MP Tapes CMVA069051 User Manual

VeriTape Cartridge Memory Analyzer

Tape Cartridge Memory Analyzer

User Manual

© 2009 MP Tapes - 1 -

VeriTape Cartridge Memory Analyzer

Table of Contents:

1. Overview

2. Quick Start

3. Options

4. Exporting Data

5. Details

6. Summary of Menu Commands

7. Specifications

© 2009 MP Tapes - 2 -

VeriTape Cartridge Memory Analyzer

Overview

All LTO Cartridges have an internal memory chip called Cartridge Memory (CM). This chip
contains vital information about the cartridge. VeriTape™ extracts the information from the CM
and displays it in a concise way. VeriTape also calculates the VeriScore,™ a single quality num­ber based on all available information.

The CM data for all scanned cartridges is saved in a history database, as is information for all
drives mentioned in the CM. This allows VeriTape to analyze both cartridge and tape drive
quality.

© 2009 MP Tapes - 3 -

VeriTape Cartridge Memory Analyzer

Typical VeriTape Displays

Barcode Reader option

The Tape CM Analyzer comes with an optional barcode reader.

VeriTape Display with barcode reader

Quick Start

Get the Latest Software and Documentation

The latest version of the VeriTape software and documentation is available on the MP Tapes
web site at

Connecting and Configuring the VeriTape Reader

The VeriTape Reader is connected to the PC using the USB/Serial converter included with the
product. The first time the USB/Serial converter is plugged into your PC Windows will identify
it as new device. Use the supplied CD-ROM to install the driver.

Run the VeriTape.exe program. The first time you run the program you may get an error mes­sage, “Error accessing serial port”. This is OK, it just means that the default configuration is try­ing to use a serial port that does not exist on your computer. Hit OK and the “Configure Serial

http://www.mptapes.com/veritape.

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VeriTape Cartridge Memory Analyzer

Port” dialog will open. Select the serial port connected to the VeriTape Reader. If you don’t
know which serial port is connected to the VeriTape Reader, select the first one.

The VeriTape program will start looking for the VeriTape Reader. The status bar will show
“LTO CM Reader not found -- still looking…”. When the program successfully communicates

with the reader the status message will change to “Found LTO CM Reader version 5.0”. If the
“found” message never occurs, there is a cabling or configuration problem. Use the “File | Con­figure Serial Port” menu command and choose different serial ports until the VeriTape Reader is
found. (You must close the “Configure Serial Port” dialog each time you change the settings.)

Reading the CM

To read the CM from a cartridge, place the cartridge on the VeriTape Reader and press the
button or use the “Action | Read CM” menu command. The VeriTape program will read and dis­play the cartridge data.

The serial number recorded in the CM does not in general match any markings on the cartridge
case. It is a good idea at this point to write the serial number on the cartridge for later identifica-

tion.
Basic information about a cartridge and its usage are displayed under the “Cartridge” tab. More

detailed information can be seen under the “Usage” and “Details” tabs.

Saving the CM to a File

The CM from a cartridge can be saved to a file for later analysis and comparison with other car­tridges. Press the

button or use the “File | Save” menu command. The suggested file name is
the cartridge’s manufacturer and serial number. The “Save” command takes about 20 seconds
since it saves the entire CM memory1. (Only about 15% was read to get the information dis­played by the “Read” command.)

Reading a Saved CM File

Press the

button or use the “File | Open” menu command and select a single CM file to dis-

play its contents.

Comparing Multiple Saved CM Files

Press the

button or use the “File | Open” menu command and select multiple CM files to si­multaneously display their contents. The CM files’ basic information will be displayed in a table
under the “Summary” tab. Cartridges may not all have the same data fields present. Missing data
fields are indicated by an empty gray cell. A data field that is present but whose value is empty
will be an empty white cell.

Clicking on a row header will sort the columns by that rows’ values in ascending order. Clicking
again on the same row header will sort by descending values.

1

The VeriTape program saves the entire CM contents so that future versions of the program will be able to ex amine

other data in the CM that may be of use.

© 2009 MP Tapes - 5 -