Sun Microsystems StorageTek T9840, User'S Reference Manual

Page: 44 / 110

Front Panel
42 T9840 User’s Reference Manual • September 2008 Revision YA • 95739
Display
The operator panel has a 10 segment, alphanumeric display that indicates:
■
Drive status
■
Menu selections and configuration choices
■
Error messages and fault symptom codes
■
Host-generated messages
■
Tape bar, if activated
The display is formed by a horizontal array of 10 segments. Each segment is formed by
an array of 35 dots—five wide and seven high (
FIGURE 2-2 on page 43
). Each array can
form an uppercase or lowercase alpha character, a numerical digit, or a special
character, such as an asterisk (*). When the tape bar is not activated, the lighted
segments and dots form text messages. The text messages may display steadily,
flashing, or alternating with other messages.
Tape Bar
The tape bar uses the operator panel display to show the amount of tape that has been
written and read. The tape bar is a configuration option that must be activated by
authorized service personnel. Once activated, it appears on the operator panel display
when the drive is reading or writing.
When the tape bar is activated, the segments and dots simultaneously show the
percentage of the total tape length that has been written and read. Each dot represents
2% of the tape length; each segment represents 10%.
Note – The tape bar gets its information from the media information region (MIR) on
the tape. The MIR is written to the tape when the tape is unloaded. If the MIR is bad,
the tape bar does not display. To rewrite the MIR, see
“Build MIR” on page 77 .
Write Bar
As data is written to tape, the lighted dots forming the write bar appear at the left side
of the display and advance to the right. The write bar uses the full height of the display.
As the dots fill the display, note that only every other dot is lighted. The point where
the write bar ends is the percentage of tape written.
Read Bar
As data is read from the tape, the read bar appears in the center of the write bar as a
single row of unlighted dots. This row is bordered above and below by single rows of
lighted dots. The read bar also begins at the left side of the display and advances to the
right. The point where the read bar ends is the percentage of tape that has been read.
FIGURE 2-2 on page 43
is a simplified and an actual view of a tape bar that shows a tape
that is 50% written and 34% read.