Using a Cleaning Cartridge

The SAM-QFS environment supports the use of cleaning tapes if cleaning tapes are supported by the hardware. If a tape drive requests a cleaning, the system automatically loads a cleaning tape.

If your system uses barcoded labels, cleaning tapes must have a VSN of CLEAN or a VSN starting with the letters CLN in the barcode label. Alternatively, you can use the chmed command to mark a VSN as a cleaning tape and set the count. Multiple cleaning tapes are allowed in a system.

Cleaning practices differ from manufacturer to manufacturer. See Chapter 8, Managing Vendor-Specific Libraries to determine whether specialized procedures are recommended for your equipment.

How to Use a Cleaning Cartridge With a Barcode

If the cleaning cartridge is barcoded, you can import it by using the samimport command. This command moves the cartridge from the mailbox to a storage slot and updates the library catalog. In addition, the cleaning media flag is set, and the access count is set to the appropriate number of cleaning cycles, based on the media type. Each time the cartridge is used to clean a drive, the access count is decremented.

1. Ensure that the cleaning cartridge has a barcode of CLEAN or starts with the letters CLN.
2. Import the cleaning cartridge into the automated library.

   # samimport eq

   eq specifies the equipment number of the automated library as defined in the mcf file.

   You can also perform this task by using samu or SAM-QFS Manager.

How to Use a Cleaning Cartridge Without a Barcode

If the cartridge is not barcoded, it is not identified as a cleaning cartridge. After you import the cartridge, you must identify it.

1. Import the cartridge into the automated library.

   # samimport eq

   eq specifies the equipment number of the automated library as defined in the mcf file.

2. Change the type to a cleaning cartridge.

   # chmed +C eq:slot

   eq specifies the equipment number of the automated library and slot specifies the slot in which the cleaning cartridge has been loaded.

   In the following example, the automated library is equipment number 50 and the cleaning cartridge is in slot 77:

   # chmed +C 50:77

3. Set the cleaning cycle count.

   # chmed -count count-number eq:slot

   eq specifies the equipment number of the automated library and slot specifies the slot in which the cleaning cartridge has been loaded.

   The following example command sets the cleaning count on the cartridge to 20.

   # chmed -count 20 50:77

How to Reset the Number of Cleaning Cycles

Cleaning cartridges are useful for a limited number of cleaning cycles. The SAM-QFS system ejects the cartridge when the number of remaining cycles equals zero. Each time a cleaning tape is imported, the cleaning cycle is reset to the highest number of cycles for that type of tape. For example, a DLT cleaning tape has 20 cycles and an Exabyte cleaning tape has 10 cycles. You can view the number of remaining cycles with the samu utility's :v display or by using SAM-QFS Manager.

If automatic cleaning is available but all cleaning cartridges in the automated library have a cleaning cycle count of zero, the drive state is set to off and a message is issued in the SAM-QFS log.

• Reset the cycles on a cleaning tape.

  # chmed -count count media-type.vsn

  
  

  Argument Definition count Specifies the number of cleaning cycles to which you want the cleaning tape reset. media-type Specifies the media type. For a list of valid media types, see mcf(4) in Sun QFS and Sun Storage Archive Manager Reference Manual . vsn Specifies the volume serial name (VSN) assigned to the volume.

How to Limit the Number of Cleaning Cycles

Certain drive errors can result in the repeated loading of cleaning cartridges until all cleaning cycles are consumed.

• Limit the number of cleaning cycles on cleaning cartridges.

  # chmed -count count-number eq:slot

  eq specifies the equipment number of the automated library, and slot specifies the slot in which the cleaning cartridge has been loaded.

Example 7-3 Example

For example, the following command sets the cleaning cycle count to 20 for the cleaning cartridge in slot 77 of the automated library with the equipment number of 50.

# chmed -count 20 50:77

How to Clean a Tape Drive Automatically

Beginning with the Sun Storage Archive Manager 4.4 release, the default setting for software-initiated tape drive cleaning is off. You can enable automatic cleaning in one of the following ways:

• Use the media changer's auto-cleaning feature, which might require specific placement of cleaning cartridges. See the manufacturer's documentation for directions.

• Enable the SAM-QFS auto-cleaning feature:

1. Disable the media changer's cleaning feature according to the manufacturer's documentation.
2. Edit the defaults.conf file to add the following line:

   tapeclean = all autoclean on logsense on

   The logsense option prevents a drive from using expired cleaning media. To use only sense data for determining the status of cleaning media, add the following line to the defaults.conf file:

   tapeclean = all autoclean on logsense off

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   Note - When using the auto-cleaning feature that has a library with more than two drives, use at least two cleaning cartridges for each catalog. If not enough cleaning cartridges are available, any drive that requires cleaning is put into a DOWN state.

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How to Clean a Tape Drive Manually

When automatic cleaning is not available and the system uses barcodes, you can request that a drive be cleaned at any time.

• Clean the tape drive.

  # cleandrive eq

  eq specifies the equipment number of the automated library as defined in the mcf file.

  This drive is loaded with the cleaning cartridge.

How to Clear Media Errors

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Caution - Removing the error flag can cause problems. If you are uncertain about what caused the error and whether the flag can be removed safely, do not use this procedure. Contact Oracle Technical Support.

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When a hardware or software error is encountered on a cartridge, the SAM-QFS system sets the media error flag in the VSN catalog. The media error flag is shown in the samu utility's v display and in SAM-QFS Manager.

You can clear the error to reset the flag and you can then attempt to use the cartridge.

1. Clear the media error flag on a cartridge.

   # chmed -E media-type.vsn

   
   

   Argument Definition media-type Specifies the media type. For a list of valid media types, see mcf(4) in Sun QFS and Sun Storage Archive Manager Reference Manual. vsn Specifies the volume serial name (VSN) assigned to the volume.

2. Update the library catalog with the space remaining information.

   # auditslot -e eq:slot[:partition]

   
   

   Argument Definition -e If the -e option is specified and the media is tape, the remaining space is updated. Otherwise, it is not changed. eq The equipment number of the automated library or manually loaded drive as defined in the mcf file. slot The number of the storage slot in the automated library as recognized in the library catalog. This argument is not applicable to manually loaded drives. partition A side of a magneto-optical disc. The partition must be 1 or 2. This argument is not applicable to tape cartridges.

   For more information, see auditslot(1M) in Sun QFS and Sun Storage Archive Manager Reference Manual.

   You can also perform this task by using the samu utility's :audit command or SAM-QFS Manager.

How to Remove a Stuck Cartridge From a Drive

1. Turn off the drive in the automated library.

   # samcmd off eq

   eq specifies the equipment number of the drive as defined in the mcf file.

   You can also perform this step by using samu or SAM-QFS Manager.

2. Turn off the automated library.

   # samcmd off eq

   eq specifies the equipment number of the library as defined in the mcf file.

   You can also perform this step by using samu or SAM-QFS Manager.

3. Physically remove the cartridge from the drive.

   Be careful not to damage either the cartridge or the drive.

4. Turn on the automated library and the drive.

   Issue this command once for the drive and once for the library.

   # samcmd on eq

   eq specifies the equipment number of the library and then of the drive as defined in the mcf file.

   If the automated library performs an audit when it is turned on, you are done.

5. Follow these steps if the automated library does not perform an audit:
   1. Put the cartridge back into its storage slot.
   2. Use the chmed command to adjust the library catalog to set the occupied flag for the damaged tape.

      # chmed +o eq:slot

      
      

      Argument Definition eq Specifies the equipment number of the automated library or drive as defined in the mcf file. slot Specifies the number of the storage slot in the library as recognized in the library catalog. This argument is not applicable for manually loaded drives.

      If you keep the cartridge out of its slot and you want to put it back in later, you must import the cartridge into the automated library.