Use the Run Test function to perform a full write-read verification of your LTO tape, then submit the results directly to Symply Support without leaving the app.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Overview

Run Test is the most comprehensive diagnostic SymplyATOM2 can perform on your tape drive. It runs IBM's standard diagnostic sequence — the same test used by tape drive engineers — and checks the drive's mechanical, electronic, and data-handling systems in a single pass. 

The test works through several phases automatically: it checks the drive's temperature, loads the tape, performs repeated write-and-read cycles to exercise the tape-threading mechanism and verify data accuracy, runs a hardware self-test of the drive's internal electronics, and measures read/write performance against the manufacturer's thresholds. It finishes by collecting any fault codes and internal diagnostic logs from the drive. 

The process typically takes 10-20 minutes depending on your drive and cartridge generation. The drive will be fully occupied during this time. When the test completes, SymplyATOM2 saves a results file that can be uploaded directly to a new or existing support ticket in a single step. 

All data on the tape will be permanently erasedRun Test writes across the entire tape. Any existing content - including LTFS-formatted data - will be destroyed before the test begins. Only use a tape you are prepared to erase, or a blank scratch tape supplied by Symply Support.

Step 1 — Select your drive and load a tape

1
Click the drive you want to test in the Drives panel on the left. The drive’s details will appear in the main area.
2
If a tape is not already loaded, insert a tape cartridge and click Load Tape in the Tape section. The status bar at the top of the main area must show Tape Present before Run Test will be available.
SymplyATOM2 main window showing Drive1 selected with Run Test visible in the Tests section
Drive1 is selected and the Tests section is visible. Run Test, Host Validation, and Full Write are listed with their approximate durations.
SymplyATOM2 with Tape Present status showing drive is ready for operation
Once a tape is loaded, the status changes to Tape Present — Ready for operation and the Run Test button becomes available.

Step 2 — Open Run Test and review the warning

Scroll down to the Tests section and click Run Test. A confirmation sheet will appear showing the drive details and a clear warning that all data on the tape will be permanently erased.

Run Test confirmation dialog showing drive details and data erasure warning with acknowledgement checkbox unchecked
The Run Test sheet shows the drive model, serial number, firmware, and current tape status. The red warning must be read before the acknowledgement checkbox can be ticked. The Start Run Test button remains disabled until you confirm.

Take note of the following information shown in the sheet:

  • Drive — confirms the drive model, serial number, and firmware version the test will run against.
  • Status: Tape Present — confirms a tape is loaded and ready.
  • Test Duration: 20–25 minutes — do not eject the tape or quit the app while the test is running.
  • This tape is LTFS-formatted (partitioned) — if shown with an Auto-detected badge, the tape contains an LTFS partition that will be removed before testing begins. A second confirmation will appear in the next step.

Step 3 — Acknowledge data erasure and start the test

1
Tick the checkbox labelled “I understand that all data on this tape will be permanently erased.” The Start Run Test button will become active.
2
Click Start Run Test.
Run Test confirmation dialog with acknowledgement checkbox ticked and Start Run Test button now active
After ticking the acknowledgement checkbox, the Start Run Test button becomes active.

If the tape is LTFS-formatted, a second confirmation dialog will appear before the test begins:

Secondary confirmation dialog asking to confirm LTFS partition wipe before starting Run Test
For LTFS-formatted tapes a secondary “Wipe LTFS Data and Run Test?” prompt appears. Click Wipe and Start to proceed, or Cancel to abort.

Click Wipe and Start to remove the LTFS partition and begin the test. The tape can be reformatted with LTFS after testing completes.

Step 4 — Wait for the test to complete

SymplyATOM2 will begin writing and reading back data across the full tape. During this time the drive entry in the sidebar will show Running test… and all other drive actions will be temporarily disabled. The status bar at the bottom of the window shows the current operation in progress.

SymplyATOM2 main window with Run Test in progress — drive shows Running test status and all controls are disabled
While Run Test is running, all tape and drive controls are disabled and the status bar shows the current operation. Only the Support toolbar button remains active.
Do not interrupt the testDo not eject the tape, disconnect the drive, or quit SymplyATOM2 while the test is running. Interrupting the test will require it to be restarted from the beginning and may leave the tape in an unformatted state.

Step 5 — Review the result

When the test finishes, a result sheet will appear showing the drive serial number and the test outcome.

Run Test Passed result sheet showing drive serial number, Result: PASSED, and three action buttons
The Run Test Passed sheet confirms the drive serial and the result. From here you can open the results folder, submit directly to Symply Support, or dismiss.

From this sheet you have three options:

  • Show Results in Finder — Opens the folder containing the Run Test results file on your Mac (Windows: opens in File Explorer). Useful if you want to attach the file manually to an email or ticket.
  • Submit to Support — Opens the Submit Support Request window to upload the results and create or update a Symply support ticket. This is the recommended option.
  • Done — Closes the sheet without submitting. You can submit later using the Support toolbar button.

Step 6 — Submit to Support

Clicking Submit to Support opens the Submit Support Request window. This builds a compressed diagnostic bundle, uploads it securely to SymplyNEBULA, and either creates a new support ticket or adds a note to an existing one.

What's included in the bundle

ItemIncludedNotes
Full System Information report (.spx)AlwaysmacOS system profile — hardware, OS, connected devices
Network state snapshotsAlwaysSysdiagnose-style triage data
Support context & manifest filesAlwaysApp version, drive details, current drive state
Current SymplyATOM2 session logSelected by defaultApplication log from the current session
Latest Run Test outputSelected by defaultThe results file from the test completed in Steps 1–5. Shows how recently it was captured.
Retrieve Log, Host Validation, Full WriteOptionalOnly available if those operations have been run. Greyed out otherwise — run the relevant operation first to include.
Firmware Upgrade outputOptionalOnly included if a firmware upgrade was performed within the last 24 hours.
Crash reportsOptionalInclude if SymplyATOM2 has crashed or behaved unexpectedly.

An estimated bundle size is shown before you submit, so you know what will be uploaded.

Option A — Create a new support ticket

Select Create new ticket if you have not already contacted Symply Support about this issue.

Submit Support Request sheet showing Create new ticket tab with email, subject, description fields and bundle contents checklist
The Create new ticket tab. The Latest Run Test output is automatically selected in the bundle contents. Fill in your email address, a brief subject, and a description before clicking Upload and Submit.
  1. Confirm or enter the email address associated with your Symply account.
  2. Enter a short Subject summarising the reason for the test (e.g. LTO-8 drive — Run Test results as requested).
  3. In the Description field, describe what you observed before running the test and any symptoms that prompted the support request.
  4. Review the Bundle contents checklist and tick any additional items you want to include.
  5. Click Upload and Submit.
Write a good descriptionThe more detail you provide — what you were doing, what error appeared, whether the issue is intermittent — the faster Symply Support can diagnose the problem. A Current app context summary at the bottom of the form shows the drive state at submission time.

Option B — Add diagnostics to an existing ticket

Select Annotate existing ticket if Symply Support has already opened a case and asked you to run a test and submit the results.

Submit Support Request sheet showing Annotate existing ticket tab with a verified ticket ID and Latest Run Test output selected
Enter your email address and ticket ID, then click Verify to confirm ownership. Once verified, the ticket subject is shown in green. The Latest Run Test output is automatically selected.
  1. Enter the email address used when the original ticket was raised.
  2. Enter the Ticket ID number from your existing support case (found in the subject line of any Symply Support email, e.g. #6485).
  3. Click Verify. SymplyATOM2 will confirm the ticket exists and belongs to your email address.
  4. Once verified, add a Description noting that you are submitting the Run Test results as requested.
  5. Review the Bundle contents and click Upload and Submit.
Ticket ownership checkThe Ticket ID must have been raised using the same email address you enter. If verification fails, double-check both the ticket number and the email address. Contact support@gosymply.com if you are unsure which email was used.

Step 7 — Submission confirmed

After clicking Upload and Submit, SymplyATOM2 compresses the bundle, uploads it securely to SymplyNEBULA, and attaches it to your ticket. When complete, a green confirmation message shows the ticket number.

Submit Support Request sheet scrolled to show Current app context and green confirmation banner: Support submission complete, Ticket #6485 created/updated
The green banner confirms the ticket number. Use the action buttons to reveal the uploaded bundle, copy a direct link, or open the ticket in your browser.

The following actions are available after a successful submission:

  • Reveal Bundle — Opens the folder containing the uploaded bundle file on your Mac.
  • Copy Link — Copies a direct link to the uploaded bundle to your clipboard.
  • Open in Symply Support — Opens your support ticket in a browser so you can track progress or add a reply.
  • Done — Closes the window. Symply Support will contact you via email when there is an update.

Frequently asked questions

Does Run Test permanently destroy my data?

Yes. Run Test writes a known data pattern across the entire tape. All existing content is overwritten and cannot be recovered. Only run the test on a tape you are prepared to erase, or on a blank scratch tape supplied by Symply Support.

Can I reformat the tape for LTFS after the test?

Yes. Once Run Test has completed you can use the Format function in SymplyATOM2 to re-initialise the tape with an LTFS partition.

What if the test fails?

The result sheet will show FAILED instead of PASSED. Click Submit to Support immediately — the failure data captured in the results file is exactly what Symply Support needs to diagnose the issue.

What if the Upload and Submit button stays greyed out?

For a new ticket, make sure the Subject field is not empty. For an existing ticket, make sure you have clicked Verify and received a green confirmation before attempting to submit.

Do I need an internet connection?

Yes. The bundle upload and ticket creation both require an active internet connection. If you are offline, use Show Results in Finder to locate the results file and attach it manually to a support email.

Where are Run Test results stored locally?

On macOS: ~/Library/Logs/SymplyATOM2/RunTest/
On Windows: %LOCALAPPDATA%\SymplyATOM2\RunTest\
Each test creates a subfolder named with the drive serial number and timestamp.

If you have any questions please submit a [support ticket]