  DLT Cartridge Compatibility? 
 The Question is:
 
I was using CompacTape III's (DLT III) for all tape storage and backups on my
 VAX.  Apparently these tapes are no longer made.  Can you tell me what new
 tape would be comparable and work in my VAX?  No one at my facility is sure
 what the tape drive model
is, but I know that the CompacTape III can be used in TK85 Family of drives.
 
 
 The Answer is :
 
  Generally, a DLT drive can initialize a DLT cartridge density limited
  to the lesser of the minimal and maximal densities supported by the
  cartridge and the DLT drive minimal and maximum density capabilities.
 
  Specific DLT drives have one or more compatible DLT cartridges and DLT
  media densities, sometimes with restrictions around read-only or
  read-write access to media.  Current SDLT drives (SDLT 110/220, and
  SDLT 160/320) for instance, can utilize only SDLT media)
 
  Attempts to select an incompatible density generally result in a
  drive error (DRVERR) status, possibly with an illegal request error
  code with an additional sense code (ASC) indicating an incompatible
  medium format -- the specifics of the error processing depend on the
  drive and on the incompatibility tables within MKDRIVER -- if the
  request is known incompatible, MKDRIVER will reject it immediately.
  If the request is possible, the driver will cede the decision to the
  DLT drive itself.  (If the drive returns an incompatible media format
  error, MKDRIVER will select the IVDENS error as the return value.)
 
  Put another way, there is no simple table providing complete listings
  of which cartridges and which densities can be used.  For DLT cartridge
  (media) compatibility, please see the article cited below.
 
  The density selection is distinct from the compression (compaction)
  setting.
 
  If you choose to use /DENSITY and/or /MEDIA_FORMAT=COMPACTION, make
  certain the settings are specified uniformly on INITIALIZE, MOUNT,
  BACKUP, and other DCL commands.
 
  As for this specific case, please contact your reseller or HP
  representative, as details on the DLT drive will be required.
 
  Alternatively, please see the HP natural language support database
  articles entitled:
 
    How To Make Tx86 Tapes That Can Be Read On A Tx85
    TZ30/TK50/TK70 and Tx85/Tx86/Tx87/Tx88/Tx89 Read/Write Compatibility
 
  Topics specific to unintential initialization or the overwriting of
  disk and tape media include (1286) and (6990).
 
  For errors resulting from file structure, directory structure, or
  file structure corruptions, please see topics such as (1213), (4088),
  (4571), (5071), (5553), (5719), (6021), (6234).
 
  If you want to overwrite the data on the media, related topics include
  (841), (3926), (4286), (4598), and (7320).  Also please see (8133).
 
 
 
 Answer written or last revised on  26-JUN-2003 
