Quantum VolServ Overview User Manual

VolServ

®

Overview

VolServ Version 5.2

November 2003

6-01001-01 Rev A

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trademarks of ADIC, Advanced Digital Information Corporation. DAS is a trademark of
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NOTES

Command Reference

Preface

Purpose of This Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-3

Who Should Read This Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-3

How This Book is Organized . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-3

Conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P-4

Introduction 1

Media Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-3

Conforms to Industry Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-4

Storage Area Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-5

Computer Platform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-5

Libraries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-5

Drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-6

Media Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-6

Label Printers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-7

Connectivity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-8

Required Personnel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-9

System Administrator Tasks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-9

Library Operator Tasks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-10

Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-11

GUI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-11

Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-11

API . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-11

VolServ Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-12

VolServ Console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-12

6-01001-01 Rev A Contents i

Command Reference

Library Console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-15

System Log Console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-17

Message Logging Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-18

Client Application Tasks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-20

Client Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-21

Configuration Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-23

Query Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-23

How VolServ Works 2

Centralized Media Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-3

MediaClass Grouping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-4

Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-4

Media Migration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-4

Scenario . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-5

Associated Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-5

Drive Pool Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-6

Logical Grouping of Drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-7

Scenario . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-7

Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-8

Media and Drive Mounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-8

Technical Support 3

Phone Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-3

Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-3

Solutions Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-3

Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-4

ii Contents 6-01001-01 Rev A

Command Reference

Online Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-4

Using the Reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-4

Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-5

Related Publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-6

Contact Publications Department . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-6

Secured Web Site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-6

6-01001-01 Rev A Contents iii

Command Reference

iv Contents 6-01001-01 Rev A

Preface

Purpose of This Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P-3

Who Should Read This Book. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P-3

How This Book is Organized . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P-3

Conventions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P-4

P

Preface

VolServ Overview

NOTES

P-2 Preface 6-01001-01 Rev A

VolServ Overview

Preface

Purpose of This Book

Who Should Read This Book

How This Book is Organized

This book provides an introduction or high-level summary of
VolServ, which manages media and volumes contained within
both automated and manual libraries.

This book is written for prospective customers as well as the
system administrator who will be using and maintaining
VolServ.

This book contains the following chapters:
Chapter 1: Introduction — Describes the storage area

network, connectivity, personnel tasks, and operations
performed with VolServ.

Chapter 2: How VolServ Works — Describes centralized
media management and database maintenance.

Chapter 3: Technical Support — Technical support available
to you.

Glossary — Defines terms.

6-01001-01 Rev A Preface P-3

VolServ Overview

Conventions

The conventions used throughout the VolServ technical books
are listed below:

Convention Example

Screen text, file names, program names, and
commands are in Courier font.

The root prompt is shown as a number
symbol.

What you should type in is shown in Courier
bold font.

Site-specific variables are in a Times italics
font.

A backward slash ( \ ) denotes the input is
continued onto the next line; the printed page
is just not wide enough to accommodate the
line.

Pressing <Return> after each command is
assumed.

Request to add a new volume:
Volume group will be “20”
Volume position will be “A123”.

# su root

vsarchiveqry

tar -xvf tapedevicename

#

remsh nodename -n dd if=/dev \

/tapedevicename/bs=20b | tar xvfb \

- 20

(You should type the entire command witho ut
the backward slash.)

A menu name with an arrow refers to a
sequence of menus.

P-4 Preface 6-01001-01 Rev A

Config-->MediaType-->Redefine

NOTES

Preface

VolServ Overview

6-01001-01 Rev A Preface P-5

VolServ Overview

NOTES

P-6 Preface 6-01001-01 Rev A

Media Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-3

Conforms to Industry Standards . . . . . . . . . . 1-4

Storage Area Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5

Computer Platform. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-5

1

Libraries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-5

Drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-6

Label Printers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-7

Connectivity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8

Required Personnel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9

System Administrator Tasks . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-9

Library Operator Tasks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10

Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-11

GUI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11

Commands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-11

API. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11

VolServ Operations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12

VolServ Console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12

Library Console. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15

System Log Console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17

Client Application Tasks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20

Client Commands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-21

Introduction

Introduction

VolServ Overview

Roadmap

Topic

Refer To

Chapter

Introduction 1
How VolServ works 2
Technical support available to you 3
Glossary

1-2 Introduction 6-01001-01 Rev A

VolServ Overview

Media Management

The VolServ system is a combination of hardware and software
components that provide for UNIX-based hierarchal media
management. This architecture allows you to combine various
modules to satisfy differing data storage requirements.
Depending on the configuration you select, your system storage
capability can range from one to over 100 terabytes.

VolServ provides:

• Centralized management of storage media.

• Control of storage media architectures.

• Automation of mounting and dismounting media into
recording devices.

• Management services for media and drives for multiple
media types and multiple drive types.

VolServ controls and tracks the movement of all media under its
control. This includes media movement within robotic libraries,
media movement to and from storage bins, and media
movement to and from recording devices.

Introduction

VolServ also provides automatic media migration between
different libraries to ensure transparent movement of media
between all levels of storage. The source and destination
libraries must support the same media types as the media
undergoing migration. In addition, these libraries must be
associated with the MediaClass groups to which the media
belong. Source and destination libraries can be either robotic or
manual. An example of migration between libraries is when
media moves from a robotic library to a manual library because
the robotic library is full.

6-01001-01 Rev A Introduction 1-3

VolServ Overview

Conforms to Industry Standards

Because VolServ conforms to the concepts of the Institute of
Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Mass Storage
Reference Model, it can readily adapt to future innovations in
media storage architecture.

Currently, VolServ supports a large range of configurations
from networks of workstations to large supercomputers. It is
flexible enough to interface with several types of file serving
software and services a wide variety of robotic and manual
libraries.

1-4 Introduction 6-01001-01 Rev A

VolServ Overview

Storage Area Network

The storage area network consists of a UNIX server, storage
libraries, drives, and label printers as shown in the illustration
below:

VolServ
Server

Label

Printer

Library

Drives

Library

Library

Consoles

Introduction

Computer Platform

Libraries

The computer platform is the host computer for VolServ, and is
currently implemented on Solaris and IRIX platforms.

Storage libraries provide the location for the media, as well as
the structures to support the storage drives. A mass storage
system often includes a combination of robotic and manual
libraries that house several media types. A robot or an operator
delivers the media to the storage drives. A library recognizes
media by external barcode labels or by location.

6-01001-01 Rev A Introduction 1-5

VolServ Overview

Drives

The client application uses drives to store and to retrieve data
from selected media. VolServ allocates drives for the client
application to use and controls the movement of media into and
out of the drives. The client application controls the Read/Write
activities and the release of the media from the drive after the
data is processed.

The client application provides the VolServ system with a
media name or Media Class group and a drive or a drive pool.
The system completes the activity and notifies the client
application when a media is mounted or moved.

Media Types VolServ supports the types of media listed in the table below.

For a current list, contact your VolServ sales representative.

• 4 mm tapes

• 8 mm tapes

• 3480 tapes

• 3490 tapes

• 3490E tapes

• 9840 tapes

• Advanced Intelligent Tape (AIT)

• Digital Linear Tape (DLT) including CTIII and CTIV

• D-2, D-3 digital tapes

• DTF, DTF-2 tapes

• LTO (linear tape-open technology) tapes

• MO5.25 magneto optical

1-6 Introduction 6-01001-01 Rev A

• NCTP (next compatible tape product) tapes

• RF5.25 optical

• ST-120 tapes

VolServ Overview

Label Printers

VolServ uses barcode labels to organize media in the various
libraries. All robotic libraries include a machine-readable
barcode scanner. Each media must have an acceptable barcode
label when it enters the system. VolServ can operate with
preprinted labels or it can use the label making facilities of the
software and an attached barcode label printer.

Media can also use a human-readable label that is separate from
the barcode to provide the correct row, column, shelf, and bin.
These labels can be preprinted or made on an attached label
printer.

Introduction

6-01001-01 Rev A Introduction 1-7