1. User's Guide
  2. Understanding STA Data
  3. Understand How STA Handles Changes to the Tape Environment
  4. How STA Handles "Missing" Media

How STA Handles "Missing" Media

STA only detects media in a library storage cell or drive at the time of a data collection. STA does not detect media in a robot hand, elevator, PTP, or drive when the library initializes.

STA keeps media that has unexpectedly "disappeared" on the STA screens for a short period of time in anticipation of detecting it. Although this occurrence is rare, it happens most often in an SL8500 complex, where the libraries frequently transfer media from one library to another through pass-thru ports (PTPs).

If you cannot find a volume serial number (VSN or volser) within STA, you should:

  1. Verify that you have the correct volser.
  2. Filter the Media – Overview screen for that volser, to verify it is really missing.
  3. If the volser appears on the Media – Overview screen, check the Start Tracking, End Tracking, and Ejected Date attributes.
  4. If the media has an End Tracking date but no Ejected Date, the media may have been removed from the library by an unsupported method, such as through an open library door. On the Dashboard, check the Media Exception Report pane. This report lists media that has left the library through a means other than a CAP, AEM, or mailslot.
  5. Initiate a manual data collection on the library in which you expect the media to be located.

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