April 1, 2002

9-Track Scratch Tapes to Go Away

On July 1, 2002, the NIH Computer Center will no longer provide 9-track scratch tapes. At that time, any reference to a 9-track tape without a volume serial number will fail.

This change in policy is because eMag, the last manufacturer of 9-track tapes, has discontinued production due to decreased demand. Based on past history, we feel that there will be enough 9-track tapes to fulfill requests for scratch tapes until July 1, but if our supplies are depleted prior to this date we may have to eliminate the service sooner since NIH cannot order new tapes.

Although 9-track tapes drives will continue to be available for foreign/special tapes on both Titan and the South system, there are no plans to include 9-track tapes in Titan's tape inventory. South system 9-track tapes can remain on the Bethesda campus of the NIH Computer Center but as South tapes are copied to Titan, any tapes that must remain 9-track will be given to the owners to keep at their own sites.