Page 1
HP StorageWorks 1/8 G2 Tape Autoloader User and Service Guide
Abstract
This guide provides information on installing, configuring, upgrading, and troubleshooting the Tape Autoloader. This guide is
intended for system administrators and other users who need physical and functional knowledge of the Tape Autoloader.
HP Part Number: AK377-96020
Published: June 2012
Edition: Sixth
Page 2
© Copyright 2006, 2012 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
Hewlett-Packard Company makes no warranty of any kind with regard to this material, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of
merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Hewlett-Packard shall not be liable for errors contained herein or for incidental or consequential
damages in connection with the furnishing, performance, or use of this material.
This document contains proprietary information, which is protected by copyright. No part of this document may be photocopied, reproduced, or
translated into another language without the prior written consent of Hewlett-Packard. The information is provided “as is” without warranty of any
kind and is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements
accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for
technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.
Intel, Itanium, Pentium, Intel Inside, and the Intel Inside logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the
United States and other countries.
Microsoft, Windows, Windows XP, and Windows NT are U.S. registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Adobe and Acrobat are trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated.
Warranty
WARRANTY STATEMENT: To obtain a copy of the warranty for this product, see the warranty information website:
http://www.hp.com/go/storagewarranty
Page 3
Contents
1 Features and overview................................................................................8
Autoloader options...................................................................................................................9
HP StorageWorks 1/8 G2 & MSL Encryption Kit......................................................................9
Command View TL TapeAssure..............................................................................................9
Interface specifications and requirements for parallel SCSI drives..................................................10
Parallel SCSI host bus adapters (HBAs).................................................................................10
Multiple LUN support.........................................................................................................10
Interface specifications and requirements for Fibre Channel drives.................................................11
Interface specifications and requirements for SAS drives...............................................................11
LTO-4 and later generation tape drives and encryption................................................................12
Using the Encryption Kit......................................................................................................12
Using application-managed encryption.................................................................................13
Front panel overview...............................................................................................................13
Back panel overview...............................................................................................................14
Tape drive LED.......................................................................................................................15
Controller health status indicator...............................................................................................16
2 Installing the Tape Autoloader....................................................................17
Preparing the host...................................................................................................................17
Planning the parallel SCSI configuration....................................................................................18
About parallel SCSI busses..................................................................................................18
Optimizing throughput........................................................................................................18
SCSI addresses..................................................................................................................18
Planning the SAS configuration.................................................................................................19
About SAS........................................................................................................................19
SAS cables and connectors.................................................................................................19
World Wide identifiers.......................................................................................................20
Planning the Fibre Channel configuration...................................................................................20
Direct connection...............................................................................................................20
SAN connection................................................................................................................20
Choosing a location...............................................................................................................20
Unpacking the shipping container............................................................................................21
Identifying product components................................................................................................21
Attaching the feet ..................................................................................................................22
Removing the shipping lock .....................................................................................................23
Mounting the device in a rack..................................................................................................24
Installing the Tabletop Conversion Kit........................................................................................25
Changing the SCSI address (parallel SCSI drives only).................................................................25
Connecting the parallel SCSI cable (parallel SCSI devices only)....................................................26
Connecting the Fibre Channel cables (Fibre Channel devices only)................................................27
Connecting the SAS cable (SAS devices only).............................................................................27
Powering on the device...........................................................................................................27
Configuring the device............................................................................................................28
Verifying the connection..........................................................................................................28
Labeling and loading the tape cartridges...................................................................................28
Verifying the installation..........................................................................................................29
Configuring additional features................................................................................................29
3 Tape cartridges and magazines.................................................................30
Tape cartridges......................................................................................................................30
Using and maintaining tape cartridges.................................................................................31
Labeling tape cartridges.....................................................................................................31
Contents 3
Page 4
Write-protecting tape cartridges...........................................................................................32
Read and write compatibility...............................................................................................33
Magazines............................................................................................................................33
4 Operating the Tape Autoloader..................................................................35
Remote management interface (RMI).........................................................................................35
Overview..........................................................................................................................35
Login................................................................................................................................36
Status pane.......................................................................................................................37
Getting help......................................................................................................................38
Identity ............................................................................................................................38
Viewing static device information....................................................................................38
Viewing static drive information.......................................................................................39
Viewing network information..........................................................................................41
Status...............................................................................................................................42
Viewing dynamic device information................................................................................42
Viewing dynamic drive information..................................................................................43
Viewing the tape cartridge inventory ...............................................................................45
Configuration....................................................................................................................46
Changing the system configuration..................................................................................46
Changing the drive configuration....................................................................................49
Changing the network configuration................................................................................50
Configuration: Network Management..............................................................................52
Configuring HP Systems Insight Manager for the Tape Autoloader..................................54
Changing the administrator password..............................................................................54
Setting the date and time...............................................................................................55
Setting error log mode...................................................................................................56
Setting event notification parameters................................................................................56
Saving and restoring the device configuration and restoring factory defaults..........................57
Operations.......................................................................................................................58
Moving media..............................................................................................................58
Updating the current media inventory..............................................................................59
Releasing and replacing the magazines...........................................................................59
Support............................................................................................................................60
Performing general diagnostics.......................................................................................60
HP Service - Service restricted.........................................................................................60
Determining and updating firmware ...............................................................................61
Rebooting the device.....................................................................................................61
Viewing logs................................................................................................................61
Cleaning the tape drive ................................................................................................62
Downloading a support ticket.........................................................................................62
Operator control panel (OCP)..................................................................................................64
LED indicators...................................................................................................................65
Autoloader home screen.....................................................................................................65
Operator control panel buttons............................................................................................66
Understanding the menu structure.........................................................................................67
Entering the administrator password................................................................................68
Unlocking the mailslot (Unlock Mailslot)................................................................................69
Status/Information.............................................................................................................69
Inventory (Status/Information > Inventory).........................................................................69
Autoloader information (Status/Information > Autoloader Information)..................................70
Drive information (Status/Information > Drive Information)..................................................71
Component status (Status/Information > Component Status)................................................71
Network information (Status/Information > Network Information).........................................71
Configuration....................................................................................................................72
4 Contents
Page 5
Changing the administrator password (Configuration > Change Admin Password).................72
Setting the number of reserved slots (Configuration > Set Reserved Slot Count)......................73
Configuring the mailslot (Configuration > Configure Mailslot)..............................................73
Bar code reporting format (Configuration > Barcode Format Reporting)................................73
Changing the SCSI address — parallel SCSI devices (Configuration > Change Drive)............74
Setting behaviors (Configuration > Autoloader Behavior)....................................................74
Setting the date and time (Configuration > Autoloader Date/Time)......................................75
Configuring network settings (Configuration > Configure Network Settings)...........................75
Configuring automatic cleaning (Configuration > Configure Auto Cleaning)..........................76
Restoring factory defaults (Configuration > Restore Defaults)................................................77
Saving and restoring the Autoloader configuration (Configuration > Save/Restore
Configuration)..............................................................................................................77
Operations.......................................................................................................................78
Unlocking, removing, and replacing magazines (Operations > Unlock Left or Right
Magazine)...................................................................................................................78
Cleaning the tape drive (Operations> Clean Drive)............................................................79
Moving tapes in the Autoloader (Operations > Move Tape)................................................80
Updating tape cartridge inventory (Operations > Perform Inventory).....................................80
Rebooting the Autoloader (Operations> Reboot Autoloader)...............................................81
Enabling password locks (Operations > Enable Autoldr Password Locks)...............................81
Support............................................................................................................................81
Powering a drive on or off (Support > Power On/Off Drive)................................................81
Running the demonstration (Support > Run Demo).............................................................82
Running the slot to slot test (Support > Run Slot To Slot Test)................................................82
Running the wellness test (Support > Run Wellness Test)......................................................82
Upgrading firmware (Support > Autoloader FW Upgrade, Support > Drive FW Upgrade)......83
Viewing logs (Support > Autoloader Error Log)..................................................................84
Downloading a support ticket (Support > Download Support Ticket).....................................84
Forcing the drive to eject a tape (Support > Force Drive To Eject Tape)..................................85
5 Troubleshooting........................................................................................86
Detection problems after installing a parallel SCSI device.............................................................86
Detection problems after installing a SAS device.........................................................................88
Fibre Channel connection problems..........................................................................................89
Operation problems................................................................................................................90
Performance problems.............................................................................................................95
Average file size................................................................................................................96
File system type.................................................................................................................96
Connection from the host server to the disks...........................................................................97
Operating system configuration.........................................................................................100
Windows...................................................................................................................100
Novell.......................................................................................................................101
Backup server..................................................................................................................101
Backup type....................................................................................................................101
File-by-file with a full-featured backup application............................................................102
File-by-file with a native application...............................................................................102
Disk image, flash, or sequential....................................................................................102
Database backup........................................................................................................102
Connection from the host server to the Autoloader................................................................102
Media............................................................................................................................103
Service and repair................................................................................................................104
Releasing the magazines manually.....................................................................................104
The wellness test...................................................................................................................104
Error codes..........................................................................................................................105
Finding error code information on the OCP.........................................................................106
Contents 5
Page 6
Finding error code information on the RMI..........................................................................106
Finding error code information on an L&TT support ticket or report..........................................107
Main error code descriptions.............................................................................................110
Error sub-code descriptions................................................................................................119
Drive error codes.............................................................................................................122
Warning events....................................................................................................................123
Configuration change events..................................................................................................126
Information events.................................................................................................................127
Using HP Library & Tape Tools to diagnose problems................................................................128
6 Upgrading and servicing the Tape Autoloader...........................................130
Possible tools needed............................................................................................................130
Removing and replacing a tape drive......................................................................................131
Removing and replacing a magazine......................................................................................133
Using the operator control panel........................................................................................133
Using the remote management interface.............................................................................133
Using the manual magazine release...................................................................................134
Removing and replacing the base chassis................................................................................134
Recording configuration settings.........................................................................................135
Removing the tape cartridge from the tape drive..................................................................135
Removing the cables, magazines, and tape drive ................................................................135
Removing the base chassis................................................................................................136
Unpacking the new chassis...............................................................................................136
Replacing the base chassis................................................................................................137
7 Support and other resources....................................................................139
HP technical support.............................................................................................................139
HP websites.........................................................................................................................139
Typographic conventions.......................................................................................................139
Customer Self Repair.............................................................................................................140
Subscription service..............................................................................................................140
HP-authorized reseller............................................................................................................141
A Technical specifications...........................................................................142
Physical specifications...........................................................................................................142
Environmental specifications...................................................................................................142
Regulatory specifications.......................................................................................................142
B Regulatory compliance and safety............................................................144
Regulatory compliance identification numbers..........................................................................144
Federal Communications Commission notice............................................................................144
FCC rating label..............................................................................................................144
Class A equipment......................................................................................................144
Class B equipment......................................................................................................144
Declaration of Conformity for products marked with the FCC logo, United States only...............145
Modification...................................................................................................................145
Cables...........................................................................................................................145
Canadian notice (Avis Canadien)...........................................................................................145
Class A equipment...........................................................................................................145
Class B equipment...........................................................................................................145
European Union regulatory notice...........................................................................................145
Japanese notices..................................................................................................................146
Japanese VCCI-A notice....................................................................................................146
Japanese VCCI-B notice....................................................................................................146
Japanese power cord statement.........................................................................................146
Korean notices.....................................................................................................................146
Class A equipment...........................................................................................................146
6 Contents
Page 7
Class B equipment...........................................................................................................147
Taiwanese notices.................................................................................................................147
BSMI Class A notice.........................................................................................................147
Taiwan battery recycle statement........................................................................................147
Laser compliance notices.......................................................................................................148
English laser notice..........................................................................................................148
Dutch laser notice............................................................................................................148
French laser notice...........................................................................................................148
German laser notice.........................................................................................................149
Italian laser notice............................................................................................................149
Japanese laser notice.......................................................................................................149
Spanish laser notice.........................................................................................................150
Recycling notices..................................................................................................................150
English notice..................................................................................................................150
Bulgarian notice..............................................................................................................150
Czech notice...................................................................................................................150
Danish notice..................................................................................................................151
Dutch notice....................................................................................................................151
Estonian notice................................................................................................................151
Finnish notice..................................................................................................................151
French notice...................................................................................................................151
German notice................................................................................................................152
Greek notice...................................................................................................................152
Hungarian notice.............................................................................................................152
Italian notice...................................................................................................................152
Latvian notice..................................................................................................................152
Lithuanian notice..............................................................................................................153
Polish notice....................................................................................................................153
Portuguese notice.............................................................................................................153
Romanian notice..............................................................................................................153
Slovak notice...................................................................................................................153
Spanish notice.................................................................................................................154
Swedish notice................................................................................................................154
Turkish notice..................................................................................................................154
Battery replacement notices...................................................................................................154
Dutch battery notice.........................................................................................................154
French battery notice........................................................................................................155
German battery notice......................................................................................................155
Italian battery notice........................................................................................................156
Japanese battery notice....................................................................................................156
Spanish battery notice......................................................................................................157
Power cords.........................................................................................................................157
C Electrostatic discharge............................................................................158
Preventing electrostatic damage..............................................................................................158
Grounding methods..............................................................................................................158
Glossary..................................................................................................159
Index.......................................................................................................162
Contents 7
Page 8
1 Features and overview
The Autoloader provides a compact, high-capacity, low-cost solution for simple, unattended data
backup. This unique design houses up to eight tape cartridges in a compact 1U form factor with
easy access to tape cartridges via two removable magazines and a configurable mailslot. Each
magazine can hold up to four cartridges.
The Autoloader can support Ultrium half-height tape drives. To see the tape drives currently available
for the 1/8 G2 Tape Autoloader, see the MSL QuickSpecs at www.hp.com/go/tape. For a list of
all supported configurations, go to www.hp.com/go/ebs.
The Autoloader is compatible with most operating systems and environments that support the SAS,
parallel SCSI, or Fibre Channel interfaces. However, the Autoloader requires either direct support
from the operating system or a compatible backup application to take full advantage of its many
features. To verify compatibility, go to www.hp.com/go/ebs.
The Autoloader uses the interface types described in Table 1 (page 8). The parallel SCSI Tape
Autoloader uses a single SCSI ID with two logical unit numbers (LUNs) — one for the tape drive
and the other for the robotic.
Table 1 Model and interface type
SCSI IDInterfaceLTO generation
4Ultra 160 SCSI LVD/SELTO-2
4Ultra 320 SCSI LVD, SASLTO-3, LTO-4
NAFibre Channel, SASLTO-5
Maximum storage capacity, maximum data transfer rates, and tape cartridges are specified in
Ultrium 448 1/8 G2 Tape Autoloader specifications (page 8), Ultrium 920 1/8 G2 Tape
Autoloader specifications (page 8), Ultrium 1760 1/8 G2 Tape Autoloader specifications
(page 9), and Ultrium 3000 1/8 G2 Tape Autoloader specifications (page 9).
Table 2 Ultrium 448 1/8 G2 Tape Autoloader specifications
SpecificationCharacteristic
Native: 1.6 TB (8 x 200 GB) Compressed (2:1): 3.2 TBMaximum storage capacity, 8
data cartridges
Native: 24 MB/s (86 GB/hr) Compressed (2:1): 48 MB/s (172 GB/hr)Maximum data transfer rate
HP LTO2 Ultrium 400 GB Data Cartridge, red, part number C7972AData cartridges
HP Ultrium universal cleaning cartridge, (50 cleans), orange, part number C7978ACleaning cartridge
Table 3 Ultrium 920 1/8 G2 Tape Autoloader specifications
SpecificationCharacteristic
Native: 3.2 TB (8 x 400 GB) Compressed (2:1): 6.4 TBMaximum storage capacity, 8
data cartridges
Native: 60 MB/s (215 GB/hr) Compressed (2:1): 120 MB/s (430 GB/hr)Maximum data transfer rate
8 Features and overview
HP LTO3 Ultrium 800 GB RW Data Cartridge , yellow, part number C7973AData cartridges
HP LTO3 Ultrium 800 GB WORM Data Cartridge , two-tone (yellow and white),
part number C7973W
HP Ultrium universal cleaning cartridge, (50 cleans), orange, part number C7978ACleaning cartridge
Page 9
Table 4 Ultrium 1760 1/8 G2 Tape Autoloader specifications
SpecificationCharacteristic
Native: 6.4 TB (8 x 800 GB) Compressed (2:1): 12.8 TBMaximum storage capacity, 8
data cartridges
Native: 80 MB/s (288 GB/hr) Compressed (2:1): 160 MB/s (576 GB/hr)Maximum data transfer rate
HP LTO4 Ultrium 1.6 TB RW Data Cartridge, green, part number C7974AData cartridges
HP LTO4 Ultrium 1.6 TB WORM Data Cartridge, two-tone (green and gray), part
number C7974W
HP Ultrium universal cleaning cartridge, (50 cleans), orange, part number C7978ACleaning cartridge
Table 5 Ultrium 3000 1/8 G2 Tape Autoloader specifications
SpecificationCharacteristic
Native: 12 TB (8 x 1.5 TB) Compressed (2:1): 24 TBMaximum storage capacity, 8
data cartridges
Native: 140 MB/s (504 GB/hr) Compressed (2:1): 280 MB/s (1,008 GB/hr)Maximum data transfer rate
HP LTO5 Ultrium 3 TB RW Data Tape, blue, part number C7975AData cartridges
HP LTO5 Ultrium 3 TB WORM Data Tape, two-tone (blue and gray), part number
C7975W
HP Ultrium universal cleaning cartridge, (50 cleans), orange, part number C7978ACleaning cartridge
Autoloader options
HP StorageWorks 1/8 G2 & MSL Encryption Kit
The Encryption Kit provides secure generation and storage of encryption keys. The Encryption Kit
may be used with any HP StorageWorks 1/8 G2 Tape Autoloader or the MSL2024, MSL4048,
MSL8048 and MSL8096 Tape Library with at least one LTO-4 or later generation tape drive. The
Encryption Kit cannot be used with the MSL6000.
The Encryption Kit includes two USB key server tokens. One key server token is available for use
as backup for the other.
To use the Encryption Kit, a key server token is inserted in the USB port on the back of the
Autoloader, and encryption is enabled and configured from the RMI.
The Encryption Kit supports your manual security policies and procedures by providing secure
storage for encryption keys. Access to the key server tokens and their backup files is protected with
user-specified passwords. You will need to create processes to protect the tokens and secure the
passwords.
IMPORTANT: When encryption is enabled with the Encryption Kit, the Autoloader will not use
encryption keys from other sources, such as a key management system or application software.
Disable encryption in applications writing to the Autoloader when encryption is enabled with the
Encryption Kit. Applications that attempt to control encryption while encryption is enabled with the
Encryption Kit will not be able to do so, which can cause backups or other write operations to fail.
Command View TL TapeAssure
HP StorageWorks Command View TL software provides a browser-based GUI for remote
management and monitoring of most HP libraries through a LAN. With Command View TL, you
can view and analyze the performance and health of the LTO-4 and LTO-5 tape drives and media
in multiple HP MSL2024, MSL4048, MSL8048, and MSL8096 Tape Libraries and 1/8 G2 Tape
Autoloader options 9
Page 10
Autoloaders at the same time. In addition, the information shown in TapeAssure is more extensive
than that shown in the RMI.
Command View TL software is installed on a management station. The management station can
also be used to manage HP StorageWorks EML and ESL Tape Libraries. For best performance, the
management station should be in the same physical location and on the same IP subnet as the
Autoloader. Command View TL software is available for download without charge from the HP
website at http://www.hp.com/support/cvtl.
For information on installing and using Command View TL, see the HP StorageWorks Interface
Manager and Command View TL User Guide, available from the HP website at http://
www.hp.com/support/cvtl.
Command View TL support is included in all Autoloader firmware that supports LTO-5 tape drives.
To find and download the most up-to-date firmware revision, visit the HP website at http://
www.hp.com/support.
Interface specifications and requirements for parallel SCSI drives
The parallel SCSI Autoloaders use the SCSI interface types described in Table 6 (page 10). The
Autoloaders use a separate SCSI ID for each tape drive, with dual LUNs on the master drive's SCSI
ID to control the tape drive (LUN 0) and Autoloader robotic (LUN 1). HP recommends that each
Ultrium tape drive be put on its own bus when possible.
Table 6 Parallel SCSI interface types
SCSI InterfaceLTO generation
Ultra 160 SCSI LVD/SELTO-2
Ultra 320 SCSI LVDLTO-3, LTO-4
The parallel SCSI Autoloader incorporates a wide SCSI-2 or SCSI-3 Low-Voltage Differential (LVD)
SCSI bus. Make sure your SCSI host adapter or controller supports these standards.
IMPORTANT: The Tape Autoloader is NOT compatible with a high-voltage differential (HVD)
SCSI bus. Do not put the Autoloader on a narrow (50-pin) parallel SCSI bus because doing so will
severely degrade performance.
Parallel SCSI host bus adapters (HBAs)
For optimum performance, place the Autoloader on its own SCSI bus with a host bus adapter that
can transfer data as fast as the Autoloader can read and write. The HBA must also be supported
by your operating system. Refer to the EBS matrix at http://www.hp.com/go/ebs for current HBA
compatibility information.
• For LTO-3 or LTO-4 tape drives, use an Ultra 320 HBA.
• For LTO-2 tape drives, use an Ultra 320 or Ultra 160 HBA.
IMPORTANT: Do not connect an Ultrium tape drive to an SE SCSI bus, as it severely degrades
Autoloader performance. A single-ended SCSI host bus adapter severely degrades Autoloader
performance and limits cable length. Also, if any SE devices are on the SCSI bus, all of the devices
on the bus slow down to SE speed, severely degrading performance.
Multiple LUN support
The Autoloader uses a single SCSI ID and two logical unit numbers (LUN). LUN 0 controls the tape
drive and LUN 1 controls the robotic. The Autoloader requires an HBA that supports multiple LUNs.
If multiple LUN support is not enabled, the host computer cannot scan beyond LUN 0 to discover
the Autoloader. It just sees the tape drive.
10 Features and overview
Page 11
Parallel SCSI HP Smart Array controllers, RAID controllers, and most on-board HBAs do not support
multiple LUNs. Refer to the EBS matrix at http://www.hp.com/go/ebs for current HBA compatibility
information.
IMPORTANT: The Autoloader requires an HBA that supports multiple LUNs, which is also called
“LUN scanning.”
Interface specifications and requirements for Fibre Channel drives
The Fibre Channel tape drive can be connected directly to the server with a host bus adapter (HBA)
or through a storage area network (SAN).
Table 7 FC drive interface speeds
Supported speedsLTO generation
2 Gb, 4 Gb, 8 GbLTO-5
If you plan to connect the Autoloader directly to the server, you will need a 2 Gb, 4 Gb, or 8 Gb
Fibre Channel HBA. An 8 Gb HBA is recommended for LTO-5 tape drives for optimal performance.
Check the EBS matrix at www.hp. com/go/ebs to verify that your HBA is supported on your server
and qualified for the Autoloader.
In a SAN installation, all switches between the host and the Autoloader must be of the appropriate
type. For example, a 2 Gb switch in the path may result in performance degradation when backing
up highly compressible data to a 4 Gb tape drive. Configure zoning so only the backup servers
may access the Autoloader.
Interface specifications and requirements for SAS drives
The server must have an HP or third party SAS host bus adapter with an external connector.
Table 8 SAS drive interface speeds
Supported speedsLTO generation
1.5 Gb, 3 GbLTO-3, LTO-4
1.5 Gb, 3 Gb, 6 GbLTO-5
The device uses multiple LUNs to communicate with the Autoloader. Most SAS RAID controllers do
not support multiple LUNs. Check the EBS matrix at www.hp.com/go/ebs to find a SAS HBA that
is supported on your server and qualified with the Autoloader.
Most SAS HBA ports provide four SAS channels. The Autoloader only uses one channel. The HP
cable supplied with the Autoloader has one connector on each end, using only one of the four
channels. To use the other channels, you can purchase a SAS fanout cable, which will connect up
to four SAS tape drives to a single HBA port. When using a different cable, verify that the mini-SAS
connector for the tape drive end is keyed for location 4.
CAUTION: High quality SAS cables rated at the transfer rate of the SAS components are required.
Always verify that the SAS cable you are using is rated for the data transfer speed of the interface
of your components. SAS cables described as "equalized" may not support 6 Gb/s data rates
and should not be used with LTO-5 tape drives unless these cables are verified for 6 Gb/s data
rates. For optimum performance, only use HP cables of the length specified as qualified for your
products.
See About SAS (page 19) for more information about SAS.
Interface specifications and requirements for Fibre Channel drives 11
Page 12
LTO-4 and later generation tape drives and encryption
The LTO-4 and later generation tape drives include hardware capable of encrypting data while
writing data, and decrypting data when reading. Hardware encryption can be used with or without
compression while maintaining the full speed and capacity of the tape drive and media.
Encryption is the process of changing data into a form that cannot be read until it is deciphered
with the key used to encrypt the data, protecting the data from unauthorized access and use. LTO
tape drives use the 256-bit version of the industry-standard AES encrypting algorithm to protect
your data.
To make use of this feature you need:
• The HP StorageWorks 1/8 G2 & MSL Encryption Kit or a backup application that supports
hardware encryption.
• LTO-4 or LTO-5 media; no encryption will be performed when writing LTO-3 and earlier
generations of tape.
Table 9 Backward read compatibility
LTO-5 driveLTO-4 drive
IncompatibleIncompatibleLTO-1 media
IncompatibleRead onlyLTO-2 media
Read onlyRead/Write (no encryption)LTO-3 media
Your company policy will determine when you need to use encryption. For example, it may be
mandatory for company confidential and financial data, but not for personal data. Company policy
will also define how encryption keys should be generated and managed. Backup applications that
support encryption will generate a key for you or allow you to enter a key manually.
Using the Encryption Kit
The Encryption Kit includes two USB key server tokens. One key server token is available for use
as a backup for the other. Alternatively, you can save the encryption keys to a file and store that
file in a safe location.
To use the Encryption Kit, a key server token is inserted in the USB port on the back of the
Autoloader, and encryption is enabled and configured from the RMI.
The Encryption Kit supports your manual security policies and procedures by providing secure
storage for encryption keys. Access to the key server tokens and their backup files is protected with
user-specified passwords. You will need to create processes to protect the tokens and secure the
passwords.
Read/WriteRead/WriteLTO-4 media — unencrypted
Read/Write with encryption keyRead/Write with encryption keyLTO-4 media — encrypted
Read/WriteIncompatibleLTO-5 media — unencrypted
Read/Write with encryption keyIncompatibleLTO-5 media — encrypted
IMPORTANT: When encryption is enabled with the Encryption Kit, the Autoloader will not use
encryption keys from other sources, such as a key management system or application software.
Disable encryption in applications writing to the Autoloader when encryption is enabled with the
Encryption Kit. Applications that attempt to control encryption while encryption is enabled with the
Encryption Kit will not be able to do so, which can cause backups or other write operations to fail.
See the Encryption Kit user guide for additional information on using the Encryption Kit.
12 Features and overview
Page 13
Using application-managed encryption
Hardware encryption is turned off by default and is switched on by settings in your backup
application, where you also generate and supply the encryption key. Your backup application
must support hardware encryption for this feature to work. See http://www.hp.com/go/ebs for
an up-to-date list of other suitable backup software.
NOTE: The Autoloader can only obtain encryption keys from one source. Using the Encryption
Kit will prevent application-managed encryption.
Encryption is primarily designed to protect the media once it is offline and to prevent it being
accessed from another machine. You will be able to read and append the encrypted media without
being prompted for a key as long as it is being accessed by the machine and application that first
encrypted it.
There are two main instances when you will need to know the key:
• If you try to import the media to another machine or another instance of the backup application
• If you are recovering your system after a disaster
NOTE: Encryption with keys that are generated directly from passwords or passphrases may be
less secure than encryption using truly random keys. Your application should explain the options
and methods that are available. Please refer to your application's user documentation for more
information.
If you are unable to supply the key when requested to do so, neither you nor HP Support will be
able to access the encrypted data.
This guarantees the security of your data, but also means that you must be careful in the management
of the encryption key used to generate the tape.
CAUTION: You should keep a record or backup of your encryption keys and store them in a
secure place separate from the computer running the backup software.
For more information about AES encryption, encryption keys, and using hardware encryption with
your HP Ultrium tape drive, see the White Papers on http://h18006.www1.hp.com/storage/
tapewhitepapers.html.
For detailed instructions about enabling encryption please refer to the documentation supplied with
your backup application or with the HP StorageWorks 1/8 G2 and MSL Encryption Kit. This will
also highlight any default states, for example when copying tapes, that may need changing if
using encrypted tapes.
Front panel overview
The front panel provides access to the power button, operator control panel, left and right
magazines, LEDs, and the mailslot as shown in Figure 1 (page 14). See Operator control panel
(OCP) (page 64) for OCP functions.
Front panel overview 13
Page 14
Figure 1 Front panel overview
2. Mailslot1. Power button
4. Front panel LCD screen3. Front panel LEDs
6. Air vents5. Control buttons
7. Magazine
The operator control panel includes four LEDs that indicate system status information as shown in
Figure 2 (page 14).
Figure 2 Operator control panel LEDs
Ready. Illuminated when power is on. Blinking when there is tape drive or robotics activity.Green1.
Amber2.
Amber4.
Clean. Illuminated when the tape drive has determined that a cleaning cartridge should be used.
Cleaning is only necessary when the device directs you to do so. Additional cleaning is not
necessary.
Attention. Illuminated if the device has detected a condition that requires attention by the operator.Amber3.
Error. Illuminated if an unrecoverable error occurs. A corresponding error message displays on
the LCD screen (see Troubleshooting (page 86) for more information).
Back panel overview
The back panel provides access to the drive interface connectors, the tape drive, the power
connector, the Ethernet, serial and USB ports, and the magazine release holes as shown in
Figure 3 (page 14), Figure 4 (page 15), and Figure 5 (page 15).
Figure 3 Back panel overview with parallel SCSI tape drive
2. Fan vent1. Power connector
4. Magazine release hole3. Tape drive
6. Serial port (Factory use only)5. Ethernet port
8. Shipping lock storage location7. USB port
14 Features and overview
Page 15
9. 68–pin parallel SCSI connector
11. Tape drive LED
Figure 4 Back panel overview with SAS tape drive
9. SAS port
Figure 5 Back panel overview with FC tape drive
10. Pull-out tab containing the serial number and other
product information.
2. Fan vent1. Power connector
4. Magazine release hole3. Tape drive
6. Serial port (Factory use only)5. Ethernet port
8. Shipping lock storage location7. USB port
10. Pull-out tab containing the serial number and other
product information.
12. Tape drive Ethernet port (LTO-5 only)11. Tape drive LED
9. FC port
The device requires a 110/220 volt AC power connection.
Tape drive LED
Each tape drive has a green LED, which indicates that the tape drive is powered on (see
Figure 6 (page 15)).
Figure 6 Tape drive LED
2. Fan vent1. Power connector
4. Magazine release hole3. Tape drive
6. Serial port (Factory use only)5. Ethernet port
8. Shipping lock storage location7. USB port
10. Pull-out tab containing the serial number and other
product information.
12. Tape drive Ethernet port (LTO-5 only)11. Tape drive LED
1. Tape drive LED
Tape drive LED 15
Page 16
Controller health status indicator
The controller health status indicator is a green LED that pulses on and off in approximately one
second cycles during normal operation. The LED is located on the back of the device in the lower
right corner, as shown in Controller health status indicator location (page 16).
Figure 7 Controller health status indicator location
1. Controller health status LED
16 Features and overview
Page 17
2 Installing the Tape Autoloader
This chapter contains the information you need to install and configure your Tape Autoloader. The
installation steps are:
• Preparing the host
• Planning the SCSI configuration, Planning the SAS configuration, or Planning the Fibre Channel
configuration
• Choosing a location
• Unpacking the shipping container
• Identifying product components
• Attaching the feet
• Removing the shipping lock
• Mounting the device in a rack
• Installing the Tabletop Conversion Kit
• Changing the SCSI address
• Connecting the SCSI cable (parallel SCSI devices only)
• Connecting the Fibre Channel cables (Fibre Channel devices only)
• Connecting the SAS cable (SAS devices only)
• Powering on the device
• Configuring the device
• Verifying the connection
• Labeling and loading the tape cartridges
• Verifying the installation
• Configuring additional features
Preparing the host
IMPORTANT: Use proper procedures to prevent electrostatic discharge (ESD) (see Appendix:
Electrostatic discharge (page 158)). Use wrist-grounding straps and anti-static mats when handling
internal components.
Follow these general steps:
• If the host server is connected to a network, check with the system administrator before powering
off the computer.
• For parallel SCSI Autoloaders, install a parallel SCSI host bus adapter (HBA) that supports
multiple LUNs. Refer to the manuals for the host computer and the HBA for installation
information. See Parallel SCSI host bus adapters (HBAs) (page 10) for HBA requirements.
• For SAS Autoloaders, install a SAS host bus adapter (HBA) with an external SAS connector
that supports multiple LUNs. Refer to the manuals for the host computer and the HBA for
installation information. See Planning the SAS configuration (page 19) for configuration
requirements.
• For Fibre Channel Tape Autoloaders, install an FC host bus adapter (HBA) or verify that you
have sufficient ports available on a compatible Fibre Channel switch. See Planning the Fibre
Channel configuration (page 20) for configuration requirements.
Preparing the host 17
Page 18
• Install application software and compatible drivers on the host computer. See the application
software manuals for installation and configuration information.
• Make sure multiple LUN support is enabled on the host computer. See Multiple LUN
support (page 10).
Planning the parallel SCSI configuration
If the host computer will have multiple parallel SCSI devices, you must decide how they will be
configured into one or more parallel SCSI busses.
About parallel SCSI busses
A parallel SCSI bus consists of the host bus adapter (HBA), the parallel SCSI devices, the parallel
SCSI cables, and the terminators. The HBA and devices are connected in a chain, with each device
connected to the next. The last device must have a SCSI terminator. Each device in the chain must
have a unique SCSI address (SCSI ID).
Complex devices, such as the Autoloader, assign sub-addresses, called logical unit numbers (LUNs),
to different parts of the device. The HBA and operating system must support multiple LUNs, also
called LUN scanning, for the application software to operate the Autoloader. HP Smart Array
controllers, most third-party RAID controllers, and many on-board SCSI controllers do not support
multiple LUNs.
An HBA might have one or two channels, with each channel supporting one parallel SCSI bus.
Check to see how many channels the HBA has and what devices are already connected to the
HBA. Some devices, such as parallel SCSI disk drives, could be inside the server.
The devices on a parallel SCSI bus share bandwidth so be careful about which devices you put
together on a bus. Also, putting a single-ended (SE) SCSI device on the bus will slow all of the
devices on the bus down to SE speed. Check each device's interface specifications to see what
kind of parallel SCSI interface it has.
Optimizing throughput
If possible, put the Autoloader on its own parallel SCSI bus. This will give you the best performance
and easiest installation.
If a tape drive must share a parallel SCSI bus with one or more other devices, follow these guidelines
to plan your parallel SCSI busses for the highest performance:
• Do not put a tape drive on the same parallel SCSI bus as a disk drive because the system and
backup performance will be slow when data is written from the hard drive to tape or from
tape to the hard drive.
• Do not put a tape drive on the same parallel SCSI bus as a disk array because the disk and
the tape drive performance will be affected, most RAID controllers do not support multiple
LUNs, and the data on the disk array could become corrupted.
• Avoid putting an SE SCSI device on the same bus as a tape drive because the SE device will
slow the tape drive to SE speed and reduce the allowable cable length.
SCSI addresses
Verify that each device on the bus has a unique SCSI address (SCSI ID). The pre-configured SCSI
address for the Autoloader is 4. If 4 is already used for another device, you will need to change
the SCSI address of the Autoloader during the installation process.
NOTE: The HBA also has a SCSI address, which is typically 7.
NOTE: Use the HP Library & Tape Tools to check your server's parallel SCSI configuration. The
HP Library & Tape Tools utility is available without cost at www.hp.com/support/TapeTools.
18 Installing the Tape Autoloader
Page 19
Planning the SAS configuration
The key steps in planning the SAS configuration are obtaining a suitable HBA and cable.
The Autoloader uses two SCSI logical unit numbers (LUNs) and requires an HBA with multiple LUN
support. Most HP SAS RAID controllers support Tape Libraries; many non-HP SAS RAID controllers
to not support Tape Libraries. To verify the specifications of your HBA or find a list of compatible
HBAs, review the compatibility matrix on the Enterprise Backup Solutions web site at: http://
www.hp.com/go/ebs.
CAUTION: Do not connect the Autoloader to a SAS RAID controller unless the EBS matrix shows
that the controller is qualified with the Autoloader. The server might not be able to boot when the
Autoloader is connected to a non-supported SAS RAID controller.
About SAS
Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) is a computer bus technology mainly used to transfer data to and from
storage devices, including disk drives and tape drives. SAS-1 (LTO-4) is designed to transfer data
at 3 Gb/sec, which is comparable to the speed attained by Ultra320 SCSI. SAS-2 (LTO-5) is
designed to transfer data at 6 Gb/sec.
SAS cables and connectors
SAS uses serial connections, with a direct connection between the host server and each of the
storage devices. This eliminates the need to configure SCSI busses and assign SCSI IDs, as is
required for parallel SCSI devices.
Most SAS HBA ports have four SAS channels. A tape drive uses one channel, so each HBA port
can support up to four tape drives. You can use a cable with one connector on each end, but only
one channel will be used. To use the other channels, you can purchase a SAS fanout cable with
a connector for each tape drive, as shown in Example SAS fanout cable (page 19).
Figure 8 Example SAS fanout cable
The Autoloader has a mini-SAS connector on the tape drive. The connector is keyed in location 4,
which is the standard location for end devices. If you use a cable other than the one supplied with
the product, verify that it is keyed in location 4.
CAUTION: Mini-SAS connectors are keyed. Do not force a SAS cable's mini-SAS connector into
the tape drive mini-SAS connector because it might be keyed differently.
Planning the SAS configuration 19
Page 20
SAS signal rates require clean connections and a minimum number of connections between the
HBA and the device. Do not use adapters or converters between the HBA and the device. HP
recommends a maximum SAS cable length of six meters.
CAUTION: High quality SAS cables rated at the transfer rate of the SAS components are required.
Always verify that the SAS cable you are using is rated for the data transfer speed of the interface
of your components. SAS cables described as "equalized" may not support 6 Gb/s data rates
and should not be used with LTO-5 tape drives unless these cables are verified for 6 Gb/s data
rates. For optimum performance, only use HP cables of the length specified as qualified for your
products.
World Wide identifiers
A SAS tape drive is identified by a unique identifier called a World Wide Name (WWN) or World
Wide Identifier (WWID). The Autoloader assigns the World Wide identifier to the drive bay. When
a tape drive is replaced, the World Wide identifier is re-assigned to the new tape drive.
Planning the Fibre Channel configuration
You can connect the Autoloader directly to the server with a host bus adapter (HBA) or indirectly
through a storage area network (SAN) with a switch.
Direct connection
If you plan to connect the Autoloader directly to the server, you will need a 2 Gb, 4 Gb, or 8 Gb
Fibre Channel HBA. An 8 Gb HBA is recommended for LTO-5 tape drives for optimal performance.
Check the EBS matrix at www.hp. com/go/ebs to verify that your HBA is supported on your server
and qualified for the Autoloader.
A server that uses Fibre Channel disks needs at least two FC ports. Using the same port for disk
and tape access will cause performance degradation.
SAN connection
All switches between the host and the Autoloader must be of the appropriate type. A 2 Gb switch
in the path may result in performance degradation when backing up highly compressible data.
Configure zoning on the Fibre switch so only the backup servers may access the Autoloader. See
the switch manual for information on zoning.
Choosing a location
If you plan to mount the device in a rack, select an open rack location, ideally near the center of
the rack or higher, with access to the host server and a power outlet. You may also set the
Autoloader on a shelf in the rack. In this case you must attach the feet during the installation process.
If you plan to set the Autoloader on a table, select a level area large enough to support both edges
of the Autoloader with access to the host server and a power outlet.
Choose a location that meets the criteria shown in Location criteria (page 20):
Table 10 Location criteria
Tabletop requirements
20 Installing the Tape Autoloader
DefinitionCriteria
The Autoloader can only be placed on a flat surface if the support feet have been properly
applied or the Autoloader is mounted in the optional tabletop conversion cover. Select a
location that is flat, sturdy, and close to the host server. Ensure that all of the feet on the
Autoloader or tabletop conversion cover will be supported.
Do not place the device on the floor or other carpeted surface.
Page 21
Table 10 Location criteria (continued)
DefinitionCriteria
Do not place the Autoloader on its sides or upside down. Do not put anything on top of the
Autoloader unless the optional tabletop conversion cover is installed. The tabletop conversion
cover can support up to 15 kg (33 lb).
HP Rack 5000, 10000 Series, HP Rack System/ERack requirements
1U when mounted in the optional rack railsRack space
requirements
10-35º C (50-95º F)Room temperature
AC power voltage: 100-127 VAC; 200-240 VACPower source
Line frequency: 50-60 Hz
Place the device near an AC outlet. The AC power cord is the product's main AC disconnect
device and must be easily accessible at all times.
11.5 kg (25.4 lb)Weight without media
13.1 kg (28.9 lb)Weight with media
Air quality
The device should be placed in an area with minimal sources of particulate contamination.
Avoid areas near frequently used doors and walkways, stacks of supplies that collect dust,
printers, and smoke-filled rooms.
Excessive dust and debris can damage tapes and tape drives.
20-80 percent relative humidity non-condensingHumidity
Back: Minimum of 15.4 cm (6 inches)Clearance
Front: Minimum of 30.8 cm (12 inches)
Sides: Minimum of 5.08 cm (2 inches)
Unpacking the shipping container
Before you begin, clear a level work surface near where you will place the Autoloader.
CAUTION: If the temperature in the room where the device will be installed varies by 15º C (30º
F) from the room where it was stored, allow it to acclimate to the surrounding environment for at
least 12 hours before unpacking it from the shipping container.
Unpacking the Tape Autoloader:
1. Inspect the container for shipping damage. If you notice any damage, report it to the shipping
company immediately.
2. Open the shipping container and remove the packaging foam and accessories that cover the
device.
3. Lift the device out of the carton, place it on the work surface.
CAUTION: Do not place the Autoloader on either end or its sides as this may damage it.
4. Remove any other accessories from the shipping container. Save the packaging materials for
future use.
Identifying product components
Confirm that you received the product components shown in Product components (page 22).
Unpacking the shipping container 21
Page 22
Figure 9 Product components
1. Autoloader
7. HP OpenView Data Protector Express Single Server
Edition CD
Attaching the feet
If you plan to mount the Autoloader in a rack or in the optional Tabletop Conversion Cover, skip
this step and continue with Removing the shipping lock (page 23).
CAUTION: The Autoloader must be supported under both side edges to operate properly. If the
Autoloader is not mounted in a rack or in the tabletop conversion kit, you must apply the feet.
Do not put anything on top of the Autoloader. Weight on top of the Autoloader can prevent the
robotic inside from moving properly. If you must place items on top of the Autoloader, install it in
the optional tabletop conversion cover, which can support up to 15 kg (33 lb).
You need the six support feet from the accessory package for this procedure.
To attach the feet:
1. Verify that there are no tape cartridges in the Autoloader.
IMPORTANT: The Autoloader may be damaged if it is turned over with tape cartridges in
the magazines or robot. If the Autoloader has been used before, use the manual magazine
release to remove the cartridges from the magazines (see Using the manual release (page 134).
2. Parallel SCSI or SAS interface cable (parallel SCSI and
SAS Autoloaders only)
4. Product documentation3. SCSI terminator (parallel SCSI Autoloaders only)
6. Six support feet5. Ethernet cable
2. With another person, gently turn the Autoloader over and set it on its back.
3. Locate the six inscribed foot location lines on the bottom of the Autoloader.
4. If the Autoloader is not new, clean the foot locations with a damp paper towel.
5. Peel the backing paper off each foot and apply it within a set of foot location lines (see
Attaching the feet to the bottom of the Autoloader (page 23)).
6. With another person, gently turn the Autoloader over and set it on its feet.
22 Installing the Tape Autoloader
Page 23
Figure 10 Attaching the feet to the bottom of the Autoloader
Removing the shipping lock
The shipping lock prevents the robotic transport mechanism from moving during shipment. You
must remove the shipping lock before powering on the device. The shipping lock is held in place
with a piece of tape and is located in the top center of the device. After the shipping lock is
removed, it should be stored on the back panel of the device for future use.
To remove and store the shipping lock:
1. Locate the tape and lock at the top of the device (see Shipping lock location (page 23)) .
Figure 11 Shipping lock location
2. Remove the tape, then remove the lock.
3. Store the lock on the back panel of the device (see Figure 12 (page 23)).
Figure 12 Shipping lock storage location
Removing the shipping lock 23
Page 24
Mounting the device in a rack
If you plan to set the Autoloader on a table or rack shelf, skip this step and continue with Installing
the Tabletop Conversion Kit (page 25).
WARNING! The HP StorageWorks 1/8 G2 Tape Autoloader weighs 11.5 kg (25.4 lb) without
media and 13.1 kg (28.9 lb) with media (8 cartridges). When moving the Autoloader, to reduce
the risk of personal injury or damage to the Autoloader: 1) observe local health and safety
requirements and guidelines for manual material handing, 2) always remove all tapes to reduce
the overall weight of the Autoloader, and 3) obtain adequate assistance to lift and stabilize the
Autoloader during installation or removal.
The device easily installs into the HP Rack System/E, or the HP Rack 5000 or HP Rack 10000
series. You need a #2 and a #3 Phillips screwdriver for this procedure.
Unpack the rack kit and verify that it includes the following:
Figure 13 Rack kit
• Two rails
• Two bags of eight M6 screws.
Select the bag of screws appropriate for your type of rack.
• The HP Rack System/E rack has 7.1 mm round holes in the rack column. The packet for this
rack type is labeled HP Rack System/E.
• The HP Rack 5000 and 10000 series have 9.5 mm square holes in the rack column. The
packet for these rack types is labeled HP Rack 5000, 10000 Series.
To install the rails into the rack:
1. Using the screws for your rack type and a #3 Phillips screwdriver, secure one rail to each
side of the rack in your chosen rack location.
2. Secure the front of one rail to the front of the rack. Extend the rail to the depth of the rack and
secure the rail to the back of the rack. The front of the rails are straight and the back are
angled, as shown in Installing the rails into the rack (page 24).
Figure 14 Installing the rails into the rack
24 Installing the Tape Autoloader
Page 25
To install the device on the rails and into the rack:
1. Locate the captive screws on the front bezel (see Figure 15 (page 25)).
2. Slide the device onto the rails.
3. From the front of the device, secure the front bezel to the rack using a #2 Phillips screw driver
placed through the small holes in the mounting bracket to tighten the captive screws on each
side of the device.
Figure 15 Securing the Autoloader to the rack
Installing the Tabletop Conversion Kit
If you do not have the optional Tabletop Conversion Kit, skip this step and continue with Connecting
the SCSI cable (parallel SCSI devices only). The Rack to Tabletop Conversion Kit supports the
edges of the Tape Autoloader and is capable of holding 15 kg (33 lb).
To install the cover:
1. Place the cover on a flat, level surface behind the device.
2. Slide the device into the cover until the front panel of the device is aligned with the cover (see
Figure 16 (page 25)).
Figure 16 Installing the tabletop conversion cover
3. Tighten the captive screws on the front panel until the cover is secure.
Changing the SCSI address (parallel SCSI drives only)
If you have multiple parallel SCSI devices on the SCSI bus and another device is already using
SCSI ID 4, you must change the SCSI ID of the Autoloader.
To change the SCSI ID:
Installing the Tabletop Conversion Kit 25
Page 26
1. Plug the power cord into the power connector on the back panel and then plug the cord into
the power outlet.
2. From the front panel, push the round power button to power on the device.
3. From the front panel, set the new SCSI ID (see Changing the SCSI address — parallel SCSI
devices (Configuration > Change Drive) (page 74)).
4. Power off the device by depressing the power button on the front panel.
TIP: The SCSI ID can also be changed from the RMI Configure: Drive screen once the RMI is
configured. See Changing the drive configuration (page 49).
Connecting the parallel SCSI cable (parallel SCSI devices only)
NOTE: LTO-3 and LTO-4 tape drives are Ultra 320 SCSI LVD devices. Use only cables and
terminators specified for Ultra 320 or labeled as MultiMode. LTO-2 tape drives are Ultra 160 SCSI
LVD/SE devices; use only cables and terminators specified for Ultra 160 or Ultra 320, or labeled
as MultiMode.
NOTE: For optimal performance, a parallel SCSI tape drive should be the only device on the
bus.
To connect the parallel SCSI cable to the device:
1. HP recommends that the host server be powered off before attaching new devices.
2. Attach one end of the parallel SCSI cable (included in the accessory package) to one of the
connectors on the back panel of the tape drive (see Figure 17 (page 26)).
Figure 17 Attaching the parallel SCSI cable to the tape drive
3. Attach the other end of the parallel SCSI cable to the connector on the parallel SCSI host bus
adapter or to the connector on the previous device on the parallel SCSI bus.
NOTE: The host bus adapter should be Low Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS). A
Single-Ended (SE) SCSI host bus adapter works, but severely degrades performance and limits
cable length. If any SE devices are on the same parallel SCSI bus, all of the devices on the
parallel SCSI bus slow to SE speed, which severely degrades performance. Never attach an
LTO-3 or LTO-4 tape drive to an SE SCSI bus.
4. Attach the terminator to the remaining parallel SCSI connector on the back panel of the tape
drive if the Autoloader is the last or only device on the parallel SCSI bus. Otherwise, attach
one end of a parallel SCSI cable to the remaining port and the other end to the next device
on the parallel SCSI bus. Make sure the last device on the parallel SCSI bus is properly
terminated.
IMPORTANT: For the Autoloader and tape drive to operate correctly, the tape drive must
have a SCSI terminator unless the tape drive is part of a properly terminated chain. This
includes tape drives without an attached SCSI cable.
26 Installing the Tape Autoloader
Page 27
Connecting the Fibre Channel cables (Fibre Channel devices only)
To connect the Fibre Channel cable to the Autoloader:
1. Remove the FC port cap if necessary. Attach one end of the Fibre Channel cable to the Fibre
Channel port on the tape drive.
2. Attach the other end of the FC cable to a switch or HBA.
Connecting the SAS cable (SAS devices only)
To connect the SAS cable to the device:
1. Attach the HBA end of the SAS cable into the connector on the HBA.
2. Attach the other end of the cable into the connector on the tape drive.
TIP: Mini-SAS connectors are keyed. Do not force a SAS cable's mini-SAS connector into
the tape drive mini-SAS connector because it might be keyed differently.
NOTE: SAS signal rates require clean connections between the HBA and tape drive. Do not use
adapters or converters between the HBA and the tape drive. For reliable operation, use a maximum
SAS cable length of six meters.
Powering on the device
WARNING! This product can only be used with an HP-approved power cord for your specific
geographic region. Use of a non-HP-approved power cord may result in: 1) not meeting individual
country specific safety requirements; 2) insufficient conductor ampacity that could result in
overheating with potential personal injury and/or property damage; and 3) an unapproved power
cord could fracture resulting in the internal contacts being exposed, which potentially could subject
the user to a shock hazard. HP disclaims all liability in the event a non-HP-approved power cord
is used.
To power on the Autoloader:
1. To use the web-based management interface, connect an Ethernet cable to a working LAN
connection and to the Ethernet connector on the back of the Autoloader.
2. Attach the power cable to the power connector on the back panel of the Autoloader (see
Figure 18 (page 27)).
Figure 18 Attaching the power cord
3. Plug the power cable into the nearest properly grounded power outlet.
4. Power on the device by pressing the power button located on the front panel. Check the LCD
screen to make sure it has power. If not, check the power connections and your power source.
During the Power On Self Test (POST), all four LEDs are illuminated briefly, followed by a
flashing Ready LED. When the initialization sequence is complete, the Home screen is
displayed.
5. Plug in the host server and all attached devices.
6. Power on any other devices you powered off earlier.
Connecting the Fibre Channel cables (Fibre Channel devices only) 27
Page 28
7. Power on the server.
Configuring the device
Now that the Autoloader is connected to the host and powered on, configure it for your environment.
To configure the Autoloader:
1. Set the administrator password. Setting an administrator password provides access to the
administrator functions with the RMI or OCP, and restricts access to administrator functions to
only those who know the administrator password. The Autoloader comes with a null
administrator password, which until set allows unrestricted access to all administrative functions
through the OCP but not the RMI. Once the administrator password has been set from the
OCP, it can be changed from either the OCP or RMI.
2. Set the date and time. The date and time are used by the Autoloader to record events and
should be set during the initial installation process. (See Setting the date and time (Configuration
> Autoloader Date/Time) (page 75).)
3. Configure the Autoloader network settings. Configuring the Autoloader network settings enables
you to monitor, configure, and control most Autoloader functions from the RMI. By default,
the device will obtain an IP address from an IPv4 DHCP server. Optionally, you can configure
the device to use a static IP address. Once logged into the RMI, you can administer further
network changes through the RMI. (See Configuring network settings (Configuration > Configure
Network Settings) (page 75).)
The device supports IPv4 and IPv6 Internet Protocols. By default, the device is configured to
use IPv4, the most common version. You can enable IPv6 or both Internet Protocols from the
OCP or RMI. You must finish configuring IPv6 from the RMI. (See Changing the network
configuration (page 50).)
Verifying the connection
To verify the connection between the host computer and the Autoloader:
1. Install the application software and/or drivers that are compatible with the Autoloader. Software
compatibility information is available at www.hp.com/go/automated. Backup software
packages may require additional software or licensing to communicate with the robotics.
2. Verify the connection between the Autoloader and the host:
• Install the HP Library & Tape Tools Diagnostic/Installation Check Utility, available at
www.hp.com/support/TapeTools, onto the host server. This utility verifies that the unit is
connected and communicating with the host server. It also verifies that the device is
functioning and provides diagnostic information. Run the HP Library & Tape Tools
Installation Check from the programs menu to verify your connections.
NOTE: L&TT may also be run from a CD, Compact Flash drive, or remote directory after
installation on another computer. See the HP StorageWorks Library and Tape Tool User
guide for instructions for installing L&TT on a computer other than the server.
• Confirm that the host server's operating system recognized the device in Microsoft®
Windows® XP, Windows® Server 2003 or in Windows 2000® by going to: Settings
> Control Panel > System > Hardware > Device Manager > Tape Drive and/or Media
Changer.
For more information on verifying the connection of parallel SCSI devices, consult the operating
system documentation.
Labeling and loading the tape cartridges
Before using your new Autoloader you must load tape cartridges into the magazines.
To prepare your tape cartridges and load them into the Autoloader:
28 Installing the Tape Autoloader
Page 29
1. Obtain tape cartridges compatible with your Autoloader. (See Tape cartridges (page 30).)
2. Label any unlabeled tape cartridges to improve inventory time. (See Labeling tape
cartridges (page 31).)
3. Remove one of the magazines from the Autoloader with the RMI or OCP:
• RMI: see Releasing and replacing the magazines (page 59).
• OCP: see Unlocking, removing, and replacing magazines (Operations > Unlock Left or
Right Magazine) (page 78)
The Autoloader will not perform any other action while a magazine is out of the device.
4. Insert the tape cartridges into the magazine. (See Magazines (page 33).)
5. Slide the magazine into the Autoloader.
6. Remove the other magazine, insert the tape cartridges, and replace the magazine.
Verifying the installation
Verify that the device has the current firmware revision.
To see the firmware revision on the front panel:
1. From the Home screen, press Next until the display shows Status/Information. Press Enter.
2. Press Next until the display shows Autoloader Information. Press Enter.
3. Press Next until the display shows the Firmware Rev.
To find the current firmware revision, visit the HP Support website: www.hp.com/support.
If necessary, update the device firmware:
• From the RMI, see Determining and updating firmware (page 61).
• From the OCP, see Upgrading firmware (Support > Autoloader FW Upgrade, Support > Drive
FW Upgrade) (page 83).
• Using HP Library and Tape Tools (L&TT), which can be downloaded free of charge from
www.hp.com/support/TapeTools.
After configuring the Autoloader, you can save the configuration settings to a USB flash drive from
the OCP or to a file from the RMI Configuration: Save/Restore screen. Having a backup of the
Autoloader configuration is helpful when recovering from a configuration error, setting up multiple
devices with similar configurations, or if the Autoloader needs service. See Saving and restoring
the device configuration and restoring factory defaults (page 57).
Configuring additional features
The Autoloader has many features to customize it for your organization.
• Enabling and configuring SNMP network management or Command View TL TapeAssure.
See Configuration: Network Management (page 52).
• Setting up email event notification. See Setting event notification parameters (page 56).
• Naming the Autoloader, which is done from the RMI Configuration: Network screen. See
Changing the network configuration (page 50).
• To use the RMI and OCP in Japanese, enable the Japanese language option through the RMI.
See Changing the system configuration (page 46).
Verifying the installation 29
Page 30
3 Tape cartridges and magazines
This chapter explains which media to use with your Autoloader, and how to label and write-protect
your tape cartridges. Careful labeling and handling of the tape cartridges will prolong the life of
the tape cartridges and the Tape Autoloader.
Tape cartridges
Use the Ultrium data and cleaning tape cartridges designed for your model of Tape Autoloader.
You can order data and cleaning cartridges at www.hp.com/go/storagemedia.
Table 11 Ultrium 448 tape drive
Table 12 Ultrium 920 tape drive
Part numberCartridge type
C7972AHP LTO2 Ultrium 400 GB Data Cartridge, red
C7978AHP Ultrium universal cleaning cartridge, (50 cleans), orange
Part numberCartridge type
C7973AHP LTO3 Ultrium 800 GB RW Data Cartridge, yellow
C7973WHP LTO3 Ultrium 800 GB WORM Data Cartridge, two-tone (yellow and white)
C7978AHP Ultrium universal cleaning cartridge, (50 cleans), orange
Table 13 Ultrium 1760 tape drive
Part numberCartridge type
C7974AHP LTO4 Ultrium 1.6 TB RW Data Cartridge, green
C7974WHP LTO4 Ultrium 1.6 TB WORM Data Cartridge, two-tone (green and gray)
C7978AHP Ultrium universal cleaning cartridge, (50 cleans), orange
Table 14 Ultrium 3000 tape drive
Part numberCartridge type
C7975AHP LTO5 Ultrium 3 TB RW Data Cartridge, blue
C7975WHP LTO5 Ultrium 3 TB WORM Data Cartridge, two-tone (blue and gray)
C7978AHP Ultrium universal cleaning cartridge, (50 cleans), orange
NOTE: The LTO-3 and later tape drives support both rewriteable and WORM data cartridges.
Write-Once, Read-Many (WORM) data cartridges provide an enhanced level of data security
against accidental or malicious alteration of data on the tape cartridge. The WORM data cartridge
can be appended to maximize the full capacity of the tape cartridge, but you will be unable to
erase or overwrite data on the cartridge. WORM data cartridges are clearly identified by their
distinctive, two-tone cartridge color. To check whether your backup or archive software application
supports WORM cartridges, see the following website: www.hp.com/go/storagemedia.
30 Tape cartridges and magazines
Page 31
Using and maintaining tape cartridges
CAUTION: Do not degauss Ultrium data cartridges! These data cartridges are pre-recorded with
a magnetic servo signal. This signal is required to use the cartridge with the Ultrium tape drive.
Keep magnetically charged objects away from the cartridge.
To ensure the longest possible life for your data cartridges, follow these guidelines:
• Use only the data cartridges designated for your device.
• Clean the tape drive when the Clean drive LED is illuminated.
CAUTION: Use only Ultrium Universal cleaning cartridges.
• Do not drop a cartridge. Excessive shock can damage the internal contents of the cartridge
or the cartridge case itself, making the cartridge unusable.
• Do not expose data cartridges to direct sunlight or sources of heat, including portable heaters
and heating ducts.
• The operating temperature range for data cartridges is 10 to 35º C. The storage temperature
range is -40 to +60º C in a dust-free environment in which relative humidity is always between
20 percent and 80 percent (non-condensing).
• If the data cartridge has been exposed to temperatures outside the specified ranges, stabilize
the cartridge at room temperature for the same length of time it was exposed to extreme
temperatures or 24 hours, whichever is less.
• Do not place data cartridges near sources of electromagnetic energy or strong magnetic fields
such as computer monitors, electric motors, speakers, or X-ray equipment. Exposure to
electromagnetic energy or magnetic fields can destroy data and the embedded servo code
written on the media by the cartridge manufacturer, which can render the cartridge unusable.
• Place identification labels only in the designated area on the cartridge.
Labeling tape cartridges
The device contains a bar code reader that reads the tape labels and stores the inventory data in
memory. The device then provides the inventory information to the host application, OCP, and
RMI. Having a bar code label on each tape cartridge enables the bar code reader to identify the
cartridge quickly, thereby speeding up inventory time. Make it a practice to use bar code labels
on your tape cartridges.
TIP: The bar code scanner must scan each tape or the back of the storage slot until it reads the
bar code label for the cartridge or storage slot, or determines that the slot is empty. The bar code
scanner can identify a properly labeled cartridge on the first scan. It can identify an empty slot on
the second scan. It will try several more scans and then tap on the cartridge before determining
that an unlabeled cartridge is in the slot, which takes about four times as long as identifying a
properly labeled cartridge. Even if you do not need the bar code information, use bar code labels
to speed up inventory time.
Though not recommended, checking Ignore Barcode Media ID in the RMI Configuration: System
screen will keep the Autoloader from interpreting bar code Media IDs.
Your host software may need to keep track of the following information via the associated bar
code:
• Date of format or initialization
• Tape's media pool
• Data residing on the tape
Tape cartridges 31
Page 32
• Age of the backup
• Errors encountered while using the tape (to determine if the tape is faulty)
IMPORTANT: Misusing and misunderstanding bar code technology can result in backup and
restore failures. To ensure that your bar code labels meet HP's quality standards, always purchase
them from an approved supplier and never print bar code labels yourself.
To order bar code labels from an HP-authorized reseller:
• In the United States, call 1-800-345-1518.
• Elsewhere, see the HP website: www.hp.com, then click Contact HP to find locations and
telephone numbers.
For more information, see the Bar Code Label Requirements, Compatibility and Usage white paper
available from www.hp.com/support.
Ultrium tape cartridges have a recessed area located on the face of the cartridge next to the
write-protect switch. Use this area for attaching the adhesive-backed bar code label. Only apply
labels as shown:
Figure 19 Apply the label within the recessed area
IMPORTANT: The bar code label should only be applied as shown, with the alphanumeric portion
facing the hub side of the tape cartridge. Never apply multiple labels onto a cartridge because
extra labels can cause the cartridge to jam in a tape drive.
Write-protecting tape cartridges
All rewriteable data cartridges have a write-protect switch to prevent accidental erasure or
overwriting of data. Before loading a cartridge into the device, make sure the write-protect switch
on the front of the cartridge is in the desired position.
• Slide the switch to the left to allow the device to write data to the cartridge (see Figure 20 (page
33), 1).
• Slide the switch to the right to write-protect the cartridge. An indicator, such as a red mark or
small padlock, is visible showing that the cartridge is write-protected (see Figure 20 (page
33), 2).
32 Tape cartridges and magazines
Page 33
Figure 20 Write-protecting the data cartridge
5. Insertion arrow
Read and write compatibility
HP Ultrium data cartridges are fully supported and compatible with HP StorageWorks Ultrium tape
products (see Backward read compatibility). Because HP Ultrium media is Ultrium logo compliant,
it may be used with any other non-HP device that bears the Ultrium logo.
2. Write-protected1. Write-enabled
4. Bar code label3. Write-protect switch
Table 15 Read and write compatibility
LTO-5 driveLTO-4 driveLTO-3 driveLTO-2 driveLTO-1 drive
IncompatibleIncompatibleRead onlyRead/WriteRead/WriteLTO-1 media
IncompatibleRead onlyRead/WriteRead/WriteIncompatibleLTO-2 media
Read onlyRead/Write (no
Read/WriteRead/WriteIncompatibleIncompatibleIncompatibleLTO-4 media —
Read/Write with
encryption key
Read/WriteIncompatibleIncompatibleIncompatibleIncompatibleLTO-5 media —
Read/Write with
encryption key
unencrypted
encrypted
unencrypted
encrypted
Read/WriteIncompatibleIncompatibleLTO-3 media
encryption)
IncompatibleIncompatibleIncompatibleLTO-4 media —
Read/Write with
encryption key
IncompatibleIncompatibleIncompatibleIncompatibleLTO-5 media —
CAUTION: Ultrium 2 and Ultrium 3 tape drives require the most recent firmware to immediately
identify Ultrium 4 media. Without the most recent firmware, loading an Ultrium 4 cartridge into
an earlier generation drive may result in a long media identification and unload time. The drive
may not identify the media and return a load error before the application software times out waiting
for the load. HP strongly recommends keeping your tape drives updated to the most recent firmware.
Magazines
The device has removable magazines. Magazine access is password protected. For safety reasons,
the robotic motion is stopped when a magazine is removed.
The magazines can be released using the operator control panel (OCP), the remote management
interface (RMI), or by a manual release. HP recommends that you release the magazine using the
Magazines 33
Page 34
OCP or RMI. The magazine must only be removed manually when the OCP or RMI process has
failed, or the device no longer has power.
IMPORTANT: To manually release a magazine, see Releasing the magazines manually (page 104).
However, this manual process should only be used if the magazine cannot be released using the
operator control panel or the remote management interface.
The slot numbering scheme is shown in Figure 21 (page 34) for the left magazine, and
Figure 22 (page 34) for the right magazine.
Figure 21 Left magazine—slot numbering with mailslot enabled
Figure 22 Right magazine—slot numbering with mailslot enabled
When the mailslot is disabled, the mailslot (M1) becomes Slot 1 and all other slots are re-numbered
accordingly.
34 Tape cartridges and magazines
Page 35
4 Operating the Tape Autoloader
The Tape Autoloader can be operated by the following methods:
• Remote management interface (RMI) — this interface lets you monitor and control the Autoloader
from a web page. You can access most Autoloader functions from the RMI.
• Operator control panel (OCP) — this interface lets you operate the device from the front panel.
• Host backup software — You can perform any functions provided by the backup software.
NOTE: The device's network settings must be configured and the administrator password set to
use the RMI.
Remote management interface (RMI)
Overview
The remote management interface (RMI) lets you monitor and control your device through the World
Wide Web (WWW). The RMI hosts a dedicated, protected Internet site that displays a graphical
representation of your device.
Before using the RMI, you must configure the device network settings and set the administrator
password with the OCP. (See Configuring network settings (Configuration > Configure Network
Settings) (page 75) and Changing the administrator password (Configuration > Change Admin
Password) (page 72).)
To start the RMI, open any HTML browser and enter the IP address of the device in the browser's
address bar.
TIP: Check the Help screens in the RMI for additional information. The help pages are updated
with most firmware updates and often contain technical details that are not contained in this
document. To access RMI help, click Help on the right side of the Web page banner, as shown in
Getting help (page 38).
The following functions are available through the RMI:
• Identity (page 38)
Viewing static device information (page 38)◦
◦ Viewing static drive information (page 39)
◦ Viewing network information (page 41)
• Status (page 42)
Viewing dynamic device information (page 42)◦
◦ Viewing dynamic drive information (page 43)
◦ Viewing the tape cartridge inventory (page 45)
• Configuration (page 46)
Changing the system configuration (page 46)◦
◦ Changing the drive configuration (page 49)
◦ Changing the network configuration (page 50)
◦ Configuration: Network Management (page 52)
Remote management interface (RMI) 35
Page 36
◦ Changing the administrative password (page 54)
◦ Setting date/time (page 55)
◦ Setting error log mode (page 56)
◦ Setting event notification parameters (page 56)
◦ Saving and restoring the device configuration and restoring factory defaults (page 57)
• Operations (page 58)
Moving media (page 58)◦
◦ Updating the current media inventory (page 59)
◦ Releasing and replacing the magazines (page 59)
• Support (page 60)
Performing general diagnostics (page 60)◦
◦ Service - Service restricted (page 60)
◦ Determining and updating firmware (page 61)
◦ Rebooting the device (page 61)
Login
◦ Viewing logs (page 61)
◦ Cleaning tape drive (page 62)
◦ Downloading a support ticket (page 62)
To login, select the Account Type, enter a password if required, and then click Sign In. See
Figure 23 (page 36).
Figure 23 RMI login page
The Account Types are:
36 Operating the Tape Autoloader
Page 37
• User — no password is required (leave the password box blank).
• Administrator — the administrator password is required. The same administrator password is
• Service —access to this level is by HP Service personnel only. The service password is set at
The user login provides access to the Identity and Status options, but not the Configuration,
Operations, and Support options. Administrator level provides access to all screens except for the
Log configuration and HP Service screens.
TIP: By default, the administrator password is unset; all of the digits are null. You must set the
administrator password from the OCP to protect the administrator functions on the OCP and enable
the administrator functions in the RMI.
Status pane
The System Status pane (see Figure 24 (page 37)) shows the current device and drive status.
Figure 24 System Status pane
used for the RMI and OCP. There is not a default administrator password; the administrator
password must be set with the OCP before it can be used with the RMI. If the administrator
password is lost, contact HP to generate a temporary password that will grant administrator
access.
the factory. The same service password is used for the RMI and OCP.
The System Status pane displays the following:
• Updated — the day, date, and time of the most recent status view. This timestamp comes from
your computer and may be different from the Autoloader Time at the bottom of the pane. Click
your browser's reload button to refresh the system status.
• Status of the Autoloader and tape drive
The green Status Ok icon indicates that the device is fully operational and that no user intervention is
required.
The blue exclamation point Status Warning icon indicates that user attentionis necessary, but that the
device can still perform most operations.
The red X Status Error icon indicates that user intervention is required and that the device is not capable
of performing some operations.
• Slots (Free/Total) — Free is the number of empty storage slots. Total is the number of storage
slots available to the host software, which does NOT include reserved slots.
• Mailslot — shows whether the mailslot is open, closed, or disabled.
• Autoloader Time — the date and time from the Autoloader, which can be set from the OCP
or RMI. The Autoloader Time is updated when the system status is refreshed. The time of the
most recent refresh is the Updated time at the top of the pane. If you call HP Service to request
a temporary administrator password, refresh the system status with your browser reload button
and then give the service engineer this Autoloader Time.
Remote management interface (RMI) 37
Page 38
Getting help
For additional information about fields on the RMI screens, click on Help in the upper right corner
(see Figure 25 (page 38)). The help pages are updated with most firmware updates and often
contain technical details that are not contained in this document.
Figure 25 Help button
Identity
Viewing static device information
The Identity: Autoloader page provides static information about the device.
Figure 26 Identity: Autoloader page
You can see, but not modify, the following:
• Serial Number — the electronic serial number for the device. It should match the serial number
printed on the device's label, located on the pull out tab under the drive on the back of the
device.
• Product ID — how the device identifies itself to the host computer.
• Currently Installed Autoloader Firmware x.xx / y.yy
x.xx is the version of the Autoloader controller firmware◦
◦ y.yy is the version of the robotics firmware.
• Bootcode Firmware Revision
• Barcode Reader — version of barcode reader in the device.
• Autoloader Mode
Automatic — the device will switch from Sequential to Random mode if it receives media
◦
changer SCSI commands.
◦ Manual — the device will stay in the current mode until another mode is configured by
a user.
38 Operating the Tape Autoloader
Page 39
◦ Random — the device will not automatically load and unload tapes. Instead, it will wait
for commands from the backup software or the OCP to load and unload tapes.
◦ Sequential — the device will automatically unload the tape in the drive when the host
software sends an unload command to the drive and then automatically load the tape
from the next highest sequentially numbered full slot.
◦ Loop — in Loop mode, the Autoloader will load the tape from the lowest numbered full
slot after the tape from the highest numbered full slot is unloaded. If Loop is not listed, the
Autoloader will stop automatically loading and unloading tapes after the tape from the
last full slot is unloaded.
CAUTION: Since loop mode will endlessly cycle through the tapes, it is possible to
overwrite old data. Make sure that there are enough tapes in the Autoloader or that the
tapes are regularly rotated in and out to ensure that data you want to save is not
overwritten.
◦ Autoload — the device will automatically load the tape from the lowest numbered full
slot on power up.
• WWide Node Name — a world wide unique identifier that the Autoloader reports over SCSI
and may be used by operating systems or software applications to identify and track the
Autoloader.
Viewing static drive information
The Identity: Drive page, Identity: Drive page (Fibre Channel), and Identity: Drive page (SAS)
provide detailed information about the tape drive.
Figure 27 Identity: Drive page (Fibre Channel)
Remote management interface (RMI) 39
Page 40
Figure 28 Identity: Drive page (parallel SCSI)
Figure 29 Identity: Drive page (SAS)
You can see, but not modify, the following:
• Vendor ID — will always be HP.
• Product ID — product identification information that is given by the drive.
• Serial Number — electronic serial number of the drive. It should match the physical serial
number of the drive.
• Firmware Revision — version of the currently installed drive firmware.
• SCSI ID (parallel SCSI drive only) — SCSI address of the drive. The LUN for the tape drive is
0.
• World Wide ID (SAS drive only) — world wide unique name for the drive. The World Wide
ID is assigned by the autoloader controller to the drive bay and cannot be changed by the
user. When a tape drive is replaced, the World Wide ID is re-assigned to the replacement
drive.
• Physical Drive Slot Number — the physical location of the drive. Will always be 1.
• SCSI Element Address — element address. The SCSI Element Address is set at the factory and
can only be configured by a host application.
40 Operating the Tape Autoloader
Page 41
• Autoloader LUN Hosted by Drive — Yes, if this drive is hosting the Autoloader at LUN 1. Will
always be Yes for the 1/8 G2 Tape Autoloader.
• Data Compression — Yes, if the host has hardware compression turned on for the drive.
• Interface Type — SCSI, Fibre Channel, or SAS
• WWide Node Name (FC drive only) — world wide unique number for the drive. The
Autoloader assigns WWNames to the drive bays. When a tape drive is replaced, the
WWName is re-assigned to the replacement drive.
• Port information (FC drive only)
WWide Port Name — world wide unique identifier for the port. The WW Node and
◦
Port Name will be slightly different.
◦ Port Type — the current setting of the drive port. Direct connected devices are typically
Loop. Devices connected to a switch are typically Fabric.
◦ Speed
Viewing network information
The Identity: Network page displays information about the network configuration.
Figure 30 Identity: Network page
You can see, but not modify:
• MAC Address — a unique identifier for the autoloader controller network interface
• Full Qualified Domain Name — the fully qualified domain name for the device
• Clock Synchronization Configuration (SNTP) — When Enabled, the device will obtain the
current time and date from the configured SNTP server.
When IPv4 Addressing is Enabled, you can see, but not modify:
Remote management interface (RMI) 41
Page 42
Status
• IPv4 DNS Server 1 and IPv4 DNS Server 2 — addresses of the configured DNS servers used
when DHCP Addressing is not Enabled.
• DHCPv4 Addressing — When Enabled, the device will request an IP address from a DHCP
server each time the device is booted.
• IPv4 Address — the Autoloader network address
• Subnet Mask — The network mask of the autoloader controller used when DHCP Addressing
is not Enabled.
• Default Gateway — the gateway used when DHCP Addressing is not Enabled.
When IPv6 Addressing is Enabled, you can see, but not modify:
• Stateless Addressing — when Enabled, the device will generate an address for itself based
on the routing information obtained from a router advertisement and the MAC address. The
device can manage up to five global addresses at the same time, which can be assigned from
different routers.
• DHCPv6 Addressing — when Enabled, the Autoloader will request an IP address from a DHCP
server each time the device is booted.
• Static Addressing — when Enabled, the device will use a statically-configured address.
• Static Assigned Address — the IPv6 address when Static Addressing Enabled is On.
Viewing dynamic device information
The Status: Autoloader page displays dynamic information about the device. When you click
Refresh, the status is updated immediately.
Figure 31 Status: Autoloader page
You can see, but not modify, the following:
42 Operating the Tape Autoloader
Page 43
• Status — the overall status of the device
The device is fully operational and no user interaction is required.
User attention is necessary, but the device can still perform most operations.
User intervention is required and the device is not capable of performing some operations.
• Cartridge in Transport — the slot number where the tape currently in the robot originated.
None if there is not a tape in the robotic.
• Odometer — the total number of moves the device has performed since its manufacture.
• Total Power On Time — the number of days, hours, and minutes that the device has been
powered on since its manufacture.
• Robotic Status — the current status of the robotics and a description of the operation the robot
is currently performing.
• Internal Temperature — the internal temperature reported by the device.
• Media Removal — Prevented, if the backup software is preventing media removal from the
device. When media removal is prevented, the mailslot and magazine functionality is disabled.
• Left Magazine — Present, if the device senses the presence of the left magazine.
• Right Magazine — Present, if the device senses the presence of the right magazine.
Viewing dynamic drive information
The Status: Drive page (parallel SCSI), Status: Drive page (FC), and Status: Drive page (SAS)
provide detailed information about the tape drive in the Autoloader. When you click Refresh, the
status is updated immediately.
Figure 32 Status: Drive page (parallel SCSI)
Remote management interface (RMI) 43
Page 44
Figure 33 Status: Drive page (FC)
Figure 34 Status: Drive page (SAS)
You can see, but not modify, the following:
• Status of the drive
The drive is operating normally.
The device is functional, but might have an issue that should be addressed.
The drive is in a failed state.
• Cartridge in Drive — information about the cartridge, if any, currently in the drive.
• Drive Error Code — the current drive error code if the drive is in a failed state. See Drive error
codes (page 122) for a list of drive error codes.
44 Operating the Tape Autoloader
Page 45
• Internal Drive Temperature — internal temperature reported by the drive. The normal
temperature range is provided for reference and varies depending on the type of tape drive.
The tape drive will send out errors if there is any possibility of error due to temperature.
NOTE: The Internal Drive Temperature is not the temperature of the tape path in the drive
nor is this the operating environment temperature.
• Cooling Fan Active — On if the cooling fan is on
• Drive Activity — the current drive activity
• Encryption status — The current status of encryption on the drive.
• Port A Status (Fibre Channel and SAS tape drives) — current status of the port
• Speed (Fibre Channel and SAS drives) — the current speed setting of the drive port
• Port Type (Fibre Channel drives only) — the current setting of the drive port. Direct connected
devices are typically Loop. Devices connected to a switch are typically Fabric.
• N-Port ID (Fibre Channel drives only) — Fabric address. Only relevant when in Fabric mode.
• ALPA (Fibre Channel drives only) — Loop address. Only relevant when in Loop mode.
• Hashed SAS address — A short version of the SAS World Wide Identifier (WWI) that is
generated using a well-defined hash algorithm and is suitable for device identification in most
systems. Some management software may report this value.
Viewing the tape cartridge inventory
The Status: Inventory page provides detailed information about the tape in the tape drive, with a
summary of tapes in magazine slots.
Figure 35 Status: Inventory page
A dark rectangle indicates a full slot, a red rectangle indicates a cartridge with a problem, and a
white rectangle indicates an empty slot.
To see detailed information about the tapes in a magazine, click on the + button to expand the
display for the magazine (see Figure 36 (page 46)).
Remote management interface (RMI) 45
Page 46
Figure 36 Status: Inventory: Media details pane
In the media details pane,
• Slot # — lists “Mailslot” or the index number of each slot in the magazine from lowest to
highest.
• Attn — indicates an attention state for storage slots or provides information on the mailslot
state.
• Status — Full or Empty.
• In Drive — shows when the tape from this slot is in a drive.
• Label — the bar code label data for the tape in the slot.
• Media Loads — the number of times this tape has been loaded into a drive in its lifetime. This
field may be blank if the tape has not been loaded into a drive in this device or if the inventory
has changed.
• Comment — any additional information about the tape in the slot (for example, Clean Tape
if the cartridge is a cleaning tape).
Configuration
Changing the system configuration
Use the Configuration: System page (page 47) to modify the system configuration.
System configuration changes are only applied after the Apply Selections or the Submit button is
selected. After making the selection, a warning page informs you of the impact of the proposed
change. In some cases a pop-up screen asks you to confirm the change. Many changes also require
the device to reboot. You may need to click Refresh to see the changes.
46 Operating the Tape Autoloader
Page 47
Figure 37 Configuration: System page
• Mailslot Configuration Enabled — configures the first slot as a mailslot or storage slot. Enabling
the mailslot will reduce the total number of storage slots. The default is disabled.
CAUTION: Since the mailslot is located where the lowest numbered storage slot would be,
enabling and disabling the mailslot will re-number all of the other storage slots. After enabling
or disabling the mailslot, update the backup software inventory. You might also need to
re-configure the backup software to adjust the number of storage slots and presence of the
mailslot.
• Auto Clean Enabled — When auto clean is enabled, the device automatically loads a cleaning
cartridge when a tape drive needs to be cleaned. The device identifies a tape cartridge as a
cleaning cartridge if it has a bar code label that starts with CLN or after an unlabeled cleaning
tape has been loaded into the tape drive.
The device can use a cleaning cartridge from any slot, even if the slot is not active. The device
keeps track of the usage count for each of the cleaning cartridges. When multiple cleaning
cartridges are available, the device will first choose an unknown cleaning cartridge so the
device can start tracking the cartridge's usage count. If the device knows the usage count for
all of the cleaning cartridges, the device will choose the one with the highest usage count.
Auto cleaning is disabled by default. You can enable automatic cleaning even if there are no
cleaning cartridges in the device. In this case, the device will display a warning message.
CAUTION: Only enable automatic cleaning in either the backup application or the device,
not both.
• Barcode Label Length Reported to Host — the number of bar code characters reported to the
host application. This option provides interchange compatibility with libraries with more limited
bar code reading capabilities. The default is 8.
• Barcode Label Alignment Reported to Host — configures the end of the bar code label
characters to report to the host application when reporting fewer than the maximum number
of characters. For example, when reporting only six characters of the bar code label
Remote management interface (RMI) 47
Page 48
12345678, if alignment is left, the device will report 123456. If alignment is right, the device
will report 345678. The default is left.
• Ignore Barcode Media ID — when disabled, the barcode Media ID on the tape cartridges
will be checked by the device. The device will only allow appropriate tape cartridges to be
loaded into tape drives. The barcode Media ID is the last two characters of the barcode. For
example, an LTO-4 labeled cartridge will not be allowed to move into an LTO-3 tape drive.
See Backward read compatibility (page 33). When Ignore Barcode Media ID is enabled, the
device will move any tape to any tape drive. If the cartridge is incompatible with the tape
drive, a message will be displayed. HP strongly recommends that all tape cartridges have
barcodes with the correct Media ID.
• Magazine access using front panel - Admin password required — when enabled, the
Administrator password is required to remove the magazines from the front panel. When
disabled, the magazines may be removed using the operator control panel without entering
a password. The default is to require the Administrator password.
• Select Language — The language option affects the text on the RMI, the error messages, and
the help pages. It does not affect the OCP menus, which will always be in English.
• Autoloader LUN Hosted by Drive — will always be 1 because the Autoloader only has one
tape drive.
• Autoloader Mode — Random, Sequential, Automatic, Autoload, Loop
The device supports three behavior modes: Random, Sequential, and Automatic. The device
automatically detects the required mode from the series of SCSI commands it receives; however,
you can also change the mode. Choose the operating mode based on the capabilities of the
software controlling the tape cartridges.
Random mode — In Random mode, the device does not automatically load tapes into the
tape drives; it waits for commands from the software or operator to load and unload tapes.
Random mode is used with a full featured or a robotics-aware backup application and is the
most common mode of operation. Your backup software must support robotics, which may
require an additional software module.
Sequential mode — In Sequential mode, the device automatically loads and unloads tapes
from the drive. Sequential mode is used when the backup software is NOT robotics-aware or
was designed for standalone drives only.
The operator begins the sequence by loading the desired tape into the tape drive. When a
tape is unloaded for any reason, the device automatically removes the tape from the drive,
returns it to its original slot, then loads the tape from the next available higher numbered slot.
To further determine how you want tapes loaded into the tape drive while in Sequential mode,
you can set the Loop and Autoload options.
◦ When Autoload mode is set, the device automatically loads the cartridge from the
lowest-numbered full slot into the tape drive. It then follows standard sequential operation.
After configuring Autoload mode, you must do one of the following for Autoload mode
to take effect:
– Power cycle the device from the front panel.
– Reboot the device from the RMI Support: Reboot screen.
– Move the lowest-numbered cartridge to the drive before starting the backup
application. If the mailslot is enabled, the lowest cartridge location will be in the
mailslot.
◦ When Loop mode is on, the original first cartridge in the sequence is reloaded after the
device has cycled through all available cartridges. If Loop mode is off and the last cartridge
has been unloaded, the device stops loading cartridges until you load another manually.
48 Operating the Tape Autoloader
Page 49
CAUTION: Use caution when choosing Loop mode because it makes it possible to
overwrite data on previously written cartridges.
Automatic mode — In Automatic mode, the device switches from Sequential mode into Random
mode when it receives certain SCSI commands. Automatic mode is the default setting.
• Reserved Slots — The number of slots that are not available to the backup software. You can
store cleaning or data tapes in the reserved slots. The slots are reserved from the highest slot
number down. The default is to have no reserved slots.
You can reserve up to six slots. If the mailslot is enabled, the maximum number of active slots
is reduced by one.
Changing the drive configuration
Use the Configuration: Drive page (parallel SCSI) to change the tape drive's SCSI ID and power
the tape drive off or on. Use the Configuration: Drive page (SAS) to power a SAS drive on or off.
No configuration is needed for SAS drives. Use the Configuration: Drive page (Fibre Channel) to
configure the FC port and power the tape drive off or on.
Figure 38 Configuration: Drive page (parallel SCSI)
For a parallel SCSI drive, you may change the
• SCSI ID — the SCSI address for a parallel SCSI tape drive.
• Power On — power the tape drive on or off.
Figure 39 Configuration: Drive page (Fibre Channel)
• Speed — Automatic, 1 Gb/s, 2 Gb/s, 4 Gb/s, or 8 Gb/s. Only speeds supported by the
drive are listed. The default is Automatic.
• Port Type — Automatic, Fabric (N), or Loop (NL). Direct connected devices are typically Loop.
Devices connected to a switch are typically Fabric. The default is Automatic.
Remote management interface (RMI) 49
Page 50
• Addressing Mode — addressing mode when the port type is Loop: Hard, Soft, or Hard
auto-select. If the Addressing Mode is Hard, you must configure a fixed ALPA address that is
unique on the loop. If the Addressing Mode is Soft, the system will assign an ALPA during
fabric login. If the Addressing mode is Hard auto-select, the device will acquire an ALPA at
the initial system setup and then fix that as a hard address from then on.
• ALPA — Arbitrated Loop Port Address
Figure 40 Configuration: Drive page (SAS)
Changing the network configuration
Use the Configuration: Network page to modify the current network configuration. When you
request a change, a pop-up box will ask you to confirm the changes.
50 Operating the Tape Autoloader
Page 51
Figure 41 Configuration: Network page
You may change the:
• Protocol version — selects the Internet Protocols that will be enabled. Select IPv4 only, IPv6
only, or both IPv4 and IPv6 protocols. The default is the IPv4 protocol only.
• Host Name — enter the host name provided by your network administrator for the Autoloader.
• Domain name — enter the domain name provided by your network administrator for the
Autoloader.
• Enable HTTPS — when On, the RMI can only be accessed through an HTTPS connection.
• Restricted Network Access — when On, disables all non-essential network functionality that
is not required for normal product operation. In most circumstances leave this On.
Remote management interface (RMI) 51
Page 52
For IPv4, you may change the:
• DHCP Address — when On, the Autoloader will request an IP address from a DHCP server
each time the device is booted. The default is On.
• Static Address — configures the IP address if DHCP is not enabled.
• Subnet Mask — configures the network mask of the autoloader controller if DHCP Address is
not On.
• Gateway Address — configures the gateway address if DHCP Address is not On.
• IPv4 DNS Server 1 and IPv4 DNS Server 2 — configures the addresses of up to two DNS
servers if DHCP Address is not On.
For IPv6, you may change the:
• IPv6 DNS Server 1 and IPv6 DNS Server 2 — configures the addresses of up to two DNS
servers if DHCPv6 is not enabled.
• Stateless Addressing Enabled — when On, the Autoloader will generate an address for itself
based on the routing information obtained from a router advertisement and the MAC address.
The Autoloader can manage up to five global addresses at the same time, which can be
assigned from different routers. The default is On.
• DHCPv6 Addressing Enabled — when On, the Autoloader will request an IP address from a
DHCP server each time the device is booted. The default is Off.
• Static Addressing Enabled — when On, the Autoloader will use a statically-configured address.
The default is Off.
• Static Assigned Address — configures the address when Static Addressing Enabled is On.
You can select the standard prefix, FE80:, or the prefix of a nearby router. Enter the remainder
of the address and click Add.
To remove an IPv6 static IP address, click Delete next to the address in the Current IPv6 Addresses
pane.
Configuration: Network Management
Use the Configuration: Network Management page to enable and configure SNMP (Simple Network
Management Protocol), which allows applications such as HP Systems Insight Manager (http://
www.hp.com/products/SystemInsightManager) to manage the device. The device supports both
SNMP configuration and SNMP traps. SNMP can only be configured with the RMI; it cannot be
configured with the OCP.
Command View TL TapeAssure provides comprehensive summaries and detailed information about
the properties, performance, utilization, and health of all tape drives and media for all monitored
HP libraries. This data can be exported on demand or at scheduled times to a comma-separated
values (.csv) file for analysis with spreadsheet programs or custom scripts.
52 Operating the Tape Autoloader
Page 53
Figure 42 Configuration: Network Management page
You may change the:
• SNMP Enabled — When checked, the device can be managed by computers listed in the
SNMP Target IP Addresses field.
• SNMP Target IP Addresses — the IP addresses for up to three computers running IPv4 SNMP
management software and up to three computers running IPv6 SNMP management software.
IP addresses will not be cleared if SNMP is disabled, but those targets will no longer be able
to manage the Autoloader and will not receive traps from the Autoloader. You can select the
SNMP version for each target address.
Remote management interface (RMI) 53
Page 54
• Community Name — a string used to match the SNMP management station and device. It
must be set to the same name on both the management station and the Autoloader. The default
community name is public.
• SNMP Trap Notification Filter — the types of events for which the device should send SNMP
traps.
• IPv4 or IPv6 Management Station — IP address of the Command View TL management station.
Only one management station can be configured. If both IPv4 and IPv6 IP addresses are
provided, only the IPv4 address will be used
Configuring HP Systems Insight Manager for the Tape Autoloader
The Autoloader uses the HP NetCitizen MIB, which is supported by HP Systems Insight Manager
(SIM) and many other applications. To detect the Tape Autoloader using a remote management
application, such as HP SIM, you must first add the IP address for the management system as an
SNMP target using the network configuration. SNMP queries are only accepted from configured
targets.
To configure the Autoloader for use with HP SIM:
1. From the RMI, add the HP SIM management station as an SNMP target.
2. If the Autoloader IP address is in an HP SIM automatic discovery IP address list, the SIM
management station will detect the Autoloader at the next scheduled scan.
To configure HP SIM for manual discovery:
1. In the HP SIM toolbar, click Options > Discovery.
2. Click the Manual tab.
3. Enter the Autoloader's IP address or system name.
SIM 5.1 will automatically detect the system type and product name.
To manually identify the Autoloader with SIM 5.0 and older:
1. In the HP SIM System and Event Collections pane, click Systems by Type.
2. In the Systems by Type pane, click All systems.
3. Click the link with the IP address or name of the Tape Autoloader.
4. Click the Tools & Links tab.
5. Click Edit System Properties.
6. Set System Type to Tape Library.
7. Enter the Product Model of your Tape Autoloader.
8. Click OK.
Changing the administrator password
Use the Configuration: Password page to change the administrator password for the RMI and
OCP.
NOTE: You must set the administrator password with the OCP before you can access administrator
functionality in the RMI. See Changing the administrator password (Configuration > Change Admin
Password) (page 72).
54 Operating the Tape Autoloader
Page 55
Figure 43 Configuration: Password page
You may change the:
• Password — The password is exactly eight numbers, each from 0 to 9.
• Password Time Out — The number of minutes that the current administrator login session will
remain logged in without user interaction.
Setting the date and time
Use the Configuration: Date/Time page to set the date and time.
NOTE: The device does not adjust its time to daylight saving time; the time must be adjusted
manually.
Figure 44 Configuration: Date/Time page
You may change the:
• Time — configures the hours, minutes, and seconds for the internal clock. The time is based
on a 24-hour clock, where 1:00 pm is 13:00.
• Date — configures the current month, day, and year for the internal clock.
• Enable Clock Synchronization — When enabled, the device will use the configured Simplified
Network Time Protocol (SNTP) service to obtain the current date and time.
• SNTP Server Address — the IP address of an SNTP server. The SNTP server may be configured
with either an IPv4 or IPv6 address, or with a host and domain name. If a host and domain
name are entered, the IP address will be resolved from the DNS using that name. The device
will store the resulting address, rather than the name. If the address changes, enter the name
or a new address so the device can find the server again.
Remote management interface (RMI) 55
Page 56
• UTC Time Zone Offset — Select the time zone for your area.
• Enable Daylight Savings Adjustment — Enabling daylight saving time will advance the local
time by one hour. This setting does NOT automatically adjust the device time for daylight
saving time based on the calendar. You must manually enable this setting when daylight
saving time starts in your area and disable it when daylight saving time ends.
Setting error log mode
The Configuration: Log page can only be accessed by HP Service personnel.
Figure 45 Configuration: Log page
Setting event notification parameters
The Configuration: Alerts page lets you configure e-mail notification of device events.
Figure 46 Configuration: Alerts page
You may change the:
• Notification Level — the types of events for which the device should send e-mail
• To Email Address — the address to which to send the reported events (e.g.
firstname.lastname@example.com). Only one email address can be configured.
• Email Domain — domain of the return e-mail address (e.g. example.com)
• SMTP Server Address — IP address of the SMTP server
56 Operating the Tape Autoloader
Page 57
Saving and restoring the device configuration and restoring factory defaults
Use the Configuration: Restore defaults page to restore the factory defaults, reset the administrator
password to null, or save the device configuration database to a file. The device will perform an
inventory after the defaults are restored.
IMPORTANT: Once you reset the administrator password to null, you will not be able to access
the administrator functions in the RMI until you set an administrator password through the OCP.
To change the administrator password, use Configuration: Password page (page 55).
The saved configuration database will make it easier to recover the device configuration if you
need to replace the chassis. This feature is also useful when installing multiple devices. Either save
the configuration before configuring the network or ensure that only one device with the same
network configuration is on the network at a time until they have unique network identities.
NOTE: You can save the device configuration to a USB flash drive from the OCP. For the , see
Saving and restoring the Autoloader configuration (Configuration > Save/Restore Configuration)
(page 77).
Figure 47 Configuration: Save/Restore page
The restored factory default settings are:
• SCSI address: 4
• Drive power: drive powered on
• Active slots: maximum possible
• Autoloader mode: Automatic
• Loop: No
• Event log levels and filter: continuous trace and all levels and filters active (for HP Service use
only)
• Barcode reader label length: 8
• Barcode reader alignment: Left
• Error recovery: On
• Mailslot configuration: mailslot disabled
• Auto clean: disabled
Remote management interface (RMI) 57
Page 58
• SNMP: disabled, but saved addresses do not change
• E-mail notification: disabled, but configurations retained
The following settings are not reset:
• Administrator password
• Network settings (network is always enabled and the network addresses are retained)
• Date and time
To save the device configuration to a file, click Save and follow the instructions on the RMI to
specify a file location.
To restore the device configuration from a file, browse to the location of the saved configuration
file and click Restore.
The configuration settings that are saved to file are:
• Administrator password
• Mailslot configuration
• All network settings, including DHCP, DNS, IPv4 and IPv6 addresses
• Barcode reader label length and barcode reader alignment
• Reserved slots
• Autoloader mode
• All drive configuration settings
• Auto clean
• SNMP addresses and configurations
• Log tracing configuration
• Email notification configuration (SMTP address, email address, filter level)
• Option to allow the magazine access without the administrator password
• Option to ignore the barcode media ID
• Encryption and security settings
Operations
Moving media
Use the Operations: Move Media page to move tape cartridges within the device.
IMPORTANT: Moving media manually can interfere with backup software operations. Ensure
backups are complete before moving media.
58 Operating the Tape Autoloader
Page 59
Figure 48 Operations: Move Media page
To move a tape, select the source and destination and then click the Move button in the center of
the screen to start the move.
Updating the current media inventory
Use the Operations: Inventory page to have the device re-scan the tapes to update the media
inventory.
Figure 49 Operations: Inventory page
Releasing and replacing the magazines
Use the Operations: Magazine page to release the left, right, or both magazines. When you click
Release, the device will unlock the magazine and display Left Magazine Unlocked or Right Magazine
Unlocked on the OCP screen. If you do not remove the magazine within a few seconds, the device
will lock it. When you replace the magazine, the device will inventory the magazine's tape
cartridges.
Figure 50 Operations: Magazines page
NOTE: To manually release a magazine, see Releasing the magazines manually (page 104).
However, this manual process should only be used if the magazine cannot be released using the
OCP or RMI.
Remote management interface (RMI) 59
Page 60
Support
CAUTION: Some RMI operations take the device offline. This inactive mode can interfere with
host-based application software, causing data loss. Ensure that the device is idle before attempting
to perform any remote operations that take it offline.
Performing general diagnostics
Use the Support: General Diagnostic page to run general tests to verify the usability and reliability
of the device. Select the test and enter the number of test cycles before starting the test. To cancel
the test early, click on the Stop button.
Figure 51 Support: General Diagnostic page
The available tests are:
• Demo — moves cartridges from the slots to the drives and back. At the end of the test the
cartridges are returned to their original slots.
• Slot to slot — shuffles the cartridges between slots to exercise the robot. At the end of the test
the cartridges are NOT returned to their original slots.
The demo and slot to slot test are intended to show the device operating. For service and diagnostics,
execute the wellness test from the OCP. See The wellness test (page 104).
HP Service - Service restricted
The Support: HP Service page page can only be accessed by service personnel to execute detailed
tests on the different components of the device or special read/write diagnostics on the drives.
Figure 52 Support: HP Service page
60 Operating the Tape Autoloader
Page 61
Determining and updating firmware
Use the Support: Firmware page to see the current version of the device and drive firmware, and
upload new firmware. The firmware files must be in the HP L&TT format with the .frm file extension.
You can find firmware files on the HP Support website: www.hp.com/support. After the firmware
is updated, the device or tape drive with updated firmware is reset.
CAUTION: Do not interrupt the device while a firmware update is in progress. Updating the tape
drive firmware can take several minutes because the firmware is transferred through a serial
connection.
Figure 53 Support: Firmware page
Rebooting the device
Use the Support: Reboot page to do a soft reset of the device, which will run the Power On Self
Test (POST) and scan for a new inventory. The RMI web page will refresh itself after a short time
delay. This time should be sufficient to reload the page. However, during a reboot, the connection
to the device may be lost. If the connection is lost, you will have to reload the page manually.
Figure 54 Support: Reboot page
Viewing logs
From the Support: Autoloader Logs page you can see the device logs. The available logs are: Error
Trace, Informational Trace, Warning Trace, Configuration Change Trace, and Standard Trace.
The log entries are displayed in order of most recent to oldest. The format for the log entries is:
YY.MM.DD HH.MM.SS.ss LIB/ERR<80 89 62 40
• YY.MM.DD — the date displayed as Year.Month.Day
• HH.MM.SS.ss — the time displayed as Hour.Minute.Second.Hundredths of a second
• First code — hard or soft error. The code after LIB/ERR (80 in the example) will be 80 or 40.
80 indicates a hard error, 40 indicates a soft error.
Remote management interface (RMI) 61
Page 62
• Second code — the main error code (89 in this example). See Error codes (page 105) for a
list of error codes and recovery procedures.
• Third code — the sub-code (62 in this example). See Error sub-code descriptions (page 119)
for a list of sub-codes.
• Fourth code — sub-code-specific information for factory use only
Figure 55 Support: Autoloader Logs page
Cleaning the tape drive
Use the Support: Clean Drive page to clean the tape drive.
• Slot # — select the slot number of the cleaning tape
Figure 56 Support: Clean Drive page
Downloading a support ticket
Use the Support: Support ticket page to download a support ticket for the Autoloader or tape drive.
The support ticket can help a service engineer or system administrator diagnose a device problem.
62 Operating the Tape Autoloader
Page 63
NOTE: LTO 2 and 3 tape drives must be empty to download support tickets. LTO 4 tape drives
with firmware newer than B34W (parallel SCSI) or U24W (SAS) will automatically generate a
support ticket during an unload and that ticket may be downloaded at any time. LTO 4 tape drives
with older firmware must be empty to download a support ticket. Gathering a current ticket for an
LTO 4 tape drive may cause a temporary performance decrease while the ticket is generated.
Figure 57 Support: Support Ticket page
Remote management interface (RMI) 63
Page 64
Operator control panel (OCP)
The operator control panel on the front of the device includes a 2-line by 16-character green backlit
liquid crystal display (LCD), four function keys, and four LEDs. This panel provides everything you
need to monitor the device status and control its functions.
The following functions are available through the OCP:
• Unlocking the mailslot (Unlock Mailslot) (page 69)
• Status/Information (page 69)
Inventory (Status/Information > Inventory) (page 69)◦
◦ Autoloader information (Status/Information > Autoloader Information) (page 70)
◦ Drive information (Status/Information > Drive Information) (page 71)
◦ Component status (Status/Information > Component Status) (page 71)
◦ Network information (Status/Information > Network Information) (page 71)
• Configuration (page 72)
Changing the administrator password (Configuration > Change Admin Password)
◦
(page 72)
◦ Setting the number of reserved slots (Configuration > Set Reserved Slot Count) (page 73)
◦ Configuring the mailslot (Configuration > Configure Mailslot) (page 73)
◦ Bar code reporting format (Configuration > Barcode Format Reporting) (page 73)
◦ Changing the SCSI address — parallel SCSI devices (Configuration > Change Drive)
(page 74)
◦ Setting behaviors (Configuration > Autoloader Behavior) (page 74)
◦ Setting the date and time (Configuration > Autoloader Date/Time) (page 75)
◦ Configuring network settings (Configuration > Configure Network Settings) (page 75)
◦ Configuring automatic cleaning (Configuration > Configure Auto Cleaning) (page 76)
◦ Restoring factory defaults (Configuration > Restore Defaults) (page 77)
◦ Saving and restoring the Autoloader configuration (Configuration > Save/Restore
Configuration) (page 77)
• Operations (page 78)
Unlocking, removing, and replacing magazines (Operations > Unlock Left or Right
◦
Magazine) (page 78)
◦ Cleaning the tape drive (Operations> Clean Drive) (page 79)
◦ Moving tapes in the Autoloader (Operations > Move Tape) (page 80)
◦ Updating tape cartridge inventory (Operations > Perform Inventory) (page 80)
64 Operating the Tape Autoloader
Page 65
◦ Rebooting the Autoloader (Operations> Reboot Autoloader) (page 81)
◦ Enabling password locks (Operations > Enable Autoldr Password Locks) (page 81)
• Support (page 81)
◦ Running the demonstration (Support > Run Demo) (page 82)
◦ Running the slot to slot test (Support > Run Slot To Slot Test) (page 82)
◦ Running the wellness test (Support > Run Wellness Test) (page 82)
◦ Upgrading firmware (Support > Autoloader FW Upgrade, Support > Drive FW Upgrade)
◦ Forcing the drive to eject a tape (Support > Force Drive To Eject Tape) (page 85)
◦ Viewing logs (Support > Autoloader Error Log) (page 84)
◦ Downloading a support ticket (Support > Download Support Ticket) (page 84)
LED indicators
The operator panel includes four LEDs that provide a summary of the device status as detailed in
Figure 58 (page 65).
Powering a drive on or off (Support > Power On/Off Drive) (page 81)◦
(page 83)
Figure 58 LEDs
Amber4.
Autoloader home screen
The first line of the Home screen displays the device's product name as shown in Figure 59 (page
66). The second line displays a brief status message.
Ready. Illuminated when power is on. Blinking during tape drive or robotics activity.Green1.
Clean. Illuminated when a cleaning cartridge should be used.Amber2.
Attention. Illuminated if the device has detected a condition that requires attention.Amber3.
Error. Illuminated if an unrecoverable error occurs. A corresponding error message displays
on the LCD screen.
Operator control panel (OCP) 65
Page 66
Figure 59 Home screen
Drive status definitions are listed in Table 16 (page 66).
Table 16 Drive status
DefinitionStatus
Drive has a tape inserted, but there is no activityIDLE
Drive is readingRD
Drive is forwardingFWD
Drive is writingWR
Drive is loading a tapeLD
Drive is unloading a tapeULD
Drive is cleaningCLN
Drive is rewindingRWD
Drive is seekingSEEK
Performing a tape move or tape exchange operationMOV
Drive is erasing a tapeERASE
Drive is calibratingCAL
Performing a testTEST
Performing a firmware upgrade operationUPGR
DecryptingDCR
EncryptingENC
Operator control panel buttons
The four operator control panel buttons, described in Figure 60 (page 67), let you traverse the
OCP menu structure and enter information.
66 Operating the Tape Autoloader
Page 67
Figure 60 Operator control panel buttons
Cancels the current menu option, returns to the previous menu level, or returns to the Home screen.Cancel
Enters the menu or selects the option displayed on the LCD screen.Enter
Selects the previous item or value in the currently displayed menu.Previous
Selects the next item or value in the currently displayed menu.Next
Understanding the menu structure
The OCP options are organized under five menus: Unlock Mailslot, Status/Information,
Configuration, Operations, and Support.
NOTE: The Unlock Mailslot menu is only displayed when the mailslot is enabled. To enable the
mailslot, see Configuring the mailslot (Configuration > Configure Mailslot) (page 73)
From the Home screen, press Enter to bring up the first menu item. From a menu, use the Previous
and Next keys to cycle through the menus, press Enter to see the first option in the menu, or press
Cancel to return to the Home screen.
From an option, use the Previous and Next keys to cycle through the options in the menu, press
Enter to select the option, or press Cancel to return to the menu list.
The menu structure is shown in Figure 61 (page 68).
Operator control panel (OCP) 67
Page 68
Figure 61 Autoloader menu tree
The administrator password accesses all of the available functionality, except for the HP Service
Area. A user without the administrator password has access to the Unlock Mailslot and
Status/Information menus.
Entering the administrator password
TIP: By default, the administrator password is unset; all of the digits are null. You must set the
administrator password from the OCP to protect the administrator functions on the OCP and enable
the administrator functions in the RMI.
Options that require a password will prompt for a password before allowing access to the restricted
screens. Once entered, the administrator password does not need to be entered again unless there
is no user activity for five minutes or the password lock is enabled.
The number 1 should be flashing. To enter the password, do the following:
1. From the operator control panel, press Next to scroll to the first number of the password.
2. Press Enter. The number you selected is replaced with an asterisk (*), and the cursor proceeds
to the next text box.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 until you have entered all eight numbers. After the last number has been
entered, the screen continues to the restricted area.
NOTE: If you forget the administrator password, you cannot enter a new password. You must
call your customer service representative.
68 Operating the Tape Autoloader
Page 69
Unlocking the mailslot (Unlock Mailslot)
The mailslot in the left magazine is used only with host system software that supports this feature.
The mailslot feature allows you to insert or remove a single tape without removing the entire
magazine. The benefit of using a mailslot is that the device will not inventory the rest of the slots
in the magazine so the device can return to service sooner. The mailslot is in the left magazine.
NOTE: The Unlock Mailslot menu is only displayed when the mailslot is enabled. To enable the
mailslot, see Configuring the mailslot (Configuration > Configure Mailslot) (page 73)
To access the mailslot:
1. From the Home screen, press Next until the screen displays Unlock Mailslot. Press Enter to
select.
2. The mailslot ejects automatically. Pull the mailslot out to access the tape (see Figure 62 (page
69)).
3. The screen displays Close Mailslot.
4. Remove the tape cartridge from the mailslot and insert a different tape cartridge.
5. Push the magazine back into the device.
Figure 62 Removing a tape from the mailslot
Status/Information
The Status/Information menu provides access to the following status options:
• Inventory (Status/Information > Inventory) (page 69)
• Autoloader information (Status/Information > Autoloader Information) (page 70)
• Drive information (Status/Information > Drive Information) (page 71)
• Component status (Status/Information > Component Status) (page 71)
• Network information (Status/Information > Network Information) (page 71)
To access the Status/Information menu:
1. From the Home screen, press Previous or Next until the screen displays Status/Information.
Press Enter to select.
2. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays your selected function. Press Enter to select.
Inventory (Status/Information > Inventory)
This option provides information on which slots have cartridges and which are empty. The second
line on the screen displays one of:
• Full (tapes without bar code labels)
• Bar code identification from the tape
• Empty
The device has the following inventory locations:
Operator control panel (OCP) 69
Page 70
• Mailslot
• Left magazine
• Right magazine
• Drive
Each location provides different information:
• Drive or Mailslot: The screen display may read Mailslot AESO32L3, where AESO32L3 is an
example of the bar code number on the tape, or it may read Full or Empty.
• Left or right magazine: The screen display may read Left Magazine or Right Magazine. The
second line on the display indicates which slots have a tape or are empty. Slots in the left
magazine are numbered 1-4 or 1-3, and slots in the right magazine are numbered 5-8 or
4-7. Each slot is represented by a character, as shown in Table 17 (page 70).
Table 17 Display indication definitions
DefinitionCharacter displayed
Slot has a tapeX
Slot is empty-
Mailslot is enabled but does not have a tapem
Mailslot has a tapeM
Slot has a cleaning tapeC
Media needs attention, often as a result of a damaged or incompatible cartridge!
NOTE: If the mailslot is enabled, the storage slot count is reduced.
To view more details about the contents of each slot, press Enter when the screen displays either
Left Magazine or Right Magazine.
To view the tape inventory:
1. From the Home screen, press Previous or Next until the screen displays Status/Information.
Press Enter to select.
2. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Inventory. Press Enter to select.
3. By using Previous or Next, you can select from the following inventory locations:
• Left magazine — includes the mailslot
• Right magazine
• Drive
4. To view the inventory of a magazine, press Enter when the OCP displays Left or Right
Magazine. The OCP will display the contents of the lowest numbered slot in the magazine.
The display will show the tape bar code number, Full, or Empty.
5. Use Previous or Next to scroll through the remaining slots in the magazine. Press Cancel to
choose another inventory location.
6. To view the inventory of a tape drive, press Previous or Next until the screen displays Drive.
The display will show the tape bar code number, Full, or Empty.
Autoloader information (Status/Information > Autoloader Information)
To obtain information about your device:
1. From the Home screen press Previous or Next until the screen displays Status/Information.
Press Enter to select.
70 Operating the Tape Autoloader
Page 71
2. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Autoloader Information. Press Enter to select.
By using Previous or Next, you can select from the following information screens:
• Autoloader Time
• Firmware rev.
• Product ID
• Serial number
• SCSI ID and LUN (SCSI devices only)
• Slots and Mailslots
• Odometer
• Power On Time
Drive information (Status/Information > Drive Information)
To obtain drive information:
1. From the Home screen, press Previous or Next until the screen displays Status/Information.
Press Enter to select.
2. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Drive Information. Press Enter to select.
3. By using Previous or Next, you can select from the following information screens:
• Serial number
• Drive type
• Firmware revision
• SCSI ID (parallel SCSI tape drives only)
Component status (Status/Information > Component Status)
To obtain component status:
1. From the Home screen, press Previous or Next until the screen displays Status/Information.
Press Enter to select.
2. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Component Status. Press Enter to select.
3. By using Previous or Next, you can select from the following information screens:
• Drive activity
• Autoloader status
• Drive status
• Fan status
The second line of the screen will display one of the following:
• Good — the component is operating normally.
• Warning — the component might have an issue that should be addressed. The device is
functional.
• Critical — the component has an error condition that should be addressed. The device
may not be fully functional.
• Failed — the component has a known failure and should be replaced.
Network information (Status/Information > Network Information)
To access network settings for the device:
1. From the Home screen, press Previous or Next until the screen displays Status/Information.
Press Enter to select.
Operator control panel (OCP) 71
Page 72
2. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Network Information. Press Enter to select.
3. Press Previous or Next to access the following information:
• IPv4 Network Enabled or Disabled
• IPv6 Network Enabled or Disabled
• Host Name
• Domain Name
• MAC Address
4. For IPv4 Network or IPv6 Network, press Enter and then use Previous or Next to access the
network addresses and configuration.
Configuration
The Configuration menu provides access to the following configuration functions:
• Changing the administrator password (Configuration > Change Admin Password) (page 72)
• Setting the number of reserved slots (Configuration > Set Reserved Slot Count) (page 73)
• Configuring the mailslot (Configuration > Configure Mailslot) (page 73)
• Bar code reporting format (Configuration > Barcode Format Reporting) (page 73)
• Changing the SCSI address — parallel SCSI devices (Configuration > Change Drive) (page 74)
• Setting behaviors (Configuration > Autoloader Behavior) (page 74)
• Setting the date and time (Configuration > Autoloader Date/Time) (page 75)
• Configuring network settings (Configuration > Configure Network Settings) (page 75)
• Configuring automatic cleaning (Configuration > Configure Auto Cleaning) (page 76)
• Restoring factory defaults (Configuration > Restore Defaults) (page 77)
• Saving and restoring the Autoloader configuration (Configuration > Save/Restore Configuration)
(page 77)
To access the Configuration menu:
1. From the Home screen, press Previous or Next until the screen displays Configuration. Press
Enter to select.
2. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays your selected function. Press Enter to select.
Changing the administrator password (Configuration > Change Admin Password)
Use Change Admin Password to set or change the administrator password. Once the administrator
password is set, you must know the administrator password or the service password to change the
administrator password. Passwords consist of exactly eight numbers each between the values of
0 and 9.
Screens that require a password prompt for the password before allowing access to the restricted
areas. Once entered, the administrator password does not have to be entered a second time unless
there is no user activity for five minutes. Enter the administrator password if you are prompted to
do so.
To change the administrator password:
1. From the Home screen, press Previous or Next until the screen displays Configuration. Press
Enter to select.
2. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Change Admin Password. Press Enter to select.
3. The first number is flashing. Press Previous or Next to change the value of the flashing number.
When the flashing number shows the desired value, press Enter to select.
72 Operating the Tape Autoloader
Page 73
4. The screen displays the second number flashing. Repeat Step 3 until you have entered all
eight characters. Press Enter to select. After the last number has been entered, the password
has been set to the new password.
NOTE: If you forget the administrator password, you cannot enter a new password. You must
call your customer service representative.
Setting the number of reserved slots (Configuration > Set Reserved Slot Count)
Reserved slots can be accessed by the remote management interface (RMI) and the operator control
panel (OCP), but are invisible to the host and backup software. For example, you might keep a
cleaning cartridge in a reserved slot if your backup software does not manage the cleaning process.
You can reserve up to six slots. Access to this feature requires the administrator password.
To set the reserved slot count:
1. From the Home screen, press Previous or Next until the screen displays Configuration. Press
Enter to select.
2. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Set Reserved Slot Count. Press Enter to select.
3. Enter the administrator password if prompted.
4. Press Previous or Next to scroll through the display until the desired number of slots is displayed,
then press Enter.
Configuring the mailslot (Configuration > Configure Mailslot)
The mailslot is a single slot at the front of the left magazine that you can access without removing
the whole magazine. Loading a tape through the mailslot is faster than opening the magazine
because the device does not need to inventory the rest of the magazine slots when you use the
mailslot. Also, the device can continue to function when the mailslot is open. Access to this feature
requires the administrator password.
To enable or disable the mailslot:
1. From the Home screen, press Previous or Next until the screen displays Configuration. Press
Enter to select.
2. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Configure Mailslot. Press Enter to select.
3. Enter the administrator password if prompted.
4. The screen displays either Mailslot Enabled or Mailslot Disabled.
5. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Disable Mailslot? or Enable Mailslot?. Press
Enter when the correct action is displayed.
Bar code reporting format (Configuration > Barcode Format Reporting)
You can configure how the tape bar code is displayed in the OCP and RMI, and how it is reported
to the host software. You can configure the number of characters to display and the whether the
numbers should be justified to the left or right. For example, when reporting only six characters of
the bar code label 12345678, if alignment is left, the device will report 123456. If alignment is
right, the device will report 345678. The default configuration is 8 Left. Access to this feature
requires the administrator password.
To configure the bar code report format:
1. From the Home screen, press Previous or Next until the screen displays Configuration. Press
Enter to select.
2. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Barcode Format Reporting. Press Enter to select.
3. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays either Display Format or Host Format. The
second line displays the number of characters and the current format. To change the current
format, press Enter to select either Display or Host. An example of the screen display is # of
characters 8.
4. Press Previous or Next until the desired number of characters is listed. Press Enter to select.
Operator control panel (OCP) 73
Page 74
5. The screen displays either Alignment Left or Alignment Right. Use Previous or Next to toggle
between the two choices. Press Enter to select the correct alignment.
Changing the SCSI address — parallel SCSI devices (Configuration > Change Drive)
CAUTION: If you change the SCSI ID, you might need to cycle power on the host server and
reconfigure your backup software before you can use the device.
This option changes the SCSI address of the tape drive. The tape drive uses logical unit number
(LUN) 0. The SCSI address for the Autoloader will always be the same as the tape drive but will
use LUN 1. Access to this feature requires the administrator password.
To change the drive SCSI address:
1. From the Home screen, press Previous or Next until the screen displays Configuration. Press
Enter to select.
2. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Change Drive. Press Enter to select.
3. Enter the administrator password if prompted.
4. The screen displays the current SCSI ID. Press Previous or Next to change the SCSI ID number.
Press Enter to select. An example of the screen display is Drive SCSI ID 6.
Setting behaviors (Configuration > Autoloader Behavior)
The supports three behavior modes: Random, Sequential, and Automatic. The Autoloader
automatically detects the required mode from the series of SCSI commands it receives; however,
you can also change the mode. Choose the operating mode based on the capabilities of the
software controlling the tape cartridges. Access to this feature requires the administrator password.
Random mode: In Random mode, the device does not automatically load tapes into the tape drive;
it waits for commands from the software or operator to load and unload tapes. Random mode is
used with a full featured or a robotics-aware backup application and is the most common mode
of operation. Your backup software must support robotics, which may require an additional software
module.
Sequential mode: In Sequential mode, the device automatically loads and unloads tapes from the
drive. Sequential mode is used when the backup software is NOT robotics-aware or was designed
for standalone drives only.
The operator begins the sequence by loading the desired tape into the tape drive. When a tape
is unloaded for any reason, the device automatically removes the tape from the drive, returns it to
its original slot, then loads the tape from the next available higher numbered slot.
To further determine how you want tapes loaded into the tape drive while in Sequential mode,
you can set the Loop and Autoload options.
• When Autoload mode is set, the device automatically loads the cartridge from the
lowest-numbered full slot into the tape drive. It then follows standard sequential operation.
After configuring Autoload mode, you must do one of the following for Autoload mode to take
effect:
◦ Power cycle the device from the front panel.
◦ Reboot the device from the RMI Support: Reboot screen.
◦ Move the lowest-numbered cartridge to the drive before starting the backup application.
If the mailslot is enabled, the lowest cartridge location will be in the mailslot.
• When Loop mode is on, the original first cartridge in the sequence is reloaded after the device
has cycled through all available cartridges. If Loop mode is off and the last cartridge has been
unloaded, the device stops loading cartridges until you load another manually.
74 Operating the Tape Autoloader
Page 75
CAUTION: Use caution when choosing Loop mode because it makes it possible to overwrite
data on previously written cartridges.
Automatic mode: In Automatic mode, the device switches from Sequential mode into Random mode
when it receives certain SCSI commands. Automatic mode is the default setting.
To set a behavior mode:
1. From the Home screen, press Previous or Next until the screen displays Configuration. Press
Enter to select.
2. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Autoloader Behavior. Press Enter to select.
3. Enter the administrator password if prompted.
4. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Autoloader Mode. Press Enter.
5. The screen displays Set Autoloader Mode, followed by the current Autoloader mode: Automatic,
Sequential, or Random. To change the mode, press Enter.
6. Press Previous or Next to scroll through the screens for Automatic, Sequential, or Random.
Press Enter to select the Autoloader mode.
7. If you enabled Sequential mode, you can configure the Autoload and Loop options:
a. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Autoload Mode Disable or Autoload Mode
Enable. To change the Autoload mode, press Enter. The screen displays either Disable
Autoload Mode or Enable Autoload Mode. Press Previous or Next to toggle between the
enabled and disabled screens. Press Enter to select the Autoload mode. The display shows
the new Autoload mode.
b. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays either Loop Mode Disable or Loop Mode
Enable. To change loop mode, press Enter. The screen displays either Enable Loop Mode
or Disable Loop Mode. Press Previous or Next to toggle between the enabled and disabled
screens. Press Enter to select the loop mode.
Setting the date and time (Configuration > Autoloader Date/Time)
NOTE: When setting the hours, the time is based on a 24-hour clock. There is no a.m. or p.m.
designation.
Use Set Date and Time to set the date and time used to record events. Access to this feature requires
the administrator password.
To set the date:
1. From the Home screen, press Previous or Next until the screen displays Configuration. Press
Enter to select.
2. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Autoloader Date/Time. Press Enter to select.
3. Enter the administrator password if prompted.
4. The screen displays Set Yr/Month/Day 2006 / 07 / 21 with a flashing number. Press Previous
or Next to change the value of the flashing number. Press Enter to accept the value of the
flashing number and move to the next number.
5. Repeat Step 5 until all numbers in the date are correct. Press Enter.
6. The screen displays (example) Set Hour / Mins 16 : 52 with the first number flashing. Press
Previous or Next until the flashing number reads correctly. Press Enter to move to the next
number. Repeat this step until all numbers in the time are correct. Press Enter.
Configuring network settings (Configuration > Configure Network Settings)
The device can automatically obtain an IP address from a DHCP server when the device is powered
on. The device also supports user-specified fixed addresses through the front panel.
The device also supports SNMP. You can enable SNMP and configure the target addresses with
the RMI. See Changing the network configuration (page 50).
Operator control panel (OCP) 75
Page 76
To configure IPv4 network settings:
1. From the Home screen, press Previous or Next until the screen displays Configuration. Press
Enter to select.
2. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Configure Network Settings. Press Enter to
select.
3. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays IPv4 Networking Enabled. Press Enter to select.
4. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays DHCP Enabled. To change the setting, press
Enter. Press Next until the screen shows the desired setting. Press Enter to accept the new
setting.
5. If DHCP is disabled, press Previous or Next until the screen displays IP Address. The second
line displays the current IP address.
6. To change the IP address, press Enter. The screen displays Set IP Address with the first number
flashing. Press Previous or Next to change the flashing number to the correct value.
7. Press Enter to select the next number, until all numbers have been set. The screen displays
New IP Address.
8. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Subnet Mask Address. To change the Subnet
Mask Address, press Enter. The screen displays Set Subnet Mask Address, with the first number
flashing.
9. Press Previous or Next to change the flashing number to the correct value. Press Enter to select
the next number.
10. Repeat Step 9 until all numbers have been set. The screen displays New Subnet Address.
11. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Gateway Address. To change the Gateway
Address, press Enter. The screen displays Set Gateway Addr, with the first number flashing.
12. Press Previous or Next to change the flashing number to the correct value. Press Enter to select
the next number.
13. Repeat Step 12 until all numbers have been set. The screen displays New Gateway Addr.
Press Enter.
To enable IPv6:
1. From the Home screen, press Previous or Next until the screen displays Configuration. Press
Enter to select.
2. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Configure Network Settings. Press Enter to
select.
3. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays IPv6 Networking. Press Enter to select.
4. The screen displays IPv6 Network Addressing Disabled. To change the setting, press Enter.
5. Press Next until the screen displays the desired setting. Press Enter to accept the new setting.
6. Configure IPv6 networking from the RMI. See Changing the network configuration (page 50).
Configuring automatic cleaning (Configuration > Configure Auto Cleaning)
When auto clean is enabled, the device automatically loads a cleaning cartridge when a tape
drive needs to be cleaned. The device identifies a tape cartridge as a cleaning cartridge if it has
a barcode label that starts with CLN or after an unlabeled cleaning tape has been loaded into the
tape drive.
The device can use a cleaning cartridge from any slot, even if the slot is reserved. The device keeps
track of the usage count for each of the cleaning cartridges. When multiple cleaning cartridges
are available, the device will first choose an unknown cleaning cartridge so the device can start
tracking the cartridge usage count. If the deviceknows the usage count for all of the cleaning
cartridges, the device will choose the one with the highest usage count.
76 Operating the Tape Autoloader
Page 77
Auto cleaning is disabled by default. You can enable automatic cleaning even if there are no
cleaning cartridges in the device. In this case, the device will display a warning message.
CAUTION: Only enable automatic cleaning in either the backup application or the device, not
both.
To configure automatic cleaning:
1. From the Home screen, press Previous or Next until the screen displays Configuration. Press
Enter to select.
2. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Configure Auto Cleaning. Press Enter to select.
3. The screen displays Auto Cleaning Disabled or Auto Cleaning Enabled depending on the
current setting. To change the auto cleaning configuration, press Enter.
4. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays the configuration you want. Press Enter.
Restoring factory defaults (Configuration > Restore Defaults)
The device can reset most of the configurations to the factory defaults, while retaining the settings
necessary to use the RMI. The device will perform an inventory after the defaults are restored.
The restored settings are:
• SCSI address: 4
• Master drive: reset to Drive 1
• Drive power: drive powered on
• Active slots: maximum possible
• Autoloader mode: Automatic
• Loop: No
• Event log levels and filter: continuous trace and all levels and filters active (for HP Service use
only)
• Barcode reader label length: 8
• Barcode reader alignment: Left
• Error recovery: On
• Mailslot configuration: mailslot disabled
• Auto clean: disabled
• SNMP: disabled, but saved addresses to not change
• E-mail notification: disabled, but configurations retained
The following settings are not reset:
• Administrator password
• Network settings (network is always enabled)
• Date and time
To restore the factory defaults:
1. From the Home screen, press Previous or Next until the screen displays Configuration. Press
Enter to select.
2. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Restore Defaults. Press Enter to select.
Saving and restoring the Autoloader configuration (Configuration > Save/Restore Configuration)
Use this option to save the configuration settings to a USB flash drive. The saved configuration
information will make it easier to recover the device configuration if you need to replace the chassis.
Operator control panel (OCP) 77
Page 78
This feature is also useful when installing multiple devices. Either save the configuration before
configuring the network or ensure that only one device with the same network configuration is on
the network at a time until they have unique network identities.
To save the device configuration settings to a USB flash drive:
1. Insert the USB flash drive in the USB port on the back of the device.
2. From the Home screen, press Previous or Next until the screen displays Configuration. Press
Enter to select.
3. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Save/Restore Configuration. Press Enter to
select.
4. Enter the administrator password if prompted.
5. The screen displays Save Configuration to USB. Press Enter to save.
6. When the save operation is completed, remove the USB flash drive from the USB port.
To restore the device configuration settings from a USB flash drive:
1. Insert the USB flash drive in the USB port on the back of the device.
2. From the Home screen, press Previous or Next until the screen displays Configuration. Press
Enter to select.
3. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Save/Restore Configuration. Press Enter to
select.
4. Enter the administrator password if prompted.
5. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Restore Config from USB. Press Enter.
6. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays the filename of the device configuration file
on the USB drive. Press Enter to select the firmware file.
7. When the restore operation is completed, remove the USB flash drive from the USB port.
NOTE: You can save the configuration settings to a file from the RMI. See Saving and restoring
the device configuration and restoring factory defaults (page 57)
Operations
The Operations menu provides access to the following options:
• Unlocking, removing, and replacing magazines (Operations > Unlock Left or Right Magazine)
(page 78)
• Cleaning the tape drive (Operations> Clean Drive) (page 79)
• Moving tapes in the Autoloader (Operations > Move Tape) (page 80)
• Updating tape cartridge inventory (Operations > Perform Inventory) (page 80)
• Rebooting the Autoloader (Operations> Reboot Autoloader) (page 81)
• Enabling password locks (Operations > Enable Autoldr Password Locks) (page 81)
To access the Operations menu:
1. From the Home screen, press Previous or Next until the screen displays Operations. Press
Enter to select.
2. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays your selected function. Press Enter to select.
Unlocking, removing, and replacing magazines (Operations > Unlock Left or Right Magazine)
These OCP options let you gain access to the left and right magazine. Access to the magazines
requires the use of the administrator password.
To remove a magazine:
1. From the Home screen, press Previous or Next on the OCP until the screen displays Operations.
2. Press Enter to select.
78 Operating the Tape Autoloader
Page 79
3. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays either Unlock Left Magazine or Unlock Right
Magazine.
4. Press Enter to select the desired magazine to unlock.
5. Enter the administrator password if requested.
6. The display reads Left Magazine Unlocked or Right Magazine Unlocked.
7. Pull the released magazine out of the device.
8. The screen now displays Insert Left Magazine or Insert Right Magazine. The device cannot
perform any other operation until the magazine is replaced. After exchanging tapes in a
magazine, slide the magazine completely into the device. The magazine locks into place once
it is correctly installed and the device inventories the magazine. The Ready LED blinks while
the device inventories the magazine and then stops when the operation is complete.
Cleaning the tape drive (Operations> Clean Drive)
When the Clean LED is on, the tape drive needs to be cleaned. Cleaning times can range from a
few seconds to a few minutes during which time the Ready LED blinks. Use only the designated
cleaning cartridge for your tape drive model. All cartridges are available at www.hp.com/go/
storagemedia.
Use only Ultrium Universal cleaning cartridges.
IMPORTANT: If the cleaning cartridge is not a valid cleaning cartridge, the LCD screen displays
Invalid Tape and the cartridge is returned to its original location.
IMPORTANT: If the Clean LED or the Attention LED (on load or unload) lights when inserting the
same cartridge after you have cleaned the drive, there may be a problem with that cartridge.
If you use the operator control panel to clean the tape drive, load the cleaning cartridge into the
mailslot or any other empty slot before beginning the cleaning steps. If you would like to keep a
cleaning cartridge in the device, the backup software must manage tape drive cleaning or be
configured to bypass the slot containing the cleaning cartridge.
To clean the tape drive:
1. Make sure a cleaning cartridge is in the mailslot or one of the magazines.
2. From the Home Screen, press Previous or Next until the screen displays Operations. Press
Enter to select.
3. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Clean Drive. Press Enter to select.
4. Use Previous or Next until the screen displays Drive. The second line can display either Clean
Required or Good.
5. Press Enter. The screen displays either Cleaning Tape Slot 4 or Cleaning Tape Slot XX, where
XX represents flashing blocks. If a slot number is displayed, the tape in that slot has a bar
code label identifying the tape as a cleaning tape. If a slot number is displayed, continue to
Step 6. If no slot number is displayed, it indicates that the device is not able to detect that a
cleaning tape with a bar code is in the device. In this case, the operator must select the slot
where a cleaning tape resides.
6. Use Previous or Next to display the location of a cleaning tape.
7. When the correct location for the cleaning tape is displayed, press Enter to select. While the
device cleans the drive, Cleaning Drive in progress it displays.
8. After the cleaning cycle is complete, the screen displays either Cleaning Drive Complete, or
Cleaning Drive Failed. If the cleaning cycle failed, press Enter to display the error code and
message explaining the failure.
The device returns the cleaning cartridge to the original slot. If you loaded the cartridge from the
front panel, you should now unload it either by using the mailslot, or by removing the magazine.
When the tape drive cleaning cycle is complete, the Clean LED turns off (if previously on).
Operator control panel (OCP) 79
Page 80
Moving tapes in the Autoloader (Operations > Move Tape)
Use this option to move a cartridge from a tape drive, a tape slot in any magazine or the mailslot
to any other location not already holding a tape. You can also load and unload tape cartridges
to and from the installed tape drives. You must first select where you want to move the tape from
and then indicate where you want to move the tape to. Access to this command requires the
administrator password.
To move a tape:
1. From the Home screen, press Previous or Next until the screen displays Operations. Press
Enter to select.
2. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Move Tape. Press Enter to select.
3. Enter the administrator password if prompted. Use Previous or Next to select from the possible
sources:
• Mailslot
• Right Magazine
• Left Magazine
• Drive
4. When the correct source is displayed, press Enter to select.
5. If the source selected is a magazine, use Previous or Next to select the slot. Only slots with
tapes are listed. The second line displays the bar code for the tape or reads Full.
6. Once the correct slot is displayed, press Enter to select.
You have now selected the tape you would like to move. The screen now requests the
destination for this tape.
7. Use Previous or Next to select from the possible destinations as follows:
• Mailslot
• Right Magazine
• Left Magazine
• Drive
8. When the correct destination is displayed, press Enter to select.
9. If the destination selected is a magazine, use Previous or Next to display the slot. Only empty
slots are listed.
Once the correct slot is displayed, press Enter to select. The device now moves the tape from the
selected source, to the selected destination. While the device moves the tape, the screen displays
Moving Tape. Once the tape has been moved, the screen displays either Move Complete, or Move
Failed. If the move failed, press Enter to display the error code and message explaining the failure.
Updating tape cartridge inventory (Operations > Perform Inventory)
This option updates the device's tape cartridge inventory. The device checks each slot and drive
to determine which tape, if any, is present.
To update the tape cartridge inventory:
1. From the Home screen, press Previous or Next until the screen displays Operations. Press Enter
to select.
2. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Perform Inventory. Press Enter to select.
3. While the inventory is in progress, the screen displays Inventory in Progress...
4. The Autoloader now checks the drive and each slot for the presence of a tape to update the
inventory information. The Ready LED blinks during this operation.
80 Operating the Tape Autoloader
Page 81
NOTE: This command is only needed if the inventory in the device is different than the inventory
displayed on the front panel, which would not happen under normal conditions.
Rebooting the Autoloader (Operations> Reboot Autoloader)
This option reboots the device and forces a new cartridge inventory, clearing any current error
condition.
CAUTION: This option interrupts the current backup or restore operation and causes the operation
to fail. Use this option if the device is in an error state.
To reboot:
1. From the Home screen, press Previous or Next until the screen displays Operations. Press Enter
to select.
2. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Reboot Autoloader. Press Enter to select.
3. The Ready LED blinks during the reboot operation.
Enabling password locks (Operations > Enable Autoldr Password Locks)
This option locks the restricted areas. This is typically used if you do not want to wait for the time
out to reset the locks. Power cycling or rebooting the device also resets the locks.
To enable the password locks:
1. From the Home screen, press Previous or Next until the screen displays Operations. Press Enter
to select.
2. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Enable Autoldr Password Locks. Press Enter
to select.
Support
The Support menu provides access to the following support options:
• Powering a drive on or off (Support > Power On/Off Drive) (page 81)
• Running the demonstration (Support > Run Demo) (page 82)
• Running the slot to slot test (Support > Run Slot To Slot Test) (page 82)
• Running the wellness test (Support > Run Wellness Test) (page 82)
• Upgrading firmware (Support > Autoloader FW Upgrade, Support > Drive FW Upgrade)
(page 83)
• Viewing logs (Support > Autoloader Error Log) (page 84)
• Downloading a support ticket (Support > Download Support Ticket) (page 84)
• Forcing the drive to eject a tape (Support > Force Drive To Eject Tape) (page 85)
To access the Support menu:
1. From the Home screen, press Previous or Next until the screen displays Support. Press Enter
to select.
2. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays your selected function. Press Enter to select.
Powering a drive on or off (Support > Power On/Off Drive)
Use this option to power a drive on or off without interrupting power to the rest of the device.
Access to this feature requires the administrator password.
To power on or off the drive:
1. From the Home screen, press Previous or Next until the screen displays Support. Press Enter
to select.
2. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Power On/Off Drive. Press Enter to select.
Operator control panel (OCP) 81
Page 82
3. Enter the administrator password, if prompted.
4. The screen displays Drive. The second line in the display displays the current state, which is
either Power ON or Power OFF.
5. To change the power status, press Enter. The screen displays either Press Enter to Power off
Drive, or Press Enter to Power on Drive. Press Enter to select. The Ready LED blinks during the
operations.
Running the demonstration (Support > Run Demo)
Use this option to run a device demonstration program. The demonstration continues until the
Cancel button is pressed on the operator control panel. During the demonstration the device will
move cartridges to the tape drive and back. At the end of the demonstration the cartridges are
returned to their original slots. Access to this feature requires the administrator password.
To run the demonstration:
1. From the Home screen, press Previous or Next until the screen displays Support. Press Enter
to select.
2. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Run Demo. Press Enter to select.
3. Enter the administrator password if prompted.
4. Use Previous and Next to select the number of cycles: 270, 540, 1080, or Endless. Press
Enter to start the demonstration.
5. While the test is running, the first line of the screen displays Demo Test. The second line displays
the number of cycles completed and the number of errors. The Ready LED blinks until the test
is complete.
NOTE: To stop the demonstration, press Cancel on the operator control panel.
Running the slot to slot test (Support > Run Slot To Slot Test)
Use this option to show the robot's ability to move media in and out of each of the magazine slots.
Access to this feature requires the administrator password.
NOTE: At the end of the test, the cartridges are NOT returned to their original slots.
To run the slot to slot test:
1. From the Home screen, press Previous or Next until the screen displays Support. Press Enter
to select.
2. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Run Slot To Slot Test. Press Enter to select.
3. Enter the administrator password, if prompted.
4. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Select Number of Cycles. Use Previous or Next
to select the number of cycles: 270, 540, 1080, or Endless. Press Enter.
5. While the test is running, the screen displays progress as shown: Run Slot To Slot. The second
line on the display shows the number of cycles completed. The Ready LED blinks until the test
is complete.
6. When the test is complete, the screen displays the number of cycles completed and the number
of errors. If the test failed, press Enter to display the error and message describing the cause.
NOTE: To stop the slot to slot test, press the Cancel button.
Running the wellness test (Support > Run Wellness Test)
Use this option to check the health of the device for the specified number of loops. If a failure
occurs during the test, check the error code and failure message for more information. Access to
this feature requires the administrator password. For more information about the wellness test, see
The wellness test (page 104).
82 Operating the Tape Autoloader
Page 83
For complete testing, enable the mailslot and ensure that each top-row corner slot contains a tape
cartridge. During the test, the device will open the mailslot and ask you to insert a tape cartridge.
You can use any compatible Ultrium data tape cartridge for this test.
IMPORTANT: The device will remove any tape cartridges from tape drives and go offline when
running the wellness test. Verify that any applications using the device have completed before
starting the wellness test.
To run the wellness test:
1. From the Home screen, press Previous or Next until the screen displays Support. Press Enter
to select.
2. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Run Wellness Test. Press Enter to select.
3. Enter the administrator password, if prompted.
4. Use Previous or Next to select a number of cycles: 1 - 10. Press Enter.
5. While the test is running, the screen displays progress as shown: Wellness test. The second
line on the display shows the number of cycles completed. The Ready LED blinks until the test
is complete.
6. When the test is complete, the screen displays the test completion status, including any
recoveries or errors that may have occurred. See Error codes (page 105) for a list of error
codes and error messages.
NOTE: To stop the wellness test, press the Cancel button.
Upgrading firmware (Support > Autoloader FW Upgrade, Support > Drive FW Upgrade)
The Autoloader allows two types of firmware to be upgraded — one for the tape drive and the
other for the Autoloader itself. You can upgrade both types of firmware from a USB flash drive.
You can also upgrade the tape drive firmware from a firmware upgrade tape. Access to this feature
requires the administrator password.
To upgrade Autoloader firmware from a USB flash drive:
1. Download current Autoloader firmware using HP Library & Tape Tools or from the HP support
website: www.hp.com/support/storage. Copy the firmware onto the USB flash drive.
TIP: The display will only show the first 16 characters of the file name. If the USB drive has
multiple firmware files, ensure that you can distinguish the files from the first 16 characters in
their file names.
2. Insert the USB flash drive into the USB port on the back of the device.
3. From the Home screen, press Previous or Next until the screen displays Support. Press Enter
to select.
4. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Autoloader FW upgrade. Press Enter to select.
5. Enter the administrator password if prompted.
6. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays the filename of the Autoloader firmware file
on the USB drive. Press Enter to select the firmware file.
7. If the upgrade failed, press Enter to display the error code and message describing the cause
of the failure.
8. Remove the USB flash drive from the USB port.
To upgrade drive firmware from a USB flash drive:
1. Download current tape drive firmware using HP Library & Tape Tools or from the HP support
website: www.hp.com/support/storage. Copy the firmware onto the USB flash drive.
TIP: The display will only show the first 16 characters of the file name. If the USB drive has
multiple firmware files, ensure that you can distinguish the files from the first 16 characters in
their file names.
Operator control panel (OCP) 83
Page 84
2. Insert the USB flash drive into the USB port on the back of the device.
3. From the Home screen, press Previous or Next until the screen displays Support. Press Enter
to select.
4. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Drive FW Upgrade. Press Enter to select.
5. Enter the administrator password if prompted.
6. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Drive FW Upgrade by USB. Press Enter to
select.
7. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays the filename of the drive firmware file on the
USB drive. Press Enter to select the firmware file.
8. If the upgrade failed, press Enter to display the error code and message describing the cause
of the failure.
9. Remove the USB flash drive from the USB port.
To update drive firmware from a firmware upgrade tape:
1. Load a firmware upgrade tape into the mailslot or any open slot. If all slots are full, remove
a data tape to make room for the firmware upgrade tape.
2. From the Home screen, press Previous or Next until the screen displays Support. Press Enter
to select.
3. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Drive FW Upgrade. Press Enter to select.
4. Enter the administrator password if prompted.
5. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Drive FW Upgrade by Tape. Press Enter to
select.
6. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays one of the following: Drive 1. The second line
may read: Firmware: G39W or All Drives. Press Enter to select the appropriate drive to upgrade.
7. Press Previous or Next until the display shows the correct slot location of the firmware upgrade
tape installed in the device (example) FW Tape Location Slot: Mailslot. Press Enter to select
the correct firmware tape location. The screen displays Upgrading Drive FW.
8. When the update is complete, the screen displays either Success Export FW Tape, or Failed
Export FW Tape. If the upgrade failed, press Enter to display the error code and message
describing the cause of the failure.
9. Remove the firmware upgrade tape from the device using either the mailslot or by removing
the magazine where the tape has been placed.
Viewing logs (Support > Autoloader Error Log)
The Autoloader keeps a log of recent error and warning messages. See Error codes (page 105) for
more information about error codes.
To access the error or warning log:
1. From the Home screen, press Previous or Next until the screen displays Support. Press Enter
to select.
2. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Autoloader Error Log to see error messages
or Autoloader Warning Log to see warnings. Press Enter to select.
3. Enter the administrator password, if prompted.
4. Press Enter to see the message description. Press Cancel to return to the message code.
5. Press Next to see the next message.
Downloading a support ticket (Support > Download Support Ticket)
A support ticket contains information that can help a system administrator or support engineer
diagnose device problems. Use this option to download a support ticket to a USB flash drive.
Downloading the support ticket to a USB flash drive lets you view the ticket on a computer that is
not connected to the device. You can view the support ticket with the Library & Tape Tools.
To download a support ticket:
84 Operating the Tape Autoloader
Page 85
1. Insert a USB flash drive into the USB port on the back panel.
2. From the Home screen, press Previous or Next until the screen displays Support. Press Enter
to select.
3. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Download Support Ticket. Press Enter to select.
Forcing the drive to eject a tape (Support > Force Drive To Eject Tape)
Use this option to make the tape drive eject the tape and place it into an open slot. Before issuing
this command, attempt to eject the tape with the move command (See Moving tapes in the
Autoloader (Operations > Move Tape) (page 80)).
To force the tape to eject:
1. From the Home screen, press Previous or Next until the screen displays Support. Press Enter
to select.
2. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Force Drive To Eject Tape. Press Enter to select.
3. Press Previous or Next until the screen displays Drive. The second line on the display shows
the bar code number of the tape, Full, or Empty. Press Enter to select the desired drive to eject
the tape.
4. If the tape is successfully ejected from the drive, the screen displays the slot location where
the tape was moved to.
NOTE: If the drive has difficulty ejecting the tape, suspect bad or damaged media.
Operator control panel (OCP) 85
Page 86
5 Troubleshooting
CAUTION: This Autoloader is designed to operate with both side edges properly supported. The
installation approaches that provide the proper edge support are:
• Installed in a rack using the optional Rack Kit.
• Installed in the optional Rack-to-Tabletop Conversion Kit sitting on a flat surface.
• Sitting on a level surface on the included plastic feet.
Operating the Autoloader without one of these kits or the feet could result in Autoloader errors.
The optional tabletop conversion cover can support 15 kg (33 lb). Placing any weight on top of
the Autoloader without the tabletop conversion cover might cause errors.
CAUTION: Shipping Lock: The shipping lock must be removed for the robotics to work properly.
The device displays a robot move error if the shipping lock is not removed (see Removing the
shipping lock (page 23)).
TIP: For an online troubleshooting tool, go to www.hp.com/support/MSLG3Tstree. The problems
and solutions in the troubleshooting tree are updated more frequently than this manual.
Detection problems after installing a parallel SCSI device
Problems encountered after installation are often caused by improper parallel SCSI bus configuration,
application software configuration errors, or an incorrectly configured operating system. If the
application software or operating system does not communicate with the device after installation,
determine the extent of the detection problem:
• Does the application software detect the tape drive?
• Does the application software detect the Autoloader?
• Does the operating system detect the tape drive?
• Does the operating system detect the Autoloader?
• Does the operating system detect the Autoloader, but list it as a generic device?
Based on the extent of the detection problem, check the following:
• If neither the application software nor operating system detects the tape drive, or they do not
detect both the tape drive and the Autoloader:
◦ Check the SCSI ID and change it if necessary. The Autoloader is pre-configured to SCSI
ID 4. Depending on other devices attached to the same parallel SCSI bus and their SCSI
IDs, you may need to change the SCSI ID before using the device. Review the manuals
for the other devices on the parallel SCSI bus or your operating system to determine which
SCSI IDs are currently in use. Change the SCSI ID with the OCP (see Changing the SCSI
address — parallel SCSI devices (Configuration > Change Drive) (page 74)) or RMI (see
Changing the drive configuration (page 49)).
◦ Verify that all parallel SCSI cables are securely connected on both ends. Check the length
86 Troubleshooting
and integrity of your parallel SCSI cabling. Check the parallel SCSI connector for bent
Page 87
pins. The length of the internal parallel SCSI cabling inside the device is 0.5 m (1.6 ft).
This length must be included in any calculations of cable length.
– For LVD SCSI, the maximum length with only a single device on the parallel SCSI
bus is 25 m (82 ft).
– For Ultra 320 or multiple devices on an LVD bus, the maximum combined
internal/external length is 12 m (40 ft).
– If you have a combination of LVD and SE devices on the bus, the maximum cable
length reverts to the SE specification, which for Ultra devices is 3 m (10 ft) for four
or fewer devices, and 1.5 m (5 ft) for more than four devices.
• If the application software or operating system detects the tape drive, but not the Autoloader:
◦ Verify that multiple LUN support is enabled on the HBA. The device uses two Logical Unit
Numbers (LUNs) to control the tape drive (LUN 0) and robotic (LUN 1). The device requires
an HBA with multiple LUN support and multiple LUN support must be enabled on the host
computer. When multiple LUN support is not enabled, the host computer can see the tape
drive, but not the Autoloader.
NOTE: Many RAID or array controllers do not provide multiple LUN support.
• If the application software or operating system does not detect any devices on the HBA:
◦ Verify that your parallel SCSI host adapter is installed correctly. Refer to the manual that
came with your parallel SCSI host adapter for installation and troubleshooting instructions.
Pay particular attention to any steps describing configuration settings. Make sure that the
host adapter is properly seated in the motherboard slot and the operating system correctly
detects the host adapter. Make sure that the proper device driver is installed for the
parallel SCSI host adapter.
• If the Autoloader is detected by the operating system, but not by the application software:
◦ Refer to the documentation included with your backup application for instructions on how
to verify proper installation. Some backup software packages require an additional
module to communicate with the robotics.
• If the Autoloader is detected by the operating system, but is listed as an unknown or generic
device:
◦ Make sure that the proper device driver, if applicable, is installed for the device. Check
your software provider's website for the latest drivers and patches.
NOTE: Many backup applications use their own drivers. Before installing a driver,
make sure it is not in conflict with the application software.
If you continue to have problems with a parallel SCSI Autoloader, check the following:
• Ensure that the device is compatible with the parallel SCSI host adapter and backup application
you plan to use. For a list of compatible parallel SCSI host bus adapters and application
software, check with your parallel SCSI host adapter manufacturer, backup application vendor,
or the HP support website at www.hp.com/go/ebs.
Detection problems after installing a parallel SCSI device 87
Page 88
NOTE: The host bus adapter should be SCSI-3 LVDS. A single-ended parallel SCSI host bus
adapter severely degrades performance. Also, if any SE devices are on the same parallel
SCSI bus, all of the devices on the bus slow down to SE speed, which severely degrades
performance.
The Autoloader is NOT compatible with a standard differential (Diff) or high-voltage differential
(HVD) SCSI bus.
• Verify that your HBA is supported by the host computer and qualified with the Autoloader.
Refer to the EBS matrix at www.hp.com/go/ebs for current HBA compatibility information.
• If one of the ports on the device is not connected to another parallel SCSI device, the port
must be terminated. Only the devices physically located at the beginning and end of the
parallel SCSI bus should be terminated. Refer to the manuals supplied with the other devices
on the parallel SCSI bus for information on enabling or disabling termination on those devices.
◦ To terminate the second parallel SCSI port on the device, locate the terminator in the
accessories package and press it firmly into either of the two parallel SCSI connectors
on the back panel. Secure the terminator by tightening the finger-screws until snug. The
supplied terminator is “dual mode” and works on both Low-Voltage Differential (LVD) and
Single Ended (SE) SCSI buses. Check all parallel SCSI and power connections and confirm
that the unit is attached to a valid SCSI SE or LVDS bus.
Detection problems after installing a SAS device
Problems encountered after installation are often caused by improper SAS cable connections,
application software configuration errors, or an incorrectly configured operating system. If the
application software or operating system does not communicate with the device after installation,
determine the extent of the detection problem:
• Does the application software detect the tape drive?
• Does the application software detect the Autoloader?
• Does the operating system detect the tape drive?
• Does the operating system detect the Autoloader?
• Does the operating system detect the Autoloader, but list it as a generic device?
Based on the extent of the detection problem, check the following:
• If neither the application software nor operating system detects the tape drive, or they do not
detect both the tape drive and the Autoloader:
◦ Verify that all SAS cables are securely connected on both ends. If the mini-SAS connectors
that connect to the tape drive and some HBAs will not plug in, check the key. The mini-SAS
connector on the tape drive is keyed at location four, which is the standard location for
end devices. If the connector on the cable is keyed in a different location, not only will
the connector not plug in, but the cable probably will not work.
◦ Check the length and integrity of your SAS cabling. For reliable operation, do not use a
SAS cable longer than six meters. Do not use a cable adapter or converters between the
HBA and the Autoloader.
◦ Check the SAS connectors for damage or debris.
88 Troubleshooting
Page 89
◦ Verify that your HBA is supported by the host computer and qualified with the Autoloader.
Refer to the EBS matrix at http://www.hp.com/go/ebs for current HBA compatibility
information.
◦ Verify that your HBA has the latest firmware.
• If the application software or operating system detects the tape drive, but not the Autoloader:
◦ Verify that multiple LUN support is enabled on the HBA. The device uses two Logical Unit
Numbers (LUNs) to control the tape drive (LUN 0) and robotic (LUN 1). The device requires
an HBA with multiple LUN support and multiple LUN support must be enabled on the host
computer. When multiple LUN support is not enabled, the host computer can see the tape
drive, but not the Autoloader.
NOTE: Many RAID or array controllers do not provide multiple LUN support.
• If the application software or operating system does not detect any devices on the HBA:
Verify that the SAS host adapter is installed correctly. Refer to the manual that came with
◦
your host adapter for installation and troubleshooting instructions. Pay particular attention
to any steps describing configuration settings. Make sure that the host adapter is properly
seated in the motherboard slot and the operating system correctly detects the host adapter.
◦ Verify that the proper device driver is installed for the SAS host adapter.
• If the Autoloader is detected by the operating system, but not by the application software:
◦ Refer to the documentation included with your backup application for instructions on how
to verify proper installation. Some backup software packages require an additional
module to communicate with the robotics.
• If the Autoloader is detected by the operating system, but is listed as an unknown or generic
device:
◦ Make sure that the proper device driver, if applicable, is installed for the device. Check
your software provider's website for the latest drivers and patches.
NOTE: Many backup applications use their own drivers. Before installing a driver,
make sure it is not in conflict with the application software.
If you continue to have problems with a SAS Autoloader, check the following:
• Ensure that the device is compatible with the SAS host adapter and backup application you
plan to use.
• Verify that your HBA is supported by the host computer and qualified with the Autoloader.
• Ensure you are using a compatible, high-quality cable. See the product QuickSpecs for a list
of supported cables.
Fibre Channel connection problems
Use the Status screen to check the link connection for your tape drive.
Fibre Channel connection problems 89
Page 90
If the screen shows Logged Out:
• Check that the Fibre speed is set to Automatic (on the RMI) or Auto Detect (on the OCP), or
that the correct fibre speed is selected. If you are unsure of the speed of the HBA or switch
that the is connected to, try Automatic (on the RMI) or Auto Detect (on the OCP).
• Check that the correct port type, fabric or loop, is selected. Loop requires additional
configuration. If you are unsure of the correct port type, try Automatic (on the RMI) or Auto
Detect (on the OCP).
If the screen shows No Link, the Speed Status is – and the Link LED on the back of the drive is off:
• The speed is probably set incorrectly. Try setting the speed to Automatic (on the RMI interface)
or Auto Detect (on the OCP).
• If there are still issues, change the port type to Auto Detect.
If the screen shows No Light:
• The cable is not plugged in correctly. Check that it is connected correctly to Port A of the tape
drive.
• The cable is damaged. FC cables are delicate. If the cable has been bent or twisted sharply,
it may be broken and must be replaced.
If the screen shows ALPA Conflict:
• There might be a conflict with the ALPA address on Loop ports. Select Soft for the Loop mode
to allow the system to select an available address each time the tape drive connects to the FC
fabric. If your server configuration does not support changing addresses, try using the Hard
Auto-Select option for the Loop mode. This allows the system to select an available address
when it first connects, and then retain that address for future connections.
Operation problems
Table 18 Power problems
Device does not power on. 1. Check all power cord connections.
No display messages appear. 1. Make sure the power cord is connected.
SolutionProblem
2. Make sure the power button on the front panel has been pressed, and the
green READY LED is lit.
3. Make sure the outlet has power. Try another working outlet.
4. Replace the power cord.
2. Make sure the power button on the front panel has been pressed, and the
green READY LED is lit.
3. Power cycle the device.
4. If the display is still blank but the device seems to be powered on, try to get
the device status or error information from the RMI.
90 Troubleshooting
Page 91
Table 19 Failure/attention indications displayed on the front panel
SolutionProblem
“!” in operator panel inventory
display.
The LCD displays an error code.
Export the data cartridge marked with an ! in the inventory. The cartridge is
either damaged, incompatible with the drive, or the wrong type for the attempted
operation. See Moving tapes in the Autoloader (Operations > Move Tape)
(page 80) for more information.
Look up the error code, try to resolve the failure, and power cycle the device
(see Error codes (page 105)). On the OCP, press Enter to see the error message
for the error code.
Table 20 Tape movement problems
SolutionProblem
Tape stuck in drive.
Try the following steps, in this order, to remove the stuck tape.
NOTE: The tape drive must rewind the tape before ejecting it. This can take
as long as five minutes, depending on how much tape must be rewound. Once
the tape is rewound, the eject cycle will take fewer than 16 seconds.
The READY light flashes while the tape rewinds. Wait for the tape to finish
rewinding before attempting another operation.
1. Attempt to unload the tape from your backup software.
2. Shut down the backup software and stop the operating system's removable
3. Power down the unit, disconnect the cable from the drive, power up the
4. From the OCP, attempt a force eject or emergency unload operation. (See
IMPORTANT: Inspect the tape cartridge that was stuck. Damage or misplaced
labels on the cartridge could have caused the load/unload failure. Discard
any tape cartridge found to have issues.
storage services. From the OCP, attempt to unload or move the tape to a
slot. (See Moving tapes in the Autoloader (Operations > Move Tape)
(page 80).)
unit, and wait until the tape drive is idle or ready. From the OCP, attempt
to unload or move the tape to a slot.
Forcing the drive to eject a tape (Support > Force Drive To Eject Tape)
(page 85).)
To remove a stuck tape from a storage slot:Tape stuck in storage slot.
If the operator control panel or the remote management interface is still
operational:
1. Move the tapes from the drives to the magazines using the Move Tape
command. (See Moving tapes in the Autoloader (Operations > Move Tape)
(page 80).)
2. Use the magazine removal process to release the magazine and remove it
from the device. To use the operator control panel, see Unlocking, removing,
and replacing magazines (Operations > Unlock Left or Right Magazine)
(page 78). To use the RMI, see Releasing and replacing the
magazines (page 59). If neither one of these processes works, see Releasing
the magazines manually (page 104).
3. Manually remove the cartridge from the magazine by inserting a finger in
the hole at the back of the magazine. Some tapes need to be inserted and
removed several times to condition them for free movement in and out of
the magazine.
Operation problems 91
Page 92
Table 21 Media problems
SolutionProblem
Cleaning or data cartridge
incompatible with drive.
Cannot write to or read from tape.
Make sure you are using data and cleaning cartridges that are compatible
with the drive and model of your device (see Tape cartridges (page 30)) and
that you are using the correct cartridge type for the operation. The device
automatically unloads incompatible cartridges, the Attention LED flashes, and
an exclamation point (!) displays in the inventory display for the indicated slot
number. Export the media to clear the state.
• Make sure that the cartridge is not a WORM cartridge that has already
been used.
• Make sure that the cartridge is write enabled (move the write-protect switch
to the enabled position).
• Make sure the data cartridge is compatible with the drive model. LTO tape
drives can read data cartridges from two generations back and write to
data cartridges one generation back. (See Backward read
compatibility (page 33).)
• Make sure you are using an Ultrium cartridge that has not been degaussed.
Do not degauss Ultrium cartridges!
• Make sure that the cartridge has not been exposed to harsh environmental
or electrical conditions and is not physically damaged in any way.
• Many backup applications do not read or write to cartridges that were
created using a different backup application. In this case, you may have to
perform an erase, format, or label operation on the cartridge.
• Make sure you understand any data protection or overwrite protection
schemes that your backup application may be using, which could prevent
you from writing to a given cartridge.
• Retry the operation with a different, known good tape.
• Clean the tape drive. (See Cleaning tape drive (page 62).)
92 Troubleshooting
Page 93
Table 22 Parallel SCSI device not detected
SolutionProblem
Device not detected
Changed drive SCSI ID, but the host
server does not recognize the new ID.
• Check that the HBA supports multiple LUNs and this feature is enabled. If
not, only the tape drive will be detected.
• Check for conflicting SCSI IDs.
• Power on the device before powering on the host computer.
• Make sure the Autoloader does not have the drive off line and that the
Autoloader is not running a test.
• Attach the device to an LVDS SCSI host adapter/bus.
• The parallel SCSI cable length might be too long. Use a shorter cable or
remove other devices from the bus.
• Parallel SCSI bus not properly terminated. See SCSI detection
problems (page 86).
• Check that the device is fully powered up and is not in an error state.
• Check the parallel SCSI connector and terminator for bent pins.
See SCSI detection problems (page 86) for more detailed troubleshooting help.
• Make sure that all parallel SCSI devices on the same bus have unique SCSI
ID numbers.
• Only SCSI IDs 0 through 7 are available on a narrow (50 pin) bus. If the
device is on a narrow bus and has a SCSI ID of 8 or greater, the host server
will not detect the drive. If you must use SCSI IDs 8 or greater, use a wider
bus.
• Reboot the host server.
Table 23 Attention LED is lit
Both the Attention and Cleaning LEDs
are lit.
cleaning light.
A cartridge recently imported from a
different environment is causing issues.
SolutionProblem
This is most likely caused by a dirty drive that cannot read a tape and marks
the tape invalid.
1. View the inventory with the RMI. Note the slots that have tapes marked with
!.
2. Remove any magazines that contain tapes marked with !.
3. Remove the tapes that were marked with !.
4. Inspect each removed tape for damage, check that the tape is compatible
with the drive, and ensure that it is not past its usage life. See Tape
cartridges (page 30). Discard any tapes that are damaged or past their
usage life. Do not use cartridges that are incompatible with the tape drive.
5. Reload the magazines with tapes that have passed inspection and new
tapes to replace cartridges that did not pass inspection.
6. Replace the magazines.
7. Clean the tape drive.
Check the cartridge for contamination by loose debris.A particular cartridge sets off the
Media that is moved from one environment to another can cause issues until it
has acclimated to the new conditions. A cartridge should be acclimated for at
least 24 hours before being used, particularly if it has been stored at a
substantially different temperature or level of humidity than the device.
Operation problems 93
Page 94
Table 23 Attention LED is lit (continued)
SolutionProblem
The Attention LED is lit but the
Cleaning LED is not lit after a cartridge
load.
The Cleaning LED is lit after using a
cleaning cartridge.
A particular cartridge sets off the
Attention LED and possibly the
Cleaning LED.
The Autoloader was unable to complete the requested operation with the
selected tape cartridge.
• Use only cartridges that are compatible with the drive type (see Tape
cartridges (page 30)).
• Use the correct type of cartridges for the operation. For example, use a
cleaning cartridge for cleaning.
• Make sure you are using an Ultrium Universal cleaning cartridge (see Tape
cartridges (page 30)).
The cleaning cartridge is expired. A cleaning cartridge will expire after 50
cleaning cycles.
If the Media Attention LED is cleared and the drive has been cleaned, and then
immediately re-displays each time a particular cartridge is reloaded, that
cartridge should be suspected as being defective.
• If this occurs, export the cartridge and load a known good cartridge. In
some cases, a cartridge can be worn out, have a defective Cartridge
Memory, or have been formatted as a Firmware Upgrade Cartridge.
• Any cartridge that is suspected of being defective or contaminated should
NOT be reused in any drive.
• If the bad cartridge is a cleaning cartridge, it might be expired.
94 Troubleshooting
Page 95
Table 24 Inventory problems
SolutionProblem
The inventory labels the cartridge Full
instead of showing its bar code
The inventory process takes a long
time
• Verify that the label is an HP label. The bar code reader might not be able
to read other labels.
• Verify that the label is properly applied. See Labeling and loading the tape
cartridges (page 28).
• Verify that the label is not soiled.
Apply high-quality HP labels to all tape cartridges. During the inventory process,
the bar code reader attempts to read the bar code on the cartridge or the bar
code on the back of the storage slot until it identifies the cartridge or determines
that the slot is empty. The reader can usually identify a properly-labeled cartridge
the first time, while determining that an unlabeled cartridge is in a storage slot
can take four times as long.
Table 25 RMI network connection issues
SolutionProblem
Cannot connect to the remote
management interface (RMI)
• Verify that the device is connected to the LAN with a CAT 5E, 6, or 6E
Ethernet cable.
• Verify that the link LED on the RJ45 (LAN) connector is lit when the device
is powered up. If the LED is not lit, the device is not communicating with the
LAN. See your network administrator for help.
• Verify that the device has been configured with a valid static network address
or DHCP has been enabled so the device can obtain a network address. If
using DHCP, write down the device's network address from the OCP
Information menu. If the device did not obtain a valid address via DHCP,
verify that the DHCP server is up and the device has network access to it. If
necessary, set a static network address instead.
• Enter the device's IP address into the address bar of a web browser
connected to the same LAN as the device. If the RMI web page does not
display, ping the device's IP address. If the ping fails, verify that the device
has a valid network address and that there are no firewalls or other
obstructions to network traffic between the computer with the web browser
and the device. See your network administrator for help.
Table 26 Cleaning problems
Cannot load the cleaning cartridge.
Performance problems
TIP: For more performance troubleshooting information, see the Performance Troubleshooting
Guide at www.hp.com/support/pat.
The process of backing up files goes through many devices, from the files in the file system on the
disk, through the backup server, and out to the Autoloader, all managed by software running on
an operating system. The backup process can only run as fast of the slowest link in this chain.
SolutionProblem
• Make sure you are using an Ultrium Universal cleaning cartridge (see Tape
cartridges (page 30)).
• Make sure the cleaning cartridge has not expired. A cleaning cartridge will
expire after 50 cleaning cycles.
• Contact your service representative.
Performance problems 95
Page 96
To find the performance bottlenecks in your system, check the specifications and performance of
the:
• Average file size (page 96)
• File system type (page 96)
• Connection from the host server to the disks (page 97)
• Operating system configuration (page 100)
• Backup server (page 101)
• Backup type (page 101)
• Connection from the host server to the device (page 102)
• Media (page 103)
Average file size
The hard drive must seek to the position of a file before it can start reading. The more time the
disks are seeking to files, the lower the performance.
To determine the average file size, divide the size of the backup by the number of files. See the
performance impact of your system's average file size in Table 27 (page 96).
Table 27 Performance impact of various file sizes
RecommendationsPerformance impactAverage file size
<64 k: small files
64 k – 1 mb: medium
files
>1 mb: large files
Image or sequential
backup
File system type
The file system determines the organization of the files on the disks. When the files are spread
over multiple disks with multiple controllers, some disks can be seeking while others are reading.
Find the performance impact of your system's file system in Table 28 (page 97)
POOR. Lots of small files require the disk to
perform many random accesses instead of a
continuous read.
NEUTRAL. Performance accessing
medium-sized files should be okay. The disks
will still need to do a fair number of random
accesses.
and spend more time doing continuous reads.
sequential backups.
• If possible, do NOT use a file-by-file
backup method.
• For backups with an average file size <64
k, HP recommends using a
sequential/image backup that backs up
the hard drive or LUN image instead of
the individual files.
The drawback with the sequential/image
backup method is that you might only be able
to restore the entire disk image and not
individual files. If you can restore individual
files, the restore operation will be very slow.
No change is necessary but using a
sequential backup method, such as an image
backup, could offer some performance gains.
See above for drawbacks.
None.GOOD. Large files let the disk do less seeking
None.None. File size is irrelevant for Image or
96 Troubleshooting
Page 97
Table 28 Performance impact of various file systems
RecommendationsPerformance impactFile system
Disk array
excellent access to data. They usually
include many disks, which improves
bandwidth.
Server or workstation
with RAID
Server or workstation
with a single disk
(spindle) drives, or use concurrency or multithreading in the
VARIABLE. RAID uses a group of disks
to improve performance, and in the case
of RAID 5, provides some parity
protection in case one of the drives fail.
POOR. A single disk cannot retrieve or
write data fast enough for any of the
supported tape drives.
None.GOOD. Disk arrays typically provide
To achieve optimal performance, your array must
support the following transfer rate:
• LTO-2 HH: 48 MB/s
• LTO-3 HH: 120 MB/s
• LTO-4 HH: 160 MB/s
• LTO-5: 280 MB/s
Also, make sure that the server or workstation is
used as little as possible during the backup, and
close down programs such as virus scanners,
which check each file that is opened.
Upgrade to a disk array or RAID 5 with the
minimum number of disks needed for your tape
backup software to pull from more than one disk
at a time. The drawback with concurrency or
multithreading is that it slows the restore operation.
Also, make sure that the server or workstation is
used as little as possible during the backup, and
close down programs such as virus scanners,
which check each file that is opened.
Connection from the host server to the disks
The connection between the host server and the disks determines how much data can be transferred
from the disks to the host computer at a time. A connection with insufficient bandwidth cannot
provide enough data for the tape drives to write at full speed. Find the performance impact of your
system's disk connection in Table 29 (page 98).
Performance problems 97
Page 98
Table 29 Performance impact of various disk connections
RecommendationsPerformance impactConnection type
Fibre: 1 Gb
Fibre: 2 Gb
Fibre: 4 Gb
• LTO-2: GOOD. When fully used, a 1 Gb fibre
connection can provide enough bandwidth for two
LTO-2 tape drives.
• LTO-3, LTO-4, LTO-5: POOR. A 1 Gb fibre
connection is inadequate for an LTO-3, LTO-4, or
LTO-5 tape drive.
• LTO-2: GOOD. When fully used, a 2 Gb fibre
connection can provide enough bandwidth for 4
LTO-2 tape drives.
• LTO-3: GOOD. When fully used, a 2 Gb fibre
connection can provide enough bandwidth for an
LTO-3 tape drive.
• LTO-4 HH: GOOD. When fully used, a 2 Gb fibre
connection can provide enough bandwidth for an
LTO-4 HH tape drive.
• LTO-5: POOR. A 2 Gb fibre connection is
inadequate for an LTO-5 tape drive.
GOOD. When fully used, a 4 Gb fibre connection can
provide enough bandwidth for the following number
of tape drives:
• LTO-2: 8
• LTO-3 HH: 4
• LTO-4 HH: 2
• LTO-5: 1
For good performance, use a faster
connection with LTO-3, LTO-4, and
LTO-5 tape drives.
For good performance, use a faster
connection if you have multiple LTO-3
or LTO-4 tape drives, or an LTO-5 tape
drive.
Fibre: 8 Gb
SAS: 3 Gb
SAS: 6 Gb
GOOD. When fully used, an 8 Gb fibre connection
can provide enough bandwidth for the following
number of tape drives:
• LTO-2: 16
• LTO-3 HH: 6
• LTO-4 HH: 3
• LTO-5: 2
GOOD. When fully used, a 3 Gb high-performance
RAID array can support up to the following number of
tape drives:
• LTO-2: 10
• LTO-3, LTO-4: 6
• LTO-5: 3
GOOD. When fully used, an 6 Gb high-performance
RAID array can support up to the following number of
tape drives:
• LTO-2: 20
• LTO-3, LTO-4: 12
• LTO-5: 2
98 Troubleshooting
Page 99
Table 29 Performance impact of various disk connections (continued)
RecommendationsPerformance impactConnection type
Parallel SCSI: Ultra
320
Parallel SCSI: Ultra
160
• LTO-2: GOOD. When fully used and assuming that
the connection to the disks does not force the speed
to a lower parallel SCSI type, an Ultra 320
connection can provide enough bandwidth for five
LTO-2 tape drives.
• LTO-3, LTO-4: GOOD. When fully used and
assuming that the connection to the disks does not
force the speed to a lower parallel SCSI type, an
Ultra 320 connection ban provide enough
bandwidth for a single LTO-3 or LTO-4 tape drive.
• LTO-5: POOR. An Ultra 320 connection is
inadequate for an LTO-5 tape drive.
• LTO-2: GOOD. When fully used and assuming that
the connection to the disks does not force the speed
to a lower parallel SCSI type, an Ultra 160
connection can provide enough bandwidth for two
LTO-2 tape drives.
• LTO-3: MARGINAL. An Ultra 160 connection is
barely adequate for an LTO-3 tape drive. The bus
would be saturated when providing 2:1
compressible data to an LTO-3 tape drive.
• LTO-4 HH: MARGINAL. An Ultra 160 connection is
barely adequate for an LTO-4 HH tape drive. The
bus would be saturated when providing 2:1
compressible data to an LTO-4 HH tape drive.
• LTO-5: POOR. An Ultra 160 connection is
inadequate for an LTO-5 tape drive.
If cables not designed for Ultra 320
speeds are used or there are more
than a couple devices on the bus, the
bus may slow down to Ultra 160
speeds.
Upgrade to Ultra 320 for parallel SCSI
disk drives when using an LTO-3 or
LTO-4 tape drive, especially if your
data is greater than 2:1 compressible.
Parallel SCSI: Ultra 2
(80)
Parallel SCSI: Ultra
Wide, Fast Wide
Ethernet: 10 Gigabit
• LTO-2: MARGINAL. When fully used and assuming
that the connection to the disks does not force the
speed to a lower parallel SCSI type, an Ultra 2 (80)
connection barely provides enough bandwidth for
an LTO-2 tape drive.
• LTO-3, LTO-4, LTO-5: POOR. An Ultra 2(80)
connection is inadequate for an LTO-3, LTO-4, or
LTO-5 tape drive.
POOR. Ultra Wide and Fast Wide are inadequate
transport mechanism for LTO tape drives.
GOOD. When fully used, a 10 Gigabit Ethernet
connection can provide enough bandwidth for the
following number of tape drives:
• LTO-2: 14
• LTO-3 HH: 5
• LTO-4 HH: 4
• LTO-5: 2
Upgrade to Ultra 320 for parallel SCSI
disk drives when using an LTO-3 or
LTO-4 tape drive.
Upgrade to a faster transport medium,
such as Ultra 320 SCSI.
Performance problems 99
Page 100
Table 29 Performance impact of various disk connections (continued)
RecommendationsPerformance impactConnection type
Ethernet: 1 Gigabit
Ethernet: 100 Base T,
10 Base T
Internal disks on
backup server
• LTO-2: MARGINAL. A 1 Gigabit Ethernet connection
barely provides enough bandwidth for an LTO-2
tape drive when two concurrent streams are used.
The drawback of using concurrency is that restore
operations take longer.
• LTO-3, LTO-4, LTO-5: POOR. A 1 Gigabit Ethernet
connection is inadequate for an LTO-3, LTO-4, or
LTO-5 tape drive.
POOR. 100 Base T and 10 Base T Ethernet do not have
enough bandwidth to support any of the drives and
would require too many streams to make concurrency
practical.
POOR. Add-in RAID controllers, RAID on a chip (ROC),
RAID on the mother board (ROMB), internal parallel
SCSI, and internal IDE (non-RAID) are inadequate
transport mechanisms for LTO tape drives.
Operating system configuration
The operating system configuration and other programs running on the host computer can impact
the ability of the host computer to transfer files from the disks to the tape drive.
Windows
To improve backup performance and improve SAN stability, shutdown and disable the Windows
Removable Storage Manager unless the backup software requires it:
1. From the Windows start menu, select Control Panel.
2. In the Control Panel, select Administrative Tools.
3. In the Administrative Tools, select Services.
4. In Services, right-click Removable Storage and select Stop. The Status should be blank as
shown in Figure 63 (page 100).
Upgrade to Fibre Channel or 10 Gig
Ethernet if using LTO-3, LTO-4, or
LTO-5 tape drives.
Upgrade to Gigabit Ethernet or Fibre
Channel.
Use a dedicated disk array or
upgrade to RAID 5.
Figure 63 Removable Storage service
5. Right-click Removable Storage again and select Properties.
6. Change the Startup type to Disabled and click OK.
Stop as many programs as possible while a backup or restore is in progress. Be especially aware
of monitoring applications, such as anti-virus software, which check every file that is read. If you
100 Troubleshooting
Loading...