Sun Microsystems Enterprise Tape Library 7/3500, Field Service Manual

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2 Sun Enterprise Tape Library 7/3500 Field Service Manual • July 1997
Library Description
The ETL 7/3500 Library (
FIGURE 1-1
) is the automated storage and retrieval
component of an automated tape library system. It contains up to seven DLT™7000
tape drives and can store a maximum of 96 Digital Linear Tape cartridges in a fixed
storage array (FSA). An operator-accessible load port at the front of the library can
hold an additional four tape cartridges for a maximum total of 100.
A host computer communicates with the library through a SCSI interface using the
SCSI-2 medium changer command set. In a typical operation, the host commands
the robotics to transfer tape cartridges between storage bins (in the FSA), tape
drives, or the load port. Each time a tape cartridge is transferred, a gripping
mechanism is moved to the tape cartridge location where it “picks” the tape
cartridge, moves it to the designated (new) location, and then “places” it.
Supported Tape Drives and Cartridges
The ETL 7/3500 Library is capable of supporting up to seven DLT™7000 tape drives.
The library is also capable of supporting the
CompacTape III and CompacTape IV
cartridges, which are dark gray and black, respectively.
Caution – DO NOT USE
CompacTape I
,
CompacTape II
or
CompacTape IIIXT
tape
cartridges in this library.
ETL 7/3500 Library Numbering Conventions
FIGURE 1-2
shows the numbering convention for the 100-cartridge library's fixed
storage array bins, load port bins, and tape drives. This numbering convention is
used in the diagnostic software and the library menu mode, which is viewed in the
status display area of the control panel.