Device characteristics
Refer to the IBM TS1120 Tape Drive and Controller 3592 Models J1A, E05, J70, and C06 Introduction and
Planning Guide for program support and physical characteristics.
Refer to the IBM 3592 Model E07/E08, EH7/EH8, 55F, and 60F Tape Drive Knowledge Center at https://
www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/STPRH6/com.ibm.storage.drives.doc/jag_ichome.html for 3592
Models E07/E08, EH7/EH8, 55F, and 60F program support and physical characteristics.
Fibre Channel connectivity
The 3592 drive can be direct-attached to various host systems by one or two Fibre Channel ports . The
3592 tape drive support also is available for AIX, UNIX, or numerous other hosts with one or both ports of
the Fibre Channel.
The drive end of a Fibre Channel uses only an LC-type of connection. To choose the cable-type feature
code you need, determine the type of attachment on the other end of the cable for the connection you
make. See “Fibre Channel cabling examples” on page 178 for cable feature codes.
Fibre addressing
The 3592 tape drive must have a fibre address to communicate over the Fibre Channel interface. The
3592 tape drive allows both hard and soft addressing. Most fibre hosts (initiators) support hard
addressing and do not support soft addressing. Have the customer refer to their device driver
documentation for information.
Note: Soft addressing is not recommended.
Selecting the hard addressing option allows assignment of the drive selection of the Arbitrated Loop
Physical Address (AL_PA). The higher the number, the lower the priority. Most hosts have the lowest
AL_PA number (highest priority) and the drives have a higher AL_PA (lower priority). When multiple drives
are connected in an arbitrated loop, the drive closest to the host has a lower AL_PA number (higher
priority) than the next drive. Follow this protocol through the loop.
The soft address feature allows the drive to arbitrate the AL_PA number with other fibre devices. When a
device is shared between different systems, be certain that two hosts do not attempt to use the same
drive at the same time.
Fibre Channel worldwide identification (names)
Each Fibre Channel card has four names (Node 0, Node 1, Port 0, and Port 1) that are hardcoded into the
electronics of the card. These names are similar to a serial number and are unique throughout the world.
Some customer Fibre Channel networks that have switches with the “zoning” function uses these names,
in addition to using the port addresses for communications between the host and the drive.
When a 3592 drive is installed, the person that is installing the drive configures it by using the service
panel. The worldwide node names and port names (addresses) are stored in Vital Product Data (VPD).
These addresses can be changed from the service panel.
It is important to update the VPD whenever FRUs are replaced. A FRU-replacement drive canister must be
updated with this information from the removed drive - the WWID, AL_PA, Serial Number, and other
configuration data for both fibre ports. This procedure is performed as part of the steps outlined in “FID
85: Drive canister” on page 252 in Chapter 8.
Attention: If Fibre Channel VPD data is lost, customers must reconfigure their entire fibre network
to accommodate a replacement drive.
The VPD is updated during the following scenarios.
• Error Log is updated
• Drive configuration is changed through the service panel while in CE Mode
• Drive canister FRU is replaced and VPD was updated
24 IBM 3592 TS1140, TS1150, TS1155, and TS1160 Tape Drives: Maintenance Information
