Sun Microsystems StorageTek StreamLine SL8500, System Assurance Manual

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E24254-01 203
H
Partitioning
The definition of a partition according to the Merriam–Webster dictionary is:
1. to divide into parts or shares.
2. to separate or divide by a partition, such as a wall.

In computing, many people are familiar with hard disk drive partitioning to
create several logical divisions on the same hard drive. This separation
allows administrators to apply different operating system functions, files,
and formatting to the same physical hard drive. In layman’s terms,
partitioning a hard drive makes it appear to be more than one hard drive.
The SL8500 Modular Library System now provides the ability to partition the
library—within hardware boundaries—to support from one to four physical
partitions.
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Purpose
Partitioning the SL8500 library means the customer can have:
• More than one operating system and application manage the library.
• An improvement in the protection or isolation of files.
• An increase in system and library performance.
• A higher level of data organization.
• An increase in user efficiency.
Partitions may be customized to fit different requirements, for example:
- allowing for special partitions to protect or archive data
- enabling multiple organizations, companies, or departments access
- isolating clients (such as for service centers)
- separating different encryption key groups
- dedicating partitions as test systems for new technologies or data
migration to new tape drives
This appendix:
• Contains guidelines and essential elements for SL8500 partitions.
• Provides templates to help plan the partitioning of the library.
• Describes how to license and enable the partitioning feature.
• Shows how to partition the rails in the library.
• Describes how to override reserved cartridge access ports (CAPs)