Request Sense (03h)

Request Sense (03h) returns sense data. The library generates sense data if the previous command terminated with Check Condition (02h) status. Multiple errors might occur during the processing of a single SCSI command. The sense key reflects the first error that occurred.

If you issue a Request Sense command to an unsupported LUN, the library does not return a check condition. Instead, the library returns sense data with Sense Key set to Illegal Request (05h), ASC set to LUN Not supported (25h), and ASCQ set to 00h.

If the library is partitioned and you issue a Request Sense command from an initiator that has not been configured with access, the library does not return a check condition. Instead, the library returns sense data for LUN Access not Authorized with the Sense Key set to Not Ready (02h), ASC set to 74h and ASCQ set to 71h.

If no sense data is available, the library returns sense data with the Sense Key set to No Sense (0h), ASC set to Not Additional Sense information (00h), and the ASCQ set to 00h.

The library returns Check Condition (02h) status for a Request Sense command only to report errors specific to the command itself — for example, if the library detects a nonzero reserved bit in the CDB. If the library returns a Check Condition (02h) status for a Request Sense command, the sense data might be invalid.

Desc

0 = The library will return fixed format sense data.

Allocation Length

The number of bytes allocated for returned sense data. The library provides a maximum of 14h (20d) bytes of sense data.

Request Sense Data

Valid

0 = The library does not return data in the Information field.

Error Code

70h = The library returns only current errors.

Segment Number

00h = The library does not support segment numbers.

Sense Key

Describes the error, along with ASC and ASCQ. See Additional Sense Codes and Qualifiers.

0h = No Sense, indicating a successful command.

2h = Not Ready

3h = Medium Error

4h = Hardware Error

5h = Illegal Request

6h = Unit Attention

Bh = Aborted Command

Information

00h = The library does not support this field.

Additional Sense Length

0Ch = Indicates there are 12d bytes of additional sense bytes to follow. This value is not truncated to reflect the actual transfer length.

Command Specific Information

00h = The library does not support this field.

Additional Sense Code (ASC)

Describes the error. See Additional Sense Codes and Qualifiers.

Additional Sense Code Qualifier (ASCQ)

Describes the error. See Additional Sense Codes and Qualifiers.

Field Replaceable Unit Code

00h = The library does not support this field.

SKSV (Sense Key Specific Valid)

1 = The C/D and field pointer are valid

0 = Ignore the C/D and field pointer

C/D (Command/Data)

0 = The check condition status resulted from illegal parameter in the parameter list.

1 = The check condition status resulted from illegal parameter in the CDB.

BPV (Bit Pointer Valid)

0 = The library does not support this field.

Bit Pointer

0h = The library does not support this field.

Field Pointer

The number of the byte where the error occurred. When a multiple-byte field is in error, the Field Pointer contains the value of the most significant byte of the field, which is lowest byte number. Byte numbers start at 00.

Additional Sense Codes and Qualifiers

Not Ready Sense Key (2h) Codes

The library generates a Not Ready error code if you send a command when the library is in a not ready state.

Description Sense Key ASC ASCQ

Not Ready, Cause Not Reportable

2h

04h

00h

Not Ready, In Process of Becoming Ready

2h

04h

01h

Not Ready, Manual Intervention Required

2h

04h

03h

Not Ready, Logical Unit Not Accessible, Target Port In Unavailable State

2h

04h

0Ch

Not Ready, Maintenance Mode

2h

04h

81h

Not Ready, Cleaning Cartridge Installed

2h

30h

03h

Not Ready, Cartridge Access Port Open

2h

3Ah

02h

Not Ready, Insufficient Resources

2h

55h

03h

Not Ready, LUN Access Not Authorized

2h

74h

71h

Not Ready, Cause Not Reportable

The library detected a not ready state after execution of the command was started.

Not Ready, In Process of Becoming Ready

The library is initializing and performing an audit. Initialization occurs at:

  • Power-on
  • After the door opens and closes
  • When requested from the operator panel or GUI
  • As part of a recovery during certain failures
Not Ready, Manual Intervention Required

The library is in an inoperable state. The operator should check the user interface to determine what action is required.

Not Ready, Logical Unit Not Accessible, Target Port in Unavailable State

The FC port is in an unavailable access state and has not been enabled with a hardware activation file. The port only supports a limited set of commands. See Behavior of Unavailable Fibre Channel Ports.

Not Ready, Maintenance Mode

The library was placed in maintenance mode from the operator panel or user interface.

Not Ready, Cleaning Cartridge Installed

The library is performing an Auto Clean function on the tape drive requested.

Not Ready, Cartridge Access Port Open

The library detected that the CAP is open and a SCSI command was issued to access the CAP.

Not Ready, Insufficient Resources

The library was not able to complete the command. The host should reissue the command.

Not Ready, LUN Access Not Authorized

The library has the partitioning activation file installed, and the host that issued the command does not have access to a partition. For more information, see Configuring SCSI Access in a Partitioned Library.

Medium Error (3h) Codes

The library generates a Medium Error when a SCSI move command terminates with a non-recovered error condition, which may have been caused by a flaw in the medium or an error in the recorded data.

Description Sense Key ASC ASCQ

Medium Error, Cleaning Cartridge Expired

3h

30h

13h

Medium Error, Cleaning Cartridge Expired

The source cartridge for a SCSI move to a drive is an expired cleaning cartridge.

Hardware Error Sense Key (4h) Codes

The library generates a Hardware Error if it detects a hardware or firmware error during command execution.

Description Sense Key ASC ASCQ

Hardware Error, General

4h

40h

01h

Hardware Error, Tape Drive

4h

40h

02h

Hardware Error, Cartridge Access Port

4h

40h

03h

Hardware Error, Embedded Software

4h

44h

00h

Hardware Error, Media Load/Eject Failed

4h

53h

00h

Hardware Error, General

The library detected an internal electronics error during a command. This includes the electronics, vision system, and robotics of the library.

Hardware Error, Tape Drive

An operation to the drive failed. The problem could be the tape drive or the interface between the library and tape drive.

Hardware Error, CAP

The CAP failed.

Hardware Error, Embedded Software

The embedded software that controls the SCSI interface detected an unexpected condition. This error is used for arbitrary limitations of the embedded software.

Hardware Error, Media Load/Eject Failed

A cartridge mount or dismount failed to complete.

Illegal Request Sense Key (5h) Codes

Any illegal parameters in the CDB or parameter list for a particular command generates an Illegal Request sense key.

In some cases, additional information is available in Byte 15 of the sense data, which includes the sense-key-specific-value (SKSV) and command/data (C/D) fields. This information indicates the byte in the command descriptor block or the parameter list that is in error. If available, the SKSV bit in the sense data is set to 1.

Description Sense Key ASC ASCQ SKSV

Parameter Length Error

5h

1Ah

00h

Yes

Invalid Command

5h

20h

00h

Yes

Invalid Element

5h

21h

01h

No

Invalid Field in CDB

5h

24h

00h

Yes

Logical Unit Not Supported

5h

25h

00h

No

Invalid Field in Parameters

5h

26h

00h

Yes

Invalid Release of Persistent Reservation

5h

26h

04h

No

Incompatible Medium

5h

30h

00h

No

Saving Parameters Not Supported

5h

39h

00h

Yes

Medium Not Present, Drive Not Unloaded

5h

3Ah

00h

No

Destination Element Full

5h

3Bh

0Dh

No

Source Element Empty

5h

3Bh

0Eh

No

Magazine Removed

5h

3Bh

12h

No

Empty Tape Drive Slot

5h

3Bh

1Ah

No

Upside-down Cartridge Move from CAP Not Allowed

5h

3Bh

18h

No

Unit Attention Sense Key (06h) Codes

The library generates a Unit Attention sense key for all initiators if the library needs to inform the host of an asynchronous event.

Description Sense Key ASC ASCQ

Not Ready-to-Ready Transition

06h

28h

00h

CAP Element Accessed

06h

28h

01h

Power On Occurred

06h

29h

01h

LUN Reset

06h

29h

03h

Target Reset

06h

29h

03h

Mode Parameters Changed

06h

2Ah

01h

Reservations Preempted

06h

2Ah

03h

Reservations Released

06h

2Ah

04h

Registrations Preempted

06h

2Ah

05h

Asymmetric Access State Changed

06h

2Ah

06h

Commands Cleared by Another Initiator

06h

2Fh

00h

Data Transfer Device Removed

06h

3Bh

1Ah

Data Transfer Device Inserted

06h

3Bh

1Bh

LUNs Data Has Changed

06h

3Fh

0Eh

Not Ready to Ready Transition

The library transitioned to a Ready state from a Not Ready state. The library sends this unit attention to all initiators.

CAP Element Accessed

The operator opened and closed the CAP. The library sends this unit attention to all initiators. You can issue a Read Element Status command to obtain an updated inventory (see Read Element Status (B8h)).

Power On

Occurs after the library powers-on, after an IPL (initial program load) from the operator panel, or after a reset over the interface. The library sends this unit attention to all initiators.

LUN Reset

The library is clear of all I/O processes following the LUN reset. The library sends this unit attention to all initiators.

Target Reset

The library is clear of all I/O processes following the Target reset. The library sends this unit attention to all initiators.

Mode Parameters Changed

The operator added or removed elements from a partition. Send a Read Element Status (B8h) command to obtain an updated inventory. Send a Mode Sense command with Element Address page code to request the current count of each element type.

Persistent Reservations/Registrations Preempted or Released

A different initiator issued a Persistent Reservation Out command that cleared the registration for this initiator or cleared a reservation that affects this initiator.

Asymmetric Access State Changed

The redundant control paths (multi-port) hardware activation files was added or removed from the library. This unit attention alerts the host that the Report Target Ports Group Data has changed.

Commands Cleared by Another Initiator

A different initiator sent a Clear Task Set Task Management function, which cleared all commands for this initiator.

Data Transfer Device Removed

The operator physically removed a drive. If partitioned, the library only sends this unit attention to hosts associated with the affected partition.

Data Transfer Device Inserted

The operator physically inserted a drive. If partitioned, the library only sends this unit attention to the hosts associated with the affected partition.

LUNs Data Has Changed

The LUN configuration for the initiator has changed. The library sends this unit attention when the operator adds or removes a LUN connection from a partition for the initiator.

Aborted Command Sense Key (0Bh) Codes

The library generates an Aborted Command error code when a SCSI command is aborted.

Description Sense Key ASC ASCQ

Mechanical Positioning Error

0Bh

15h

01h

Initiator Detected Error

0Bh

48h

00h

Command Phase Error

0Bh

4Ah

00h

Data Phase Error

0Bh

4Bh

00h

Command Overlap

0Bh

4Eh

00h