Library tape drives require periodic cleaning with a cleaning cartridge to prevent read/write errors. Library management software (such as ACSLS or ELS) must manage drive cleaning.
As of SL8500 firmware FRS_8.31 and SLC 6.25, the library will automatically clean media validation drives. Therefore, libraries using media validation must have cleaning cartridges in the reserved system slots. You can enter media validation cleaning cartridges using SLC (see "Importing or Exporting Diagnostic or Cleaning Cartridges"). Additionally, you can manage cleaning cartridges using the CLI (see the cleaning section of Appendix B, "Command Line Interface Reference").
In SLC, select Tools > Configuration. Disable auto cleaning for the library and all partitions. Click Apply. (The auto clean function is disabled by default).
Note:
Enabling/disabling auto clean is not available through SLC. It is only available to the library administrator through the CLI.Enable automatic cleaning from the host.
For ELS, see the ELS System Programmer's Guide to enable the cleaning function.
For ACSLS, automatic cleaning is enabled by default. See the ACSLS Administrator's Guide.
Use ACSLS or ELS commands to enter cleaning cartridges into the library.
Note:
Do not use the SLC Import/Export page to enter cleaning cartridges for host managed cleaning.Use ACSLS or ELS to monitor the status of cleaning cartridges and drives.
Use the ACSLS or ELS commands to eject cleaning cartridges from the library. You cannot use the SLC Import/Export page to eject host-managed cleaning cartridges.
Select Tools > Configuration.
Click the Drive Tray S/N tab.
Click Refresh to display the current data.
To edit an individual drive tray serial number:
Double-click the Drive Tray S/N field.
Enter the drive tray serial number. Proceed to step 6.
To edit multiple drive tray serial numbers at once, you can edit a comma-separated value (csv) file:
Click Export, and then save the file to a desired location.
Open the file and edit only the drive tray serial numbers. Do not alter any other values. Save the changes.
In SLC, click Import. Locate the updated .csv file, and then click Open.
Click Apply, then Yes.
To reduce elevator and pass-thru activity, place multiple drive types on each rail.
Group together tape drives and compatible cartridges on the same rail.
For high mount rate applications, do not place sixteen drives on an rail. This can lead to increased wait times for the robot to be available. High mount rate applications may require clustering drives on more than one rail.
In a redundant robotics library, install drives in the outer columns (± 2) first. This allows both robots to access drives at the same time.