We were in the same situation. Also couldn't get 10-20% of my tapes to initialize. Lots of errors and problems. IBM would run their diagnostics and find nothing wrong. They also replaced parts, i.e. the heads, cleaners, etc.
Contacted iMation. They said the problem was with the tape drive microcode levels. They told me what minimum level to get to. Had IBM come in and upgrade the microcode and the software levels on various other components of my 3494. Most if not all of my problems went away. I was able to initialize the tapes that previously wouldn't. Bruce Kamp <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent by: "ADSM: Dist Stor Manager" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 11/19/2002 10:19 AM Please respond to "ADSM: Dist Stor Manager" To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] cc: Subject: Re: 3590 Tape Drives Glad to hear someone is having good luck with the E1A drives. This past year I have had IBM out at LEAST 2 dozen times working on my drives!!! The worst part is they bring used parts. They have had to go back & pickup the same part again because the replacement parts have been BAD a bunch of times!! I have seen posts about H1A drives. What is the difference? --------------------------------------- Bruce Kamp Midrange Systems Analyst II Memorial Healthcare System E: [EMAIL PROTECTED] P: (954) 987-2020 x4597 F: (954) 985-1404 --------------------------------------- -----Original Message----- From: Talafous, John G. [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2002 9:00 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: 3590 Tape Drives Martina, I'm surprised to hear you are having 'lots' of hardware problems with 3590 drives. Do you have a maintenance agreement and have you called support when you are experiencing problems? You should! We have a 3494 library with 6 3590-E1A drives in it. These drives are work-horses. We have had two service calls this year. But, you must remember we are backing up 2700+ nodes, are using 700+ extended length cartridges and keep those drives moving data around the clock. As for performance, I have seen transfer rates of 70GB an hour. This is on tape to tape copies of storage pools (You won't see that when migrating disk to tape.). The bottom line is that the 3590 is industrial strength! But, I must admit having no experience with the B drive. John G. Talafous IS Technical Principal The Timken Company Global Software Support P.O. Box 6927 Data Management 1835 Dueber Ave. S.W. Phone: (330)-471-3390 Canton, Ohio USA 44706-0927 Fax : (330)-471-4034 [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.timken.com -----Original Message----- From: Martina Sawatzki [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2002 5:50 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: 3590 Tape Drives Hi, We are working with a 3494 IBM silo with 4 drives - 3590 type B - which is connected to a RS/6000. As we are having lots of hardware problems with these drives we think about changing them to 3590 drives type E. Does anyone have experience with this type of tape drive ? I`m mainly interested in a kind of comparison concerning performance and availibility between the both types B -> E. Thanks a lot Martina ********************************************************************** This message and any attachments are intended for the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, please do not forward, copy, print, use or disclose this communication to others; also please notify the sender by replying to this message, and then delete it from your system. The Timken Company **********************************************************************