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StorageTek SL3000 User's Guide E20875-05 |
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# 10 Cartridge Management

- "Cartridge Types"

- "Cartridge Labels"

- "Resolving Orphaned Cartridges"

- "Display Cartridge Information"

- "Locating Cartridges"

- "Moving Cartridges (Recovery Moves)"

- "Entering Cartridges"

- "Ejecting Cartridges"

- "Import/Export Diagnostic Cartridges"

- "Cartridge Handling"

## Cartridge Types

- Data cartridges

- Diagnostic cartridges — used by service representatives to run read/write tests on drives (see "Import/Export Diagnostic Cartridges")

- Cleaning cartridges — used to clean the tape path and read/write heads of the tape drives (see "Drive Cleaning")

Caution: Do not re-enter a cleaning cartridge ejected by the library. The library will consider it to be new, and set the usage counter to zero.

Library cartridges must meet specifications defined in American National Standard Magnetic Tape and Cartridge for Information Interchange. For more information on cartridges, refer to the drive vendor's publication and website.

## Cartridge Labels

All library cartridges must have a readable external label. The HandBot reports an error when it encounters an unreadable label.

Non-labeled cartridges are not supported. The library exports any non-labeled cartridges it finds through the CAP. A non-labeled or unknown type cartridge will not mount to a drive.

Cartridge labels include a media domain and media ID. The media domain indicates the cartridge type — data, cleaning (CLN), or diagnostic (DG).The media ID indicates the compatible drive type. Some FC-SCSI host applications, may require you to configure the barcode presentation to use the full eight-character barcode. For information about barcode label standards for each cartridge type, refer to the Barcode Label Technical Brief on OTN.

### Configure Cartridge Barcode Presentation (FC-SCSI only)

Use this procedure to configure the cartridge barcode presentation format for an FC-SCSI library or FC-SCSI partition. This specifies which part of a cartridge barcode the library passes to host applications that use the FC-SCSI interface.

1. Select Tools > Configuration.

2. In the Barcode Presentation list, select the presentation format to use for each partition. The Partition Name scsi0 indicates a non-partitioned library. Format options are:

   - all — passes all eight barcode characters to the host.

   - left6 — passes only the six VOLID characters to host applications. It does not pass the domain and type characters, which are the two characters on the right of the barcode. This is the default setting.

3. Click Apply.

4. Click OK to dismiss the message.

## Resolving Orphaned Cartridge s

An orphaned cartridge is a cartridge which is inaccessible to a host. Orphaned cartridges can occur when you change the capacity, delete a partition, or move a cartridge to a cell or drive that is not allocated to a partition.

In a partitioned library, orphaned cartridges can cause data loss. A host that finds an orphaned cartridge in its partition may treat the cartridge as a scratch volume and overwrite the data.

SLConsole will warn you when it identifies orphaned cartridges. Resolve the orphaned cartridges by performing recovery moves on listed cartridges. Recovery moves transfer the orphaned cartridges to accessible locations within their parent partitions. See "Moving Cartridges (Recovery Moves)".

## Display Cartridge Information

The reports feature can display information about all library cartridges, including cartridge vol-id, location, and media type. You can display the information in a tabular format or a list. For drive-related media events, see "Display the Drive and Drive Media Reports".

1. Select Tools > Reports.

2. Expand the Status Summary folder in the navigation tree.

3. Click the report to view:

   - Cartridge Table - displays cartridge information in a tabular form. You can modify the layout and display of this screen. See "Modifying the Screen Layout".

   - Cartridge Summary - displays cartridge information in a list.

4. To search the report data or save it to a file, see "Library Reports".

## Locating Cartridges

You can display the library internal address of any cartridge by using the SLConsole. You can locate a cartridge based on vol-id, internal library address, or HLI address.

This utility is especially useful when you must perform a manual mount of a cartridge. The library management software (ELS or ACSLS) provides the vol-id, HLI-PRC address of the cartridge, and drive bay address of an available drive. Before you enter the library, write down the vol-id, cartridge location, and the drive slot location (see "Library Addressing").

### Locate a Cartridge by vol-id

Use this procedure to display the current location of a cartridge with a specified volume ID. You can display cartridge location in the library internal address or HLI-PRC address format.

1. Select Tools > Diagnostics, and then click the Library folder.

2. Click the Search tab.

3. In the Search Type list, select VOLID.

4. Enter the VOLID (wildcards are valid).

5. The Requester field controls the address format of the search results. Select:

   - default to display in library internal address format.

   - hli0 or hli1 to display in HLI-PRC address format.

6. Select the Cartridge Type.

7. Click the Search tab. The Search Results section updates.

### Locate a Cartridge by Address

Use this procedure to display detailed information for cartridges with a specified location. You can specify the location using library internal address, HLI-PRC address, or FC-SCSI address.

1. Select Tools > Diagnostics, and then click the Library folder.

2. Click the Search tab.

3. In the Search Type list, select Location.

4. In the Location list, select the search criteria.

5. In the Location field, enter the address (wildcards are invalid)

6. In the Requester list, select the type of address format - FC-SCSI, HLI, or default (internal address). Make sure the type matches what was entered in the Location field.

7. Click the Search tab.

8. To see details about a cartridge or to view a location mapping, click the ". . ." button in the Details column.

## Moving Cartridges (Recovery Moves)

Using the recovery move diagnostic function, you can move a cartridge from one location to another. For example, you can:

- Return a cartridge to its original location from a CAP cell, drive, or another storage cell location.

- Transfer orphaned cartridges to accessible locations

- Group cartridges by data type or move them closer to assigned drives.

- Eject a cleaning or diagnostic cartridge that has expired.

- Enter a new cleaning or diagnostic cartridge and move it to a reserved storage cell.

A cartridge in a storage cell can be moved only to a CAP, a system cell, or another storage cell, and not to a drive. A cartridge currently in a drive, CAP, or system cell can be moved to any other unoccupied location in the library.

Before moving any cartridge, it is helpful to display or print a report showing where cartridges are currently located and which storage cells are unoccupied (see "Display Cartridge Information").

### Move a Cartridge by Vol-id or Specified Location

Use these procedures to move a cartridge in the library to a new specified location. These procedures update the cartridge's location in the library controller database, but not in the host database. You must perform an audit from the host software to update the host database. Failure to do so will cause future mount requests from the host software to fail.

Caution: Potential data loss. Use caution when moving cartridges in partitioned libraries. Accidentally moving a cartridge from one partition to another allows the new partition to overwrite data.

1. Select Tools > Diagnostics. Click the Library folder.

2. Click the RcvrMove tab.

3. In the Source Location Mode section, select either:

   - VOLID to use vol-id. In the VOLID field, enter the vol-id of the cartridge to move.

   - Location to use a specific location. Select the cartridge's current location type. Options are: CAP, Slot, Drive, Reserved Slots.

4. In the Destination Location Type list, select the type of location to which to move the cartridge. Options are: CAP, Storage Slots, Drive, and Reserved Slots.

   Selection restrictions include:

   - The destination can be a drive only if the source is a CAP or reserved slot.

   - To move a cartridge to a drive, the cartridge media type must be compatible with the drive type.

   - You cannot move a cartridge to a location that is already occupied.

   - Only diagnostic or cleaning cartridges should be moved to reserved slots.

5. In the Destination Location table, specify the cartridge destination with the library internal address lists: Library, Rail, Column, Side, Row.

   Options include:

   - Min: First element of that location type (library, rail, column, side, row) in the library

   - Max: Last element of that location type (library, rail, column, side, row) in the library

6. Click Start to begin the move.

7. Click OK.

8. To verify the new location, you can display a Cartridge Summary report. See "Display Cartridge Information".

9. To update the new cartridge location in the host database, initiate a library audit from the host software (see the tape management software documentation).

## Entering Cartridges

Before you enter a cartridge, verify that it is labeled properly. Do not enter unlabeled cartridges or place cartridges upside-down.

A rotational CAP holds 26 cartridges and an AEM hold 234 cartridges. Place cartridges in any magazine slot and in any order with the hub gear facing down and cartridge label facing you. The magazine is removable for cartridge placement.

After a cartridge is entered through the CAP, the library moves the cartridge from the CAP to a library storage slot, records the cartridge's location, and sends the location to the host.

Caution: Possible equipment damage: DO NOT force the CAP to open or close.

Rotational CAPs

1. If the CAP is in auto enter mode (see "CAP Modes and States"), proceed to the next step. If it is in manual mode, initiate the enter operation at the host (see tape management software documentation).

2. Press the CAP button.

   The CAP door opens, and the CAP button light turns ON.

3. Place the cartridges in the CAP with the hub gear face down and barcode toward you.

4. Press the CAP button.

   The CAP closes and locks automatically, and the CAP button light turns OFF. When the CAP is empty, the library returns the CAP to its default state

AEMs

1. If the CAP is in auto enter mode (see "CAP Modes and States"), proceed to the next step. If it is in manual mode, initiate the enter operation at the host (see tape management software documentation). The "Unlocked" indicator lights.

2. Push the AEM CAP button. The "Wait" indicator blinks until the safety door is completely down. Then the "Enter" light displays solid. Depending on the level of activity in the library, this may take several minutes.

3. Lift the latch, and open the door. Place the cartridges in the CAP with the hub gear face down and barcode toward you. Close and latch the AEM access door.

4. Push the AEM CAP button. The "Enter" light goes off, and the "Wait" light starts blinking. The safety door goes up.

## Ejecting Cartridges

A rotational CAP holds 26 cartridges and an AEM holds 234 cartridges. To export a cartridge, specify the vol-id of the cartridge to remove from the library. For HLI hosts you can select a CAP for the eject operation. For FC-SCSI hosts, the library uses CAPs in a pre-defined order (see "CAP Priorities for FC-SCSI Hosts"). The system retrieves the vol-id location from the library's memory. The robot locates the cartridge and places it into the CAP slot.

After the CAP opens, the system erases the location of the cartridge from the library controller database and the host database. The robot does not read cartridge labels during export operations.

Caution: Possible equipment damage: DO NOT force the CAP to open or close.

Rotational CAPs

1. Initiate the eject operation at the host. Specify the vol-ids of the cartridges to remove from the library (see the tape management software documentation).

2. Press the appropriate CAP button.

   The CAP door opens, and the CAP button light turns ON.

3. Remove the cartridges from the CAP.

   CAUTION: Potential data loss. If you do not remove the cleaning cartridge from the CAP and the CAP closes, the library treats the cartridge as new and the expired cleaning cartridge is used again.

4. Push the CAP button to close the CAP.

   The CAP closes and locks, and the CAP button light turns OFF.

5. If more cartridges must be exported, the robot continues filling the CAP. Wait until the CAP door is unlocked and repeat step 2 through step 4.

   Once the system ejects all cartridges, the robot audits the CAP to verify it is empty. The CAP returns to its default state.

AEMs

1. Initiate the eject operation at the host. Specify the vol-ids of the cartridges to remove from the library (see the tape management software documentation).

2. Push the AEM CAP button.

   The "Wait" indicator blinks until the safety door is in place. The the "Enter" light displays solid. Depending on the level of activity in the library, this process may take several minutes.

3. Lift the latch, and open the door. Remove the cartridges from the AEM CAP. Close and latch the AEM access door.

4. Push the AEM CAP button. The "Enter" light goes off, and the "Wait" light begins blinking. The safety door moves up. If more cartridges need to be exported, the TallBot continues filling the necessary AEMs.

5. If more cartridges must be exported, wait until the AEM "Unlocked" light is comes on and repeat step 2 through step 4.

## Import/Export Diagnostic Cartridges

Library self-tests and some other diagnostic activities require the use of diagnostic cartridges. Make sure the library contains a enough diagnostic cartridges for these activities. Diagnostic cartridges are stored in the reserved system cells, and cannot be imported or exported with host management software.

To import/export a diagnostic cartridge through a CAP, use the SLConsole Import/Export function. The library controller reserves the CAP for the entire operation. The system can perform only one diagnostic or cleaning cartridge import or export operation at a time.

Diagnostic cartridge volume IDs (vol-ids or volsers) must be eight characters in length, with DG as the first two characters. The library import/export function works only for diagnostic cartridges with labels in this format. You can use any of the following SLConsole reports and searches to display information about diagnostic cartridges. Search for cartridges that begin with DG.

- "Display Cartridge Information"

- "Locating Cartridges"

### Import Diagnostic Cartridges

Make sure that the library has enough empty reserved system cells for the diagnostic cartridges. There must be at least one empty system cell on each side of the library for robot recovery or library initialization. The diagnostic cartridges are distributed as evenly as possible in reserved system cells, or you can assign priority to one rail.

1. Verify that the CAP is empty, available for use (not reserved by a host), and closed and locked.

2. Select Tools > Diagnostics.

3. Expand the CAP folder and click a CAP to use. Click the Import/Export tab.

4. In the Operation section, select Import Cleaning/Diagnostic cartridges.

5. In the "Select favored rail for import" list, select the preferred storage rail or No affinity.

   The system enters diagnostic cartridges into reserved system cells on the favored rail on a space-available basis. After the system cells on the rail are full, the system distributes cartridges among system cells on other rails.

6. Click Start.

7. Click OK to begin the import operation.

8. Follow steps 2 to 4 of "Entering Cartridges" to complete the import operation.

### Export Diagnostic Cartridges

1. Verify that the CAP is empty, available for use (not reserved by a host), and closed and locked.

2. Select Tools > Diagnostics.

3. Expand the CAP folder, click a CAP to use. Click the Import/Export tab.

4. In the Operation list, select the type of export operation:

   - Export specific diagnostic cartridges, then select the cartridges to export in the "Select Cartridge(s) to export" list

   - Export all diagnostic cartridges, then select a rail in the "Select rail to export cartridges from" list.

5. Click Start.

6. Click OK to begin the export operation. The Import/Export page displays a message when the CAP is ready to be unloaded.

7. Follow steps 2 to 5 of "Ejecting Cartridges" to complete the export operation.

## Cartridge Handling

Caution: When cartridges are improperly handled, loss of data or damage to a library component can occur.

- Keep cartridges clean and inspect for damage before each use.

- Never open a cartridge.

- Do not handle tape that is outside the cartridge; the tape edge might be damaged.

- Do not expose the tape or cartridge to direct sunlight, moisture, or magnetic fields.

### Inspecting a Cartridge

Always inspect a cartridge before you insert it into a tape drive or a library. A defective or dirty cartridge can damage a tape drive. Never use a damaged cartridge. Look for:

- Dirt or debris

- Cracked or broken housing

- Damaged write-protect switch

- Liquid in the cartridge

- Labels not firmly attached, or that extend over the cartridge edge

### Cleaning the Cartridge Exterior

Wipe all dust, dirt, and moisture from the cartridge with a lint-free cloth. Use Oracle StorageTek Tape Cleaner Wipes to clean the cartridges. These wipes are saturated with isopropyl alcohol. Do not let any solution touch the tape or get inside the cartridge.

Caution: Potential damage to cartridges. Do not use acetone, trichloroethane, toluene, xylene, benzene, ketone, methylethyl ketone, methylene chloride, ethyldichloride, esters, ethyl acetate, or similar chemicals to remove labels or clean cartridges.

### Storing Cartridges

Store cartridges in a clean environment. Do not take a cartridge out of its protective wrapping until you are ready to use it. Use the tear string, not a sharp instrument, to remove the wrapping. Before using a cartridge, ensure that it has been in its operating environment for at least 24 hours.

### Apply a Label to a Cartridge

If you did not order cartridges with pre-applied labels, you must apply them yourself. Use labels that do not leave a residue when they are removed.

1. Make sure the cartridge has been at room temperature for at least 24 hours.

2. Use OracleStorageTek Tape Cleaner Wipes to clean the surface where the label will be placed (see "Cleaning the Cartridge Exterior")

3. Locate the type of label you need (see "Cartridge Labels"). Make sure the label contains a vol-id.

4. Peel the backing from the cartridge label.

5. Orient the cartridge:

   - LTO — hold the cartridge so that the write-protect switch is toward you.

   - T-series — hold the cartridge so that the two recessed areas are toward you.

6. Place the label within the indented area of the cartridge so that the edges of the label are parallel to the edges of the cartridge. The label must not overlap the edge of the indented area. Press into place.

   Make sure the edges of the labels do not curl, as the label may be misread or become jammed in a drive.

7. For T-series cartridges, repeat step 2 through step 6 for the media ID label. Make sure both labels are aligned with each other.