HP SSL1016 User Manual

QuickSpecs

HP StorageWorks Library and Tape Tools

HP StorageWorks Library and Tape ToolsHP StorageWorks Library and Tape Tools

Overview

HP StorageWorks Library and Tape Tools (L&TT) is a free, robust diagnostic tool for all of HP's tape storage and magneto-optical storage products.

Targeted for a wide range of users, it is ideal for customers who want to verify their installation, ensure product reliability, perform their own diagnostics and achieve faster resolution of tape device issues.

L&TT performs firmware upgrades, verification of device operation, failure analysis and a range of utility functions. Performance tools assist in troubleshooting bottlenecks and system configuration checks warn of common host issues. It also provides seamless integration with HP support by generating and e-mailing test results and support tickets.

HP Support will require the use of L&TT to troubleshoot most device issues, so it is recommended that a support ticket is pulled and the device assessment test is run before calling.

Operating systems currently supported include HP-UX, Microsoft® Windows®, Linux, OpenVMS and Solaris.

Features & Benefits

Features & BenefitsFeatures & Benefits

Free, easy to install and easy to use diagnostic tool

Downloaded and installed from HP.com ( Intuitive user interface requires no customer training Choose between local installation or running from a remote installation, CD or memory stick

Reduce product downtime through preventative maintenance, fast issue diagnosis with corrective actions

Automated, smart firmware downloads, updates and notifications Comprehensive device analysis and troubleshooting tests First level failure analysis of both the device and system without HP involvement Troubleshoot system performance issues through the use of analysis tools Identify the most common host system configuration issues Provides a direct link to the ITRC web-based troubleshooting content

Seamless integration with HP's hardware support organization

Generate and e-mail support tickets to the support center for faster service and support Provides an all-inclusive source of device information for HP support center

Get the most out of your device through access to operational, health and usage data in the support ticket

Drive health, life, usage, utilization, performance Media health, life, usage (Ultrium only) Backup quality (Ultrium only)

http://www.hp.com/support/tapetools

) in less than five minutes

What's New

What's NewWhat's New

L&TT is frequently updated and developed to:

Support all of HP's latest tape storage products including the virtual tape D2D and VLS devices Run on the latest versions of the most commonly used operating systems Provide the most effective support and diagnostics for these products in the industry

For details of new features in any particular release, please refer to the release notes located with the L&TT download on HP's support web pages or in the L&TT user guide.

It is highly recommended that the latest version of L&TT is used at all times as the support of even older products can benefit from improvements in the latest releases of the tool.

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QuickSpecs

Product Highlights

HP StorageWorks Library

HP StorageWorks LibraryHP StorageWorks Library and Tape Tools

and Tape Tools

and Tape Toolsand Tape Tools

Automatic device

Automatic deviceAutomatic device discovery

discovery

discoverydiscovery

Device Identification &

Device Identification &Device Identification & Listing

Listing

ListingListing

L&TT download location:

L&TT automatically scans the system for supported devices when the tool is started. By default, only the current number of devices found is displayed during the I/O scan. Additional information such as host adapters, drivers, and matching of embedded drives to the associated library can also be shown during the scan process. Scan results can be saved in an event log and attached to a support ticket email if necessary.

L&TT identifies and displays a list of all products connected to the system by product group or by connection. Tabs allow the user to toggle between the following commands in this area of the main screen: scan, by product, by connection, and instructions.

By product displays four categories: libraries/autoloaders, drives, enclosures/processors, and other devices; all with the specific device address. By connection shows all products connect to the system by the HBA they are connected to; aids in understanding system I/O performance issues.

HP StorageWorks Library and Tape Tools

HP StorageWorks Library and Tape ToolsHP StorageWorks Library and Tape Tools

http://www.hp.com/support/tapetools

Device Information

Device InformationDevice Information Screen

Screen

ScreenScreen

Firmware from Web

Firmware from WebFirmware from Web

Firmware Management

Firmware ManagementFirmware Management

All of the main functions of L&TT are displayed in this window. The content of the window depends on the device and tool function selected. Device information may include a visual presentation of the product, compatible media, and cartridge (media) inventory for all the drives and slots. General product information such as product ID, drive technology, mechanism serial number, firmware revision, SCSI target ID, and SCSI LUN will also be displayed.

If 'check for updates on Web' is enabled in the preferences menu, L&TT will automatically look for new firmware files for each supported device on the system when the application is run. If files are found, the application will ask the user if they should be downloaded to the application. By default, the latest firmware files for the devices on the system will be shown. L&TT will scan the local firmware folder and if the latest versions are not present, it will automatically select them for download. Users then perform the standard firmware update function to perform the actual update to each device.

This L&TT functionality allows easy upgrades to the storage product firmware. By default, the tool will select all of the devices that have newer revisions of firmware in the L&TT firmware file folder. L&TT automatically matches the appropriate firmware files to each storage device. If multiple versions of firmware are available, selection boxes can be used to select the desired file. All drives are downloaded in parallel to reduce update time. All firmware update processes provide final results which can be saved in an events log and sent to HP support if necessary.

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QuickSpecs

Product Highlights

Performance Tools

Performance ToolsPerformance Tools

Test Functions

Test FunctionsTest Functions

Effects of poor system performance can range from increased mechanical wear to missed backup windows. There may also be increased cleaning requests or reduced media life due to multiple passes of the media over the tape drive head. This all leads to decreased customer satisfaction. L&TT offers users a variety of performance analysis tools to identify where bottlenecks may exist in a system. These tools will help assess the system allowing the user to:

Verify that the tape drive operates at specified transfer rates Verify that the disk subsystem can provide data that fast Verify that the disk subsystem can accept restored data at the expected rates

L&TT provides several standard and advanced tests that can be used to check the performance of or to diagnose issues with storage hardware. After each test is run, test results can be reviewed and are included in the application's event log. A user may perform the following tests on libraries and autoloaders:

Device Self Test (internal self-test of the device) Device Analysis Test (analysis of the device logs) Library Exerciser Test (exercise the robotics and robot drive hardware) Library Read Write Test (exercise the robotics and drives together) Media IDs Test (link media cartridge ID to barcode)

HP StorageWorks Library and Tape Tools

HP StorageWorks Library and Tape ToolsHP StorageWorks Library and Tape Tools

Support Tickets

Support TicketsSupport Tickets

System Configuration

System ConfigurationSystem Configuration Checking

Checking

CheckingChecking

A user may perform the following tests on drives:

Tape Drive Assessment Test (15 minute comprehensive health check) Media Assessment Test (comprehensive media health check for Ultrium) Device Self Test (internal self-test of the device) Device Analysis Test (analysis of the device logs) Connectivity (ability of the host to communicate with the device) Media Validation (determine quality of the media) Read/Write (verify the ability of the drive to read/write data independent of the storage application) - superseded by the Assessment Test

L&TT will automatically generate a support ticket based on information that the application determines about the system. This information can be used to diagnose the issues with the storage hardware. The tool can automatically email the support ticket to the HP service and support organization to assist the help desk technician in resolving the issues. Browser links to common HP Web sites are also provided.

Support tickets can also be used to find out operational and usage information from the device. Ultrium, in particular, has a very useful support ticket categorized into user friendly sections rather than basic device logs.

Checks the configuration of the server that L&TT is running on for services such as RSM (Windows) that should not be running during backups. Also checks driver versions and Insight Manager agents giving warnings if issues are found.

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