Read Element Status (B8h)

Read Element Status (B8h) returns the status of elements in the library or partition.

The library returns an eight-byte Element Status Data Header, followed by an element page (or four element pages if you set the type code to All Element Types). Each element page consists of an eight-byte Element Status Page Header, followed by the element type descriptor. Supported element type descriptors include:

VolTag

0 = The library does not report Volume Tag information

1 = The library reports Volume Tag information

Element Type Code

0h = All Element Types

1h = Medium Transport Element (robot hand)

2h = Storage Element (cartridge cells)

3h = Import/Export Element (mailslot cells)

4h = Data Transfer Element (drives or empty drive slots)

Starting Element Address

Specifies the minimum element address. The library reports elements with an element address greater than or equal to the Starting Element Address.

Number of Elements

The maximum number of element descriptors to transfer. This is not an element address range.

CurData

The library ignores the CurData bit and will use the robots to obtain information if needed.

0 = The library can use the robots to gather data

1 = The library will not perform mechanical operations to obtain the data

DvcID

0 = The library will not return device identification information

1 = The library returns device identification information for data transfer elements.

Allocation Length

The length in bytes of the space allocated by the initiator for the transfer of element descriptors. Only complete element descriptors are transferred. Data can be truncated based on the length specified in the allocation field.

Element Status Data Header

First Element Address Reported

The lowest element address found for the specified Element Type Code that is greater than or equal to the Starting Element Address.

Number of Elements Available

The number of elements found for the specified Element Type Code that are greater than or equal to the Starting Element Address. This number is always less than or equal the Number of Elements specified in the CBD.

Byte Count of Report Available

The number of bytes of element status data available. This count does not include the Element Status Data header bytes. The count is not adjusted to match the allocation length you specified in the Read Element Status command.

Element Status Page Header

Element Type Code

1h = Medium Transport Element (robot hand)

2h = Storage Element (cartridge cells)

3h = Import/Export Element (mailslot cells)

4h = Data Transfer Element (drives or empty drive slots)

PVolTag

0 = The library omits Primary Volume Tag information from the element descriptors.

1 = The library includes Primary Volume Tag information in the element descriptors.

AVolTag

0 = The library does not support Alternative Volume Tags.

Element Descriptor Length

The total number of bytes contained in a single element descriptor.

Byte Count of Descriptor Data Available

The number of bytes of element descriptor data available. This count does not include the Element Status Page header bytes. The count is not adjusted to match the allocation length you specified in the Read Element Status command.

Element Descriptors

Medium Transport Element Descriptor

Figure 2-16 Medium Transport Element Descriptor

Description of Figure 2-16 follows
Description of "Figure 2-16 Medium Transport Element Descriptor"

Storage Element Descriptor

Figure 2-17 Storage Element Descriptor

Description of Figure 2-17 follows
Description of "Figure 2-17 Storage Element Descriptor"

Import/Export Element Descriptor

Figure 2-18 Import/Export Element Descriptor

Description of Figure 2-18 follows
Description of "Figure 2-18 Import/Export Element Descriptor"

Data Transfer Element Descriptor (DvcID = 0)

Figure 2-19 Data Transfer Element Descriptor (DvcID = 0)

Description of Figure 2-19 follows
Description of "Figure 2-19 Data Transfer Element Descriptor (DvcID = 0)"

Data Transfer Element Descriptor (DvcID = 1)

Figure 2-20 Data Transfer Element Descriptor (DvcID = 1)

Description of Figure 2-20 follows
Description of "Figure 2-20 Data Transfer Element Descriptor (DvcID = 1)"

Element Descriptor Definitions

Element Address

The address of the element (robot hand, cartridge cell, CAP cell, drive, or empty drive slot).

OIR

0 = No operator intervention required to make the CAP accessible

1 = Operator intervention required to make the CAP accessible

CMC

0 = The import/export element is a CAP. The cartridge will not leave the library when prevented by the Prevent/Allow Medium Removal (1Eh) command.

InEnab

1 = The CAP supports importing cartridges.

ExEnab

1 = The CAP supports exporting cartridges.

Access

0 = The robot cannot access the element. For Import/Export elements, this can occur when the CAP is open or a CAP magazine was removed. For Data transfer elements, this can occur when a cartridge is loaded in a drive.

1 = The robot can access the element

Except

0 = The element is in a normal state

1 = The element is in an abnormal state. The Additional Sense Code (ASC) and the Additional Sense Code Qualifier (ASCQ) fields contain information regarding the abnormal state. Other fields in the descriptor might be invalid and should be ignored.

ImpExp

0 = The robot placed the cartridge in the CAP for an export operation.

1 = An operator placed the cartridge in the CAP for an import operation.

Full

0 = The element does not contain a cartridge

1 = The element contains a cartridge

ASC (Additional Sense Code)

This field is valid only if the Except bit is set. In the case of an exception, it contains an ASC as defined for Request Sense data.

ASCQ (Additional Sense Code Qualifier)

This field is valid only if the Except bit is set. In the case of an exception, it contains an ASCQ as defined for Request Sense data.

Condition ASC Value ASCQ Value

CAP Open

3Ah

02h

Empty Drive Slot (no drive installed)

3Bh

1Ah

Drive Hardware Error

40h

02h

SValid

0 = The Source Element Address and Invert fields are not valid.

1 = The Source Element Address and Invert fields are valid.

Invert (not supported)

0 = The library does not support multi-sided media.

ED

0 = The element is enabled.

1 = The element is disabled (for example an open CAP, a drive hardware error, or empty drive slot).

Medium Type

The type of medium currently present in the element as determined by the medium changer.

0h = Unspecified - the medium changer cannot determine the medium type.

1h = Data Medium

2h = Cleaning Medium

Source Storage Element Address

This field is valid only if the SValid field is 1. This field provides the address of the last storage element this cartridge occupied. The element address value may or may not be the same as this element.

Primary Volume Tag Information

When PVolTag is 1, the library returns volume tag information. When PVolTag is 0, the library omits volume tag information.

The Primary Volume Tag field contains the null-terminated ASCII barcode label on the tape cartridge. If the label on the cartridge tape is not readable or if the element is empty, the Primary Volume Tag field is filled with 36 bytes of zeros. The "Volume Label Format" controls the presentation of the volser in the Primary Volume Tag field. The library supports the following settings:

  • Full Label

  • No Type Checking

  • Prepend Last Two Characters

  • Trim Last Character

  • Trim Last Two Characters

  • Trim First Two Characters

  • Trim First Character

For more information, see the SL150 Library Guide.

Code Set

0h = Reserved (not supported) for the Medium Transport Element, Storage Element, Import/Export Element, or Data Transfer Element (DvcID = 0) descriptors.

2h = The identifier contains ASCII graphic codes (code values 20h through 7Eh) for Data Transfer Element (DvcID = 1) descriptor.

Identifier Type

The format and assignment authority for the identifier.

0h = The library returns vendor specific data.

Identifier Length

The combined length of the Identifier and the Identifier Pad.

00h = The library returns 0 bytes of identifier data in the descriptors for Medium Transport Elements, Storage Elements, Import/Export Elements, or Data Transfer Elements (DvcID = 0).

20h = The library returns 32 bytes of identifier data for the Data Transfer Element (DvcID = 1).

Identifier (for Data Transfer Element DvcID = 1 Only)

The ASCII Serial Number for the tape drive associated with this data transfer element.

Identifier Pad (for Data Transfer Element DvcID = 1 Only)

Contains ASCII blanks. The number of blanks depends on the length of the Identifier field. The combined length of the Identifier field and the Identifier Pad is 32 bytes.

Media Domain

43h ('C') = The element contains a cleaning cartridge.

4Ch ('L') = The element contains an LTO cartridge.

54h ('T') = The element contains a T10000 cartridge.

FFh = The media domain cannot be determined or the element is empty.

Media Type

FFh = The media type cannot be determined or the element is empty.

If the Media Domain is 43h (C):

  • U = The element contains a Universal LTO cleaning cartridge.

If the Media Domain is 4Ch (L):

  • 3 = The element contains a 400 GB Generation 3 LTO cartridge.
  • 4 = The element contains an 800 GB Generation 4 LTO cartridge.
  • 5 = The element contains a 1.5 TB Generation 5 LTO cartridge.
  • 6 = The element contains a 2.5 TB Generation 6 LTO cartridge.
  • 7 = The element contains a 6 TB Generation 7 LTO cartridge.
  • 8 = The element contains a 12 TB Generation 8 LTO cartridge.
  • 9 = The element contains a 18 TB Generation 9 LTO cartridge.
  • R = The element contains a 9TB M8 LTO cartridge. Note that the physical label for this media type will be M8 (not LR).
  • T = The element contains a 400 GB Generation 3 LTO WORM cartridge.
  • U = The element contains an 800 GB Generation 4 LTO WORM cartridge.
  • V = The element contains a 1.5 TB Generation 5 LTO WORM cartridge.
  • W = The element contains a 2.5 TB Generation 6 LTO WORM cartridge.
  • X = The element contains a 6 TB Generation 7 LTO WORM cartridge.
  • Y = The element contains a 12 TB Generation 8 LTO WORM cartridge.
  • Z = The element contains an 18 TB Generation 9 LTO WORM cartridge.
Transport Domain

4Ch (L) = The drive supports LTO cartridges.

FFh = The element domain cannot be determined.

Transport Type

FFh = The type cannot be determined.

If the Transport Domain is 4Ch (L):

  • 3Bh = HP Generation 5 LTO drive
  • 3Ch = IBM Generation 5 LTO drive
  • 3Dh = HP Generation 6 LTO drive.
  • 3Eh = IBM Generation 6 LTO drive.
  • 2Dh = IBM Generation 7 LTO drive.
  • 2Eh = IBM Generation 8 LTO drive.
  • 46h = IBM Generation 9 LTO drive.
Transport Serial Number

The 32-byte ASCII serial number for the drive.

For drives with a serial number less than 32 bytes, the library left-justifies the value by returning ASCII blanks for the unused less-significant bytes. If the serial number is not available from a drive that should support an ASCII serial number, the library returns all ASCII blanks.