HP StoreEver TapeAssure Software - Manual (Page 29)

Error rate tests
The error rate tests are a series of short tests at a variety of tape speeds in both directions. A typical
test will perform 60–70 individual error rate tests and each one will check error rate margin,
variations across all the heads, and accuracy following tracks. This approach allows for:
•
Characterization of drive error rate by tape speed
•
Characterization of drive error rate by direction (forward and reverse)
•
Filtering out areas of bad tape, which allows the test to run using a single tape
The error rate tests cycle through a series of tape speeds, as shown in “Cycling through a series
of tape speeds” (page 29) . Half of the tests are written in the forward direction and the other half
are written in the reverse direction. This ensures that both sets of heads are tested, as well as the
full range of tape speeds.
Figure 9 Cycling through a series of tape speeds
The error rate tests for each tape speed will occur at different places in the tape and in different
directions, as shown in
“Multiple tests for each tape speed” (page 29) . This allows the test to
characterize the drive for that tape speed.
Figure 10 Multiple tests for each tape speed
Diagnostic tests 29