scanner command

Is there a difference in the way scanner would handle file type, adv. file type or tape type devices?

I allways thought it is the same every where. For an issue, support wanted me to clone a tape to file type device but he have wrongly done this to adv file type device.

Support has pointed this out as a possible cause of failure of scanner command. I am yet to discuss this with them but just wanted to find out if there is any difference the way scanner would handle different device types.