3 Hardware and Safety

Electronics Control Module

The electronics control module consist of two main controller cards:

• HBC/HBCR card—the library controller

• HBT card—the tape drive controller

An optional Redundant Electronics (RE) feature is available for failover protection should an SL8500 HBC/HBCR controller card fail. With the RE feature, each library uses two HBC/HBCR controller cards instead of one. If the library controller experiences errors, operations switch automatically to the stand-by library controller, with minimal disruption to library and host operations. The Redundant Electronics feature also provides minimal disruption of library operations during firmware upgrades. For more information about the RE feature, see the SL8500 Host Connectivity Guide.

Cartridge Access Ports

The library comes with one standard, 39-slot, cartridge access port (CAP A), and an option for an additional 39-slot cartridge access port (CAP B). Both CAPs are located on the right front access door to the library.

Figure 3-1 Internal View - Cartridge Access Ports (CAPs)

A CAP consists of 39 slots—three magazines with 13 slots each. A single CAP spans across three rails—2, 3, and 4. There is no adjacent CAP section for the top rail. Entering or ejecting cartridges from the top rail requires an elevator operation. There can be two CAPs, A and B.

• CAP A is on the left-side.

  • Comes standard with the library

  • Controls are on the left side of the keypad

• CAP B is on the right-side (optional feature).

  • Controls are on the right side of the keypad

CAP usage considerations include:

• When a CAP is in use for enter or eject operations, all 39 slots are reserved for that operation, the CAP cannot be subdivided.

• When loading cartridges in the CAP, slots can be skipped.

• Currently, the middle magazine cannot be missing if both the upper and lower or magazines are installed.

• If the HandBot adjacent to the CAP is inoperative, that portion of the CAP is inaccessible.

Slot Arrays and Cartridge Magazines

Cartridges within the library are held in slot arrays that line the inner and outer walls of the library. The library has two types of walls with slot arrays that hold cartridges:

• Inner walls—consist of 14-slot arrays

• Outer walls—consist of 13-slot arrays with space for the robotic rails

Additionally, each CAP in the library can hold three 13-slot magazines.

Each slot array has two targets centered vertically with allowances that accommodate the different sizes and depths of the tape cartridges. Cartridges are placed in slots and lie flat, hub-side down, parallel to the floor. To prevent slippage, cartridges are held within their slots by retainer clips.

Robotic Rail Assemblies

The figure below shows an example of the HandBot and rail assembly in the SL8500.

• Each SL8500 library has four separate robotic rail assemblies. The rail assemblies provide both power and communication signals the robotics system residing on the rail.

• The robotic systems in the SL8500 library are called HandBots. Each HandBot can service up to 16 tape drives and all of the tape cartridges on a rail (LSM).

• The four rail assemblies can pass tape cartridges to another rail using the two elevators within the library. These elevators perform an internal pass-thru port operation that allows any tape cartridge to have access to any tape drive in the SL8500 library and within an SL8500 library complex.

Figure 3-2 HandBot and Rail Assembly

There are two HandBot configurations: four HandBots (one per rail) or eight HandBots (two per rail).

A HandBot assembly consists of:

• Rail and brush assemblies

• Z-mechanism for vertical motion of the hand

• Wrist-mechanism for horizontal motion

• Digital vision system for targeting

• Barcode scanner for reading volume IDs (VOLID) cartridge labels

• Proximity sensor for detecting empty cells

• Worm-drive gripper mechanism for gripping the sides of the cartridges

To optimize system performance, the HandBots automatically implement the Fast Load capability. Once a HandBot successfully inserts a tape cartridge into a drive, it is immediately available for the next request and does not wait until the drive reports that the cartridge has been loaded. The SL8500 library control electronics waits to return the response to the mount request until it detects that the tape drive has successfully loaded the cartridge tape.

Elevators

An elevator moves cartridges vertically between rails. The library comes with two 4-slot elevators in the front of the library, one elevator on each side of the facade.

Elevators provide vertical cartridge movement between rails within the same library. Each of the four rails share the resources of the two elevators. Both elevators are located in the front of the library between the front access doors and the Service Safety Door.

Figure 3-3 Elevator

Pass-thru Ports

A pass-thru port moves cartridges horizontally between libraries. A pass-thru port (PTP) is an electro-mechanical device that allows one library storage module (LSM) to pass a cartridge to another LSM in the same SL8500 Library Complex.

The figure below is an example of a pass-thru port mechanism.

Figure 3-4 Pass-thru Port Mechanism

The SL8500 pass-thru port feature consists of a separate frame that is installed at the rear of the library between two adjacent libraries.

Each PTP frame has four separate PTP mechanisms that can pass up to two cartridges per LSM/rail between the libraries. The PTP frames can be placed on both sides of the library, resulting in up to eight PTP locations, two per rail (or LSM). These locations are on the curved portions of the Robotics Interface Module near the tape drives.

The need to plan ahead for the addition of pass-thru ports is extremely important. The library complex can "grow" in either direction, left or right. The preferred method of installing PTPs to an existing library is to add the new library to the left (when viewed from the CAP-side). See "Pass-thru Port Planning" on page 6-13 for more information.

All SL8500 libraries come equipped and ready for the addition of the PTP frame and feature—no additional walls are needed. Both ACSLS and HSC support pass-thru port operations—no additional software is needed. Existing libraries can remain operational while attaching the PTP frame during the installation of an adjacent library.

Power for the PTPs comes from the same +48 VDC power bus as the robotic rails. Both the N+1 and 2N power configurations currently support the PTP hardware, no additional power supplies are needed.

If service is required, the pass-thru port mechanism slides out of the frame from the rear of the library—not affecting library operations.

Library Cameras

Oracle's StorageTek SL8500 library has a camera system (WebCam) with monitoring software. This feature allows a customer to remotely see the inside of the SL8500 library, which is especially important for those customers who have remote and lights-out data centers. There are two cameras that mount in the upper frame of the front access door, one on each side of the library. The library camera uses third party monitoring software.

The WebCam feature attaches to a 10Base-T, 100Base-TX Ethernet connection and provides remote, high-quality, audio and video.

Figure 3-5 Library Camera

The following table lists details about the library camera:

Accessory Racks

The SL8500 library provides space where up to four standard RETMA (Radio Electronics Television Manufacturers Association) 19 inch racks can be installed. These racks are oriented so the components mount vertically instead of horizontally and can hold up to 6U (one U =4.4 cm (1.75 in.)) of equipment, such as switches, hubs, and servers.

There is a six connector PDU that provides 4 amps of AC power for each rack. Two cooling fans provide additional air flow for the installed equipment.

Because of the numerous types of equipment, Oracle cannot mandate what the customer installs in these racks. Therefore, certain guidelines should be followed to prevent voiding the warranty. The table below lists the guidelines that should be followed when installing equipment in the accessory racks.

The accessory rack has the following power characteristics:

• Two of the racks (2 and 4) receive power from the primary AC power grid.

• The other two racks (1 and 3) require the 2N power configuration.

• When you lose power to a PDU, you also lose power to the associated racks.

Operator Panels

The SL8500 library has three options operators can use to access the library:

• Keypad

• Remote operator panel

• Touch screen operator panel

Keypad

The library includes a keypad that has two buttons, eight LEDs, two locks, and a safety stop button.

• The two buttons open and close the CAPs.

• The eight LEDs indicate library activity and status.

• The two safety locks allow the service representatives to place the library in maintenance mode.

• The red safety button cuts power to the robots in the library.

Figure 3-6 Keypad

Touch Screen Operator Control Panel

The touch screen operator control panel mounts on the front of the library. The panel consists of a flat screen display, with a touch-screen interface, and a panel-mounted personal computer. Through this panel, all of the library instructions, diagnostics, library status, library and drive monitoring and functional information can be accessed.

The operator panel consists of:

• Library Console software

• 12-inch flat screen display (diagonal measurement)

• Touch screen interface (no mouse or keypad necessary)

• 20 GB hard drive

• 512 MB memory and 32 MB RAM

• Java applet as the graphical user interface (GUI).

Figure 3-7 Touch Screen Operator Panel

Service Safety Door

The service safety door is a sliding door that moves either to the left or right, depending upon which maintenance lock is opened. The safety door allows maintenance to be performed at the front of the library without shutting down power to the entire library.

The service safety door has a service mode, used by a service representative while performing library maintenance. When the maintenance key is inserted into its lock and turned, the safety door separates the forward maintenance area from the library interior.

This feature allows the service representative to safely replace a failing front frame component, such as a HandBot, CAP, or elevator, while the library remains fully operational.

Figure 3-8 Service Safety Door

Emergency Robotics Stop

Emergency robotic stop (ERS) is the removal of AC and DC power to the robotics, such as the HandBots, pass-thru ports, CAPs, and elevators. The library and tape drives are not affected. The emergency robotic stop ensures that no robotic motion occurs while someone is inside the library.

The library has two ERS switches:

• One interior lighted switch on the left side of the drive bay area

• One non-illuminated, covered switch, on the front panel

Figure 3-9 Emergency Robotics Stop Button

Door Switches

The library has four front door switches on the Customer Interface Module that monitor the state of the front access doors; should a door be opened without using service mode, these switches remove power from the robotics.

Smoke Detection

In the event of smoke in or around the library, a photo-electric smoke detector mounted in the upper right section of the Drive and Electronics Module, removes all power from the library. Power is restored to the library by resetting the AC circuit breakers.

Service Mode

Service mode is a method that qualified service representatives can use to access the front service area of the library while the library remains operational. This allows the service representative to perform such operations as HandBot replacement, elevator or turntable motor replacement, or CAP replacement.

Interlocks

The library features two types of safety interlocks:

• Door frames have two redundant switches behind each front access door of the Customer Interface Module.

• Service safety door has two sets of dual switches located on the upper section of the front frame for the service safety door.

Mechanical Access Door Mechanism

On the rear section of each door lock, a mechanism is available to mechanically release the door lock from the inside. This is a non-electrical safeguard against someone being locked inside the library. Should an access door be shut and locked from the outside, someone inside the library can push on the mechanism to unlock and open the door.

Service Safety Door

The service safety door is a sliding door that is activated by the maintenance key. This maintenance key is controlled only by service representatives and is used when a failing component in the front of the library needs to be replaced.

The service safety door moves either to the left or right, depending upon which maintenance lock is opened. When the maintenance key is inserted into its lock and turned, the safety door separates the forward maintenance area from the library interior. This allows the service representative to safely replace a failing front frame component while the library remains fully operational.

Interior Lighting

The interior of the library is always illuminated with white LEDs on the ceiling. The ceiling of the Customer Interface Module has yellow (hazard) LEDs that flash when the library is in service mode and for approximately 10 seconds when the doors are closed to alert anyone who may still be inside the library.

Fire Suppression

The library does not ship with a Fire Suppression System installed, although features have been incorporated into the library to allow fire suppression systems to be installed. Professional Services offers fire suppression systems which are installed on site. See "Fire Suppression Planning" on page 6-16 for more information.

Safety

The safety regulatory agencies include:

• Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) - in compliance with UL 60950-1; First Edition, Standard for Information Technology Equipment - Safety; Part 1: General Requirements.

• Canadian Standards Association (CSA) - in compliance with CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 60950-1-03 First Edition, Standard for Information Technology Equipment - Safety - Part 1: General Requirements.

• TUV Rheinland (TUV) - in compliance with EN 60950-1 (IEC 60950-1:2001, modified), Standard for Information Technology Equipment - Safety - Part 1: General Requirements.

• CB Scheme - in compliance to international Certified Body Scheme requirements with all national deviations by TUV Rheinland.

Electromagnetic

Configuration used for verification and compliance is an SL8500 Modular Library with a TCP/IP connection and 4 to 64 tape drives:

• Federal Communications Commission (FCC) –in compliance to the requirements of FCC 47, Part15, Subpart B and Unintentional Radiators Class A.

• Voluntary Control Council for Interference (VCCI) (Japan) –in compliance to VCCI Class A (Cispr22).

• Australia/New Zealand (C-Tick Mark) –in compliance to requirements of the Australia/New Zealand EMC Framework AS/NZS 3548: 1995 Class A.

• European Community (CE Mark) –in compliance to the requirements of Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive 89/336 (including all amendments).

• Canadian Emissions (ICES) –in compliance to the requirements of Canada's Interference Causing Equipment Standard ICES-003 Class A.

• Taiwan (BSMI) –in compliance to the requirements of Taiwan's requirements, CNS13438 Class A.

• Korea –in compliance to the requirements of Korean EMC Law.

Fiber-optic

Each fiber-optic interface in this StorageTek Fibre Channel equipment contains a laser transceiver that is a Class 1 Laser Product.

Each laser transceiver has an output of less than 70 µW.

StorageTek's Class 1 Laser Products comply with EN60825-1:1994+A1+A2 and with sections 21 CFR 1040.10 and 1040.11 of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations.

Laser Product Label

In accordance with safety regulations, a label on each StorageTek Fibre Channel product identifies the laser class of the product and the place and date of the manufacturer. The label appears on top of a Fibre Channel tape drive and near the Fibre Channel connectors on a Fibre Channel tape library. A copy of the label text is shown here:

CLASS 1 LASER PRODUCT
LASER KLASSE 1
APPAREIL A LASER DE CLASSE 1
COMPLIES WITH 21 CFR 1040.10 AND 1040.11

The following translations are for users in Finland and Sweden who wish to identify laser safety and classification:

CLASS 1 LASER
LUOKAN 1 LASERLAITE
KLASSE 1 LASER APPARAT

Shock, Vibration, and Impact Tests

The SL8500 library successfully completed all shock, vibration and impact tests required in Engineering Design Standard 6-1 (EDS 6-1) Environmental Requirements for StorageTek Products.