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AIT Tape - Frequently Asked Questions

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AIT Media Specifications and Compatibility
Frequently Asked Questions about AIT Tapes
Proper Care and Handling

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What is AIT?

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How do I set compression for my AIT tape drive?

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Why can I not reach full capacity on my AIT tapes.

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Is AIT compatible with current 8mm data cartridges?

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Why won't my drive read back-ups made on another system?

• What is MIC or R-MIC?

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What are the benefits of MIC?

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About how long is the media life?

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Do AIT drives require cleaning like other tape mechanisms?
• What differentiates AIT-3 from other generations of AIT?

 

• What is AIT?
AIT (Advanced Intelligent Tape) is a new intelligent tape technology developed by Sony. It incorporates a new recording format, ALDC compression, MIC (Memory In Cassette) capabilities, and the exclusive use of AME (Advanced Metal Evaporated) media. (1)

• How do I set compression for my AIT tape drive?
The compression can be set in the software OR the hardware, not both.  If the compression is to be set on the hardware, you will need to set the jumper or dip switch accordingly. Please refer to your manual for specific instructions. (1)

• Why can I not reach full capacity on my AIT tapes?
A Your tape drive is a streaming device. If the data buffer in the drive becomes empty during the backup process the tape will continue moving thus leaving areas on the tape with no data and reducing the tapes capacity - This can be caused by poor system performance or by backing up over a slow or busy network.

Incorrect SCSI configuration can also cause data bottlenecks, for best performance it is recommended to configure the tape drive with a dedicated SCSI controller.

Poor media condition can cause write errors, the data will then have to be written again, this also reduces tape capacity - Be sure your media is in good condition. Due to the built in head cleaning mechanism on all AIT drives, only under extreme environmental conditions should it be necessary to clean the heads on an AIT drive.

If you are using data compression, remember that some files do not compress very well, ie: MPEG, JPEG, PDF etc. If your drive has built in hardware compression enabled be sure that you do not have the backup applications software compression enabled also. (1)

• Is AIT compatible with current 8mm data cartridges?
A No. The AIT drive only accepts AIT AME cassette and rejects all other 8mm cassettes. AIT is accepted by 8mm mechanisms, but is permanently write protected. The AIT drive recognizes an AIT AME cassette by ID holes on the cassette. (2)

• Why won't my drive read back-ups made on another system?
Ensure that the compression method used to make the tape is the same as the one being used to read it. Make sure the back-up program on the reading computer is the same type or newer than the one which created the tape. (1)

• What is MIC or R-MIC?
MIC is the abbreviation for Memory-in-Cassette, which is a semi-conductor memory chip embedded within the AIT media and provides the storage of specific drive and media formats and statistics. This memory chip provides fast drive access to this information and allows the AIT drive to load and search much faster than would otherwise be possible. R-MIC is the same as MIC except that the communication path between this chip and the drive is provided by a low-power, close-proximity radio frequency (RF) path, rather than a direct mechanical connection. The R-MIC chip also contains specific non-alterable memory that is used for the AIT WORM implementation. (2)

• What are the benefits of MIC?
A MIC (Memory In Cassette) enables much faster file access by using 150 times search mode. It provides for up to 256 tape partitions to enhance file accessibility, off-line cassette contents & history recognition, higher data security using MIC ID, and many more features. It also allows for fast load and unload operation with identification happening in less than 10 seconds. (1)

• About how long is the media life?
Based on media life experiments, it is estimated to be over 30 years, similar to other current tape media. (2)

• Do AIT drives require cleaning like other tape mechanisms?
Unlike many conventional tape drives, AIT drives do not require periodic cleaning. The drive constantly monitors head output and invokes the built-in Active Head Cleaner when it senses possible contamination. Under extreme environmental conditions, a cleaning cartridge may be required, but the drive will indicate this to the user and the application. (2)

• What differentiates AIT-3 from other generations of AIT?
A Like previous generations of Advanced Intelligent Tape (AIT), AIT-3 offers storage capacity, performance rates and reliability unmatched by any other tape drive system in its price class. AIT-3 is based on the same core technologies as earlier versions of AIT, but with boosted capacity and transfer rates. AIT-3 provides up to 100GB of native capacity (260GB with compression) and a 12MB/sec sustained native transfer rate (31MB/sec with compression). (2)

(1) Source Sony
(2) Source www.aittape.com
 

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