[Info-vax] SDLT 1 tape cartridge longevity?

[David J Dachtera]

David Mathog wrote:
> 
> Resuscitating an old thread from Apr. 2007.
> 
> Yet another Quantum SDLT 1 cartridge failed today.  Same as always, it
> started having write failures.  This cartridge has not seen a huge
> amount of use, as it has been in a slow backup rotation, having been
> through the drive about 40 times, and even then only using a method
> where it is either streaming or stopped, so no scrubbing at all.  After
> the failure the drive was tested with HP's ltt software with a brand new
> cartridge and there were no issues - so clearly a problem with the
> failed cartridge.  (For whatever it's worth, we also have some Maxell
> SDLT 1 cartridges, and none of those have failed.)
> 
> So, since the cartridge has a "limited lifetime warranty", I tried to
> RMA it, as had been done previously for tapes of this type with the same
> failure. Pulled up the RMA website, filled it out, and this time it
> rejected the serial number.  Called the 800 number, and found out that
> Quantum has retroactively changed the meaning of "Lifetime Limited
> Warranty" to mean "from manufacturer's defects", as in, and this is
> verbatim, covering only "out of the box failures".  I suspect this is
> probably Quantum's position on all of the older DLT cartridges now.
> 
> Which makes me wonder, is it legal for a company to renege on a lifetime
> warranty, other than by declaring bankruptcy?
> 
> Regards,
> 
> David Mathog

In my experience, 40 end-to-end "passes" seems to be the reasonably
expectable lifetime of a SuperDLT cart, on average. Dunno why its so
short, but that's been my experience. Some go longer, some go much
shorter. Some fail on the 5th run. Some on the 150th.

Your mileage, as they say, may vary.

As for "Lifetime Limited Warranty", it is likely considered to mean
whatever the issuer says it means, much like the terms of your credit
card: "We can do as we (blank) well please, but you can't do (spit)."

D.J.D.