Tandberg Data Storage Library T128, User Manual

Page: 75 / 192

Tandberg StorageLibrary T128 User’s Guide 63
Changing the Tape Drive Mode
You can take the tape drive online or offline. When the tape drive mode is online, the tape drive is available
for use. When the tape drive mode is offline, the tape drive is offline to the host application and is not
available for use.
Some operations require that the tape drive be offline. You can take a drive offline rather than the entire
library or partition so as to minimize disruption of library operations.
This topic focuses on using the library user interface, not the host application, to change the tape drive
mode. Using the library to change tape drive mode may affect the host application. See your host application
documentation for more information.
Details on changing the tape drive mode include:
• The default tape drive mode is online.
• You can select only tape drives in partitions to which you have been given access.
• The Online/Offline buttons toggle between modes.
The paths to open the appropriate screens are as follows:
• From the web client, select Operations > Drives > Change Mode .
• From the operator panel, select Operations > Drive Mode .
For step-by-step procedures, see the library’s online Help. To access the online Help system, click the Help
icon at the top right of the web client or operator panel user interface.
About Cleaning Tape Drives
Library tape drives require occasional cleaning. Cleaning cartridges are used to remove accumulated
residue from each tape drive’s read/write head.
The library supports two methods for cleaning tape drives with cleaning cartridges: AutoClean and Manual.
AutoClean — Configuring one or more dedicated cleaning slots automatically enables AutoClean. Cleaning
cartridges are stored in the designated cleaning slots. When a tape drive needs cleaning, it notifies the
library, and the library automatically cleans the tape drive using a cleaning cartridge loaded in a cleaning
slot. Automatic cleaning is integrated into routine library operations. The host application requests the library
to move a tape cartridge. If the tape drive performing the operation needs cleaning, the library will perform
the move operation and then automatically clean the tape drive with a cleaning cartridge before informing
the host application that the move operation is complete.
When a cleaning cartridge has expired, a RAS ticket informs the user to export the expired tape from the
library. If more cleaning cartridges are present, the next cleaning cartridge will be used for the next cleaning
request. If no more cleaning cartridges are available, a RAS ticket will inform the user that the tape drive
needs cleaning and that a cleaning tape needs to be imported. See
Only Administrative users can configure cleaning slots, thus enabling AutoClean. When AutoClean is
enabled, the library allows you to import and export cleaning media through the I/E Station.
For information on configuring cleaning slots, see Configuring Cleaning Slots on page 39. For information
on importing and exporting cleaning media, see Importing Cleaning Media on page 64 and Exporting
Cleaning Media on page 65.
Note
If you change the mode of a control path tape drive to offline, a caution dialog
appears asking you to confirm the mode change. For information on control
path tape drives, see
Modifying the Control Path on page 43.