

No start of data

C

The start of data could not be found on the tape:

  1. Check you are using the correct format tape.
  2. Discard the tape or return the tape to your supplier.

Tape damaged, bulk erased, or incorrect format.

55

Loading or threading failure

C

The operation has failed because the media cannot be loaded and threaded:

  1. Remove the cartridge, inspect it as specified in the product manual, and retry the operation.
  2. If the problem persists, call the tape drive supplier help line.¹

The drive is unable to load the media and thread the tape.

56

Unrecoverable unload failure

C

The operation has failed because the medium cannot be unloaded:

  1. Do not attempt to extract the tape cartridge.
  2. Call the tape driver supplier help line.¹

The drive is unable to unload the medium.

57

Automation interface failure

C

The tape drive has a problem with the automation interface:

  1. Check the power to the automation system.
  2. Check the cables and cable connections.
  3. Call the supplier help line¹ if problem persists.

The drive has identified an interface fault.

58

Microcode failure

W

The tape drive has reset itself due to a detected microcode fault. If problem persists, call the supplier help line.¹

Microcode bug.

59

Write once read many (WORM) medium — integrity check failed

W

The tape drive has detected an inconsistency during the WORM medium integrity checks. Someone may have tampered with the cartridge.

Someone has tampered with the WORM medium.

60

WORM medium — overwrite attempted

W

An attempt had been made to overwrite user data on a WORM medium:

  1. If a WORM medium was used inadvertently, replace it with a normal data medium.
  2. If a WORM medium was used intentionally:
    1. Check that the software application is compatible with the WORM medium format you are using.
    2. Check that the medium is bar-coded correctly for WORM.

The application software does not recognize the medium as WORM.

61 – 64

Reserved

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¹ Go to support.dell.com for Dell technical support information.

² Media Recognition System (MRS) is a method where pre-defined stripes are placed at the beginning of the media to identify the media. The MRS stripes are read to determine if the media is of data-grade. Data-grade media should be used in SCSI streaming devices since it is of the required quality and consistency to be used to store data (i.e., audio/video grade media should not be used).