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StorageTek SL3000 Systems Assurance Guide E20876-08 |
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# 2 Library Modules and Hardware

This chapter describes each of the library modules and the major hardware components in the SL3000 library. For dimensions and weights of the library modules, see Chapter 7, "Site Planning."

## Library Modules

- Base Module (Base): one required per library.

- Drive Expansion Module (DEM): maximum of one on the left side of a base module only.

- Cartridge Expansion Module (CEM): maximum of eight, four to left of centerline and four to right of centerline.

- Parking Expansion Module (PEM): must have two, one on each end of the library for the redundant robotics feature. A PEM is a converted CEM.

- Access Expansion Module (AEM): one or two, on the ends of the library.

Figure 2-1 SL3000 Modular Library System—Configuration Example

### Base Module

One Base module is required for every library installation. A standalone Base module is the smallest possible configuration of an SL3000 library. This module contains the power supplies, robotic units, electronics control module, cartridge access port, storage slots, tape drives, and operator controls.

#### Configuration Options

The standard configuration has eight drive slots, CAP, and a perforated window. The physical capacity varies from 205 to 431 cartridge slots depending on the configuration (see Chapter 4, "Capacity").

Configuration options include:

- 8 (standard), 16, or 24 drive slots

- Perforated window (standard), window storage array, or operator panel

- CAP required

#### Components

The front of the Base module contains a single CAP, service door, front panel with LEDs, and a perforated window or optional touch screen operator panel.

The rear of the Base module contains the electronics control module with two cPCI power supplies, two cooling fans, and two power switches. The Base module also contains the power distribution units (PDUs), DC power supplies, tape drives, and two 1-unit rack spaces not for customer use (1 unit = 44.5 mm [1.75 inches]).

Figure 2-2 Base Module: Front and Rear View

### Drive Expansion Module

The DEM is attached to the left edge of the base module (when viewed from the front/cap-side of the library). The DEM allows further expansion of tape drives and provides additional cartridge capacity. There can be only one drive expansion module per library.

#### Configuration Options

The standard configuration is eight drive slots and a perforated window. The physical capacity varies from 153 to 522 cartridge slots depending on the configuration (see Chapter 4, "Capacity").

Configuration options include:

- 8 (standard), 16, 24, or 32 drive slots

- Perforated window (standard), window storage array, or operator panel

- Optional CAP

#### Components

The front of the DEM contains a service door, optional CAP, optional front panel with LEDs, and a perforated window or optional touch screen operator panel (if not already in the Base module).

The rear of the DEM contains tape drives, PDUs, DC power supplies, and two 1-unit rack spaces not for customer use (1 unit = 44.5 mm [1.75 inches]).

Figure 2-3 DEM: Front and Rear View

### Cartridge Expansion Module

The CEM provides additional cartridge slot capacity. There are no tape drives present within this module. A maximum of eight CEMs are supported in a single library.

#### Configuration Options

The physical capacity varies from 438 to 620 cartridge slots depending on the configuration (see Chapter 4, "Capacity").

Configuration options include:

- Optional CAP.

- May be placed to the left or right of a base module and DEM.

- There can be a maximum of four CEMs on each side of centerline (eight total per library).

#### Components

- An optional cartridge access port with a 26 cartridge magazine

- The ability to be converted to a parking expansion module (see "Parking Expansion Module")

- Approximately 438 to 620 data cartridge slots depending on the direction of growth (left or right) and options (CAP or no CAP)

- No tape drives

### Parking Expansion Module

The PEM is a converted CEM used in a redundant robotics configuration. The library uses the PEM to "park" a defective robot without blocking access to cartridges for the other operational robot. The parking space causes six columns of cartridge arrays in a CEM to become inaccessible (three on the front wall and three on the rear wall). Performing maintenance on an inactive robot parked in a PEM is disruptive to library operations. A PEM:

- Must be installed on the ends of the library, on both right and left-sides

- Is a CEM converted by changing an internal module ID label that is shipped with the redundant TallBot feature

- Allows an optional CAP with a left expansion module, but a CAP on the right PEM is inaccessible

#### Configuration Options

The physical capacity varies from 230 to 312 cartridge slots depending on the configuration (see Chapter 4, "Capacity"). PEMs can be configured with an optional CAP on a left expansion module only.

Figure 2-4 Parking Expansion Module

### Access Expansion Module

The AEM is placed on the end of the library. It provides bulk loading and unloading or space to park an inactive robot for non-disruptive robot maintenance. AEMs and PEMs cannot be installed in the same library.

The AEM provides:

- Bulk loading and unloading of up to 234 cartridges at a time per AEM.

- Non-disruptive robot maintenance through the use of a safety door, which sections off a defective robot from the other library modules. A service representative can safely access the disabled robot through the AEM access door while the library remains online.

#### Configuration Options

Each AEM supports bulk loading and unloading of up to 234 cartridges (see Chapter 4, "Capacity").

Configuration options include:

- Single AEM for bulk load capabilities only. It is recommended to install a single AEM on the left for an additional 104 storage slots.

- Dual AEMs for bulk load and redundant robotics support.

Figure 2-5 Access Expansion Module

## Hardware

The major hardware components of an SL3000 library include:

- Electronics Control Module

- Robotics

- Cartridge Access Ports - Rotational

- Cartridge Access Ports - Bulk Load

### Electronics Control Module

The electronics control module (ECM) is responsible for electronics control, robotic and drive control, and host connectivity. The ECM is located in the rear of the Base module. The main controller cards of the electronics control module are the HBCR and HBT.

Figure 2-6 Electronics Control Module

Note: The ECM also ships with an optional MPU2 card (2Gb) or PUA2 card (8 Gb) for Fibre Channel interface connections. This card is not shown, but is installed below the HBCR card.

A redundant electronics feature is available for failover protection should a controller card fail (see "Redundant Electronics Option").

#### Command Line Interface

The command line interface (CLI) is used by service representatives to configure and diagnose the library. Customers are not allowed to access the CLI interface.

The CLI can be accessed through the electronic control module through:

- Serial Port Connection on the HBCR card (RS-232) and a HyperTerminal connection to enter the commands

- Ethernet Port Connection (ports 1A, 2A, or 2B) on the HBCR card and using a secure shell (PuTTY) to enter the commands

#### Redundant Electronics Option

A redundant electronics (RE) feature is available for failover protection for the HBCR controller card. With the RE feature, each library has two HBCR controller cards. If the active library controller experiences errors, operations switch automatically to the stand-by library controller, with minimal disruption to library and host operations.

RE is an optional feature. It is not available for libraries that use the direct FC connection to hosts. For more information about the RE feature, see the SL3000 Host Connectivity Guide.

### Robotics

The robotics unit in the SL3000 library is called a TallBot. Each library can have either one (standard) or two TallBots (redundant robotics option). TallBots are responsible for the movement and auditing of cartridges throughout the library.

Figure 2-7 TallBot

TallBots move along two rails on the rear wall of the library. One rail is at the top of the library and one rail attaches to the floor. Each module contains pre-installed, segmented rails. Two copper strips insert into the top rail which provides both a power and a signal path for TallBot operations. Gears on the TallBot motors mesh with molded plastic tracks on the rails. TallBots retrieve and insert cartridges into CAPs or slots and mount or dismount cartridges from tape drives.

Power is supplied from +48 VDC 1200 W load sharing supplies. A Rail Power Enable module is installed as a safety circuit for rail power. See Chapter 5, "Power and Cooling" for more information. Signals are received and transmitted between the TallBots and the library controller (HBCR card) through the two copper strips along the top rail.

TallBots contain a bar-code scanner that read the configuration blocks in each module during library initialization and identify volume serial numbers (VOLSERs) of cartridges during CAP entries and Audits.

#### Redundant TallBot

Redundant TallBot operation provides the following advantages:

- Increases the speed for robotic operations

- Backs up robotic operation in case one should fail

The redundant TallBot option requires 240 VAC, 2N power and parking expansion modules or the access expansion modules at each end of the library. A defective TallBot will take itself offline and move into one of these modules. This allows the library to continue operations with one TallBot until time can be scheduled to replace the defective TallBot.

### Cartridge Access Ports - Rotational

The cartridge access port (CAP) is a vertically-mounted, rotating cylinder with two removable 13-slot magazines (26 slots total).

- The Base comes standard with a CAP.

- The DEM and CEMs can have one optional CAP per module.

- There can be a maximum of 10 rotational CAPs per SL3000 library. However, a CAP in a right-side PEM is not accessible and should be unplugged.

- Each CAP comes with a small keypad including indicators and a button to operate that specific CAP.

Figure 2-8 Cartridge Access Ports and CAP Keypad

### Cartridge Access Ports - Bulk Load

AEMs allow the customer to add cartridges in bulk, up to 234 cartridges on each side, without disrupting library operations. Only one AEM is required in a library to support the bulk loading feature.

Figure 2-9 Bulk Load CAPs - Access Expansion Modules