IBM F50 RS/6000 7025 - Manual (Page 47)

Tape Cartridge Compatibility
The 8-mm tape drive is compatible with existing 8-mm tape subsystems that comply
to the American National Standard (ANSI) X3B5/89-136, Helical-scan Digital
Computer Tape Cartridge, 8-mm for Information Exchange. Data compression
effectively increases the cartridge capacity and data transfer rate for the 5.0GB tape
cartridges.
Note: 160 meter cartridges are not processed and are automatically ejected by the
drive.
Format Modes (C=compression mode)
8-mm Tape Drive 2.3GB 2.3GB (C) 5.0GB 5.0GB (C)
2.3GB Read/Write
5.0GB Read/Write Read only Read/Write Read/Write
Setting the Write-Protect Tab on 8-mm Tape Cartridges
Setting the write-protect tab on a tape cartridge is necessary so that information is
not accidentally lost. When the write-protect tab of a tape cartridge is set (window
closed), information can be read from the tape, but cannot be written to it.
The window on the tape cartridge controls write-protection.
Chapter 2. Using the System Unit 2-21