Customers FAQ

How do I request tapes back from TMS?

There are two methods:

Online: Using the TapeTrack software, or if you are not online at the moment, please phone our National 24 hour number:

Phone: 1300 303 587 (We will ask for your password)

I would like a copy of the Customer Operations Manual

The Customer Operations Manual is supplied in PDF format and contains the following information:

1. How to contact TMS

2. Authorised Signatories are explained

3. Customer Responsibilities

4. Other TMS services 

Download of the Customer Operations Manual is in the Client Resources section of this website.

I have forgotten my password and TapeTrack user i.d. or password.
As a further backup, if you are a Master Authority signatory and you and your staff have forgotten the Password or TapeTrack User i.d., we will ask you to email a request to us using your "corporate" email address as confirmation, so we can check this against our records.

Who are authorised to request tapes?
During the implementation of the offsite storage service your management advised TMS who were authorised to deal with TMS. There are typically three levels of security defined as: Sign, Request and Master; each have their own level of security.

Sign
These staff are only allowed to sign for deliveries from TMS.

Request
Usually the IT staff. These staff can “Sign” (as above) and also “Request” TMS to retrieve media back. They will also have a TapeTrack user i.d. to use the online facility to retrieve and update media details.

Master Authority
They have Sign and Request authority in addition to Master Authority. Typically the IT Manager, CIO, CEO, Managing Director, or senior IT Support staff of the company. These people are authorised to advise TMS which of their staff have which access, and of course have “Sign” and “Request” authority.

My tapes are already barcoded.
TMS will not replace your barcodes. We can scan any type of barcode and would prefer to use your barcode, as this is your standard.

TMS will add a small Customer Number barcode to the tape to ensure we do not have duplicate tapes in our vaults.

My tapes are not barcoded.
TMS will supply barcodes for you. We will provide barcode labels to a naming standard that you prefer. i.e. if your current hand written tape label is for eg. SAPMonday1 we will create a label exactly the same, but we will add your customer number and media type which is required for TapeTrack vault management.

A typical barcode label is thus:

XXXX YY ZZZZZZZZZ

X = 4 digit customer number allocated by TMS

Y = 2 digit media type i.e. DL for DLT, LT for LTO

Z = 9 digit customer specified alphanumeric media name

Example of a TMS supplied barcode

TMS has sent me barcodes, where do I stick them on the tape?
It is important that barcode labels are stuck on the tapes in the following locations.

DLT already barcoded - TMS will supply a customer identifier barcode		DLT and I want to use a TMS supplied barcode
LTO already barcoded - TMS will supply a customer identifer barcode		LTO and I want to use a TMS supplied barcode
Mainframe cartridge and I want to use a TMS supplied barcode		Magstar and I want to use a TMS supplied barcode
DDS and I want to use a TMS supplied barcode		AIT and I want to use a TMS supplied barcode
CD with a TMS supplied barcode		Exabyte and I want to use a TMS supplied barcode
SLR and I want to use a TMS supplied barcode

 
How does TMS ensure tapes are returned on schedule and cycled?
Tape cycling is scheduled using the TapeTrack software. TapeTrack is a media specific tape tracking software product, designed for media vaults so tape cycling is its most basic and important function.

TapeTrack has a component called Simple Management. Simple Management allows the automation of your tape scheduling. This is set up during the implementation process, which is done at the start of the service by you and our Operations Manager. During this process we will discuss with you your tape cycling requirements. These “rules” are then entered into TapeTrack for each tape. Once this is done Simple Management has complete and automated control of the tapes.

What is TapeTrack's Simple Management?
Simple Management is the automated scheduling of our customers tape cycles and prompts the TMS vault staff to return tapes to you on time. This automation is the key to accurate cycling. Confirmation of the tape movements whether they be tapes moving to our customers or tapes returning back to the vault is confirmed by barcode scanning for 100% accuracy.

Further information regarding TapeTrack is in the services section of this website.

 

How should I care for my magnetic media?
Please download the following document, kindly supplied by Imation Corp.


Tape Media Manufacturers

There are many brands of media on the market, but only a few manufacturers.

Some companies tender out the manufacturing process, so this information will change, but is current as of May 2006.

Brand	Manufacturer
Maxell	Maxell
Imation	Imation
Fuji	Fuji
Sony	Sony
Compaq	Maxell
IBM	Fuji
HP	Maxell
Quantum	Fuji and Maxell (tender process)
IBM	Maxell

This information was compiled with the assistance of www.spectrumdata.com.au

Why does TMS NOT recommend degaussing.

Many years ago we approached an electrical engineering company to build a dequasser. During these discussions and tests with their engineers we discovered how difficult it is to erase data completely off modern high density tapes.  After this, we did not proceed with the degausser build, and decided never to offer deguassing services, as we could not risk compromise our customers secure data.

3590, 3590E, 9840, 9940 and LTO cartridges all contain factory pre-recorded servo tracks, and therefore must not be bulk erased.

Why TMS does not dump tapes in landfill.

Dumping tapes in a landfill is a very inexpensive way of getting rid of old tapes. TMS does not offer this service, as we do not want to compromise our customers secure data. And we do not want to appear on a Current Affair for example..."Corporate Data Tapes for XYZ Company found in landfill" This is not an option for a professional company such as TMS.

Do not pruchase second hand tapes or tapes that have been recertified.

When tapes are at their end of life, have them securely (physically) destroyed. Many companies send their tapes to dealers to have them recertified, they are then resold to other companies, thus potentially exposing data breaches.There are serious concerns that the recertificaction of tapes can lead to there being identifiable data still on the tape after the process. For more information regarding the use of second hand tapes and recertification, please download the attached document provided by Imation Corp.

What are grey imports and do tapes sold by TMS have a warranty?

Grey imports are tapes that have been sourced overseas and imported into Australia illegally. These tapes are not covered by Warranty in Australia. TMS does not sell grey imports, all products sold by TMS are sourced from Australia and come with the manufactures warranty.

New tape sales:

Please go to our Products section of this website to purchase tapes from TMS.