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StorageTek SL3000 User's Guide

E20875-05
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9 Drive Management

Drive Cleaning

Library tape drives require periodic cleaning to prevent read/write errors. A drive cleaning occurs when the system mounts a compatible cleaning cartridge in response to a cleaning request from the drive. You can manage drive cleaning using either:

For a non-partitioned library, select one method for the entire library. In a partitioned library, select one method per partition.

Host-Managed Cleaning

When a drive requires cleaning, it notifies the host and the host mounts a cleaning cartridge to the drive. To enter/export cleaning cartridges in the library, use the applicable ACSLS or ELS commands. Do not use the SLConsole import/export feature. All cleaning cartridges are stored in data cells.

You must disable library auto clean before enabling host-managed cleaning (see "Configure Library Auto Clean"). To enable host-managed cleaning, see the ACSLS Administrator's Guide or ELS System Programmer's Guide.

Library Auto Clean

When a drive requires cleaning, the library controller automatically mounts a cleaning cartridge on the drive. While a drive is being cleaned, the system marks it as busy to all hosts. If an FC-SCSI host requests the drive while the drive is being cleaned, the request is rejected.

Ensure that the library contains a sufficient number of cleaning cartridges that are compatible with each drive type in your library. You must use the SLConsole to enter/export cleaning cartridges (see "Import/Export Cleaning Cartridges (Library Auto Clean Only)"). Imported cleaning cartridges are stored in reserved system cells.

The library tracks cleaning cartridge usage and sends notification when cleaning cartridges have expired or have reached a user-defined warning threshold (see "Define Warning Thresholds (Library Auto Clean Only)"). Cleaning cartridges are expired based on information from the drives. If a drive cannot use a cleaning cartridge, the drive sends a "cleaning cartridge expired" notification to the library controller. Expired cleaning cartridges can be exported from the library in bulk, by expiration date, or by selected cartridge volume ID (vol-id or volser). Replace expired cartridges as soon as possible.

Manual Cleaning

Normally, either the library auto clean feature or the host tape management software manages drive cleaning. However, there may be occasions when you need to perform a manual clean. See the drive manufacturer's documentation for information on whether manual cleaning is allowed.


Caution:

Cleaning a drive before it is due is not recommended. Excessive drive cleaning can wear out a drive head prematurely.

  1. Verify that the drive needs cleaning (see "Display Drive Information").

  2. Display a list of cleaning cartridges (see "Display Cleaning Cartridges").Verify there is a compatible cleaning cartridge for the drive.

  3. Move a compatible cleaning cartridge from a system cell to the drive that needs cleaning (see "Moving Cartridges (Recovery Moves)").

  4. When the cleaning operation is complete, move the cleaning cartridge from the drive back to a system cell.

Display Cleaning Cartridges

Use this procedure to monitor the status and usage count for all cleaning cartridges in reserved system cells. A cleaning cartridge may not appear on this page if it is in use, in transit, or was entered into the library with host tape management software.

  1. Select Tools > Diagnostics.

  2. Select the Library folder on the navigation tree

  3. Click the Auto Clean tab, and then the Cleaning Cartridges tab. Possible cleaning cartridge statuses are:

    • OK — cartridge is usable for cleaning.

    • warning — usage count has reached or exceeded the warning threshold defined for this cartridge type.

    • expired — cartridge has expired, based on information from the drives.

Configure Library Auto Clean

If the library is partitioned, you can enable or disable library auto clean for individual partitions.

  1. Select Tools > Configuration.

  2. Set the Enable Auto Clean option:

    • Uncheck the box to turn library auto clean off (default). Host management software must manage drive cleaning.

    • Check the box to turn library auto clean on.

  3. Click Apply.

Define Warning Thresholds (Library Auto Clean Only)

The cleaning cartridge warning threshold notifies you when a cleaning cartridge is nearing time for replacement. Set the threshold lower than the cartridge's recommended maximum usage to allow time to replace the cartridge. See the drive manufacturers' documentation for maximum recommended usage for each type of cleaning cartridge.

When you import a cleaning cartridge into the library, the library controller sets the usage count to zero. The count will not be accurate when importing a used cleaning cartridge. See "Display Drive Information" to display the current usage count.

To assign usage warning thresholds to selected cleaning cartridge types:

  1. Select Tools > System Detail. Click the Library folder on the navigation tree.

  2. Select Auto Clean, and then the Warning Threshold tab.

  3. In the "Threshold warning index to change" list, select the index number of the cleaning cartridge type to configure.

  4. In the "New warning threshold count" field, enter the warning threshold for the cartridge type.

    All cleaning cartridges of this type are assigned the threshold. An entry of 0 (default) deactivates the warning threshold feature for the cartridge type.

  5. Click Apply.

Import/Export Cleaning Cartridges (Library Auto Clean Only)

Only one cleaning or diagnostic cartridge import or export operation can be performed at a time. The library controller reserves the CAP for the entire operation.

Import Cleaning Cartridges

Ensure there are enough empty reserved system cells (one system cell on each side of the library must be left open for robot recovery or library initialization). The library distributes imported cleaning cartridges evenly in reserved system cells, and sets their usage counts to 0. The library auto clean feature requires that cleaning cartridge volume IDs (VOLIDs or volsers) be eight characters in length, with CLN as the first three characters.

  1. Verify that the CAP is empty, unreserved, closed, and locked.

  2. Select Tools > Diagnostics.

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

  4. Select Import Cleaning/Diagnostic cartridges.

  5. Click Start, and then OK to begin the import operation.

  6. Load the cleaning cartridges into the CAP (see steps 2 to 4 of "Entering Cartridges").

Export Cleaning Cartridges

  1. Verify the CAP is empty, unreserved, closed, and locked.

  2. Select Tools > Diagnostics.

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

  4. Select a type of export operation:

    1. Export expired cleaning cartridges — exports all cleaning cartridges with an "expired" status.

    2. Export specific cleaning cartridges — select the cartridges to export in the "Select Cartridges(s) to export" list.

    3. Export all cleaning cartridges — exports all cleaning cartridges in the library.

  5. Click Start.

  6. Click OK to begin the export operation.

  7. Remove the cartridges from the CAP (see steps 2 to 5 of "Ejecting Cartridges").

Display Drive Information

Use this procedure to display drive information for all drives in the library. This information is also available through Reports > Drive Details. See "Library Reports".

  1. Select Tools > System Detail.

  2. Click the Drive Folder in the navigation tree for the drive status and locations of library drives.

  3. For more detailed information, expand the Drive folder in the navigation tree. Select a drive.

  4. Select a tab:

    • Status tab — displays the current operational state of the selected drive

    • Properties tab — displays configuration information, including the drive type, serial number, and port configuration

    • Display tab — displays network data, the Virtual Operator Panel (VOP) for T10000 and T9840D drives, and drive LED status

    • Drive Tray tab — displays the current status of a drive tray

Display the Drive and Drive Media Reports

The Drive and Drive Media Events Reports summarize drive and media events and errors that have occurred on library drives. Use these reports to help identify and diagnose faulty drives and cartridges.

By default, the reports are sorted in drive serial number order. Optionally, you can change the sort order and rearrange and re-size the columns. See "Modifying the Screen Layout" for more information.

  1. Select Tools > Reports.

  2. Expand the Statistics folder.

  3. In the navigation tree, click a report type:

    • Drive Events — summarizes drive events and errors. For each drive that has experienced an event, the report lists the type of drive, type of error, the number of occurrences, and the date and time of the last such event. The report can display up to 70 entries.

    • Drive Media Events — summarizes media events. For each drive that has experienced media events, the report lists the vol-id of the cartridge, the type of event, the number of occurrences, and the date and time of the last such event. The report can display up to 500 entries.

Configure the Drive Tray Serial Numbers

Use this procedure to add or edit the drive tray serial number.

  1. Select Tools > Configuration.

  2. Click the Drive Tray S/N tab.

  3. Click Refresh to display the current data.

  4. Double-click the field for the drive tray serial number.

  5. Enter the correct drive tray serial number.

  6. Click Apply, then Yes.

Change a Drive Online/Offline Status

A drive can be online (available for read/write operations) or offline (unavailable for read/write operations).

Use this procedure only if you are not using ACSLS or ELS tape management software, or if their servers cannot communicate with the library. For instructions on changing the state of the library and its components through ACSLS or ELS, see the tape management software documentation.


Note:

Library devices that are offline and in an error state cannot go online. Clear the error condition first.

  1. Select Tools > System Detail.

  2. Expand the Drive folder, and then click the drive to modify.

  3. Click the Status tab.

  4. In the Transition Request field, select either:

    • Take Offline — the system completes all outstanding jobs for the drive first.

    • Bring Online

  5. Click Apply.

Perform a Drive Self-Test

  1. Select Tools > Diagnostics.

  2. Expand the Drive folder, and then click the drive to test.

  3. Click the SelfTest tab.

  4. In the Mode list, select Non-Disruptive.

  5. Click Run.