SL3000 - Support for Auto Clean in SL3000 Library

Asset ID:	1-71-1385893.1
Update Date:	2011-12-14
Keywords:

Solution Type Technical Instruction Sure

Solution 1385893.1 : SL3000 - Support for Auto Clean in SL3000 Library

Applies to:

Sun StorageTek SL3000 Modular Library System - Version: Not Applicable and later [Release: N/A and later ]
Information in this document applies to any platform.

Goal

Support for auto cleaning in SL3000 tape library.

Solution

Auto Clean is not fully supported in SL3000 below 3.0 firmware level. Starting with microcode version 2.30 the SL3000 has provided auto clean functionality.

Starting with microcode FRS_3.0 the auto clean functions are now fully implemented.
Including:
- 1. Track cleaning cartridge usage.
- 2. Automatic import. Or moving tapes from the CAP to a reserved cell.
- 3. Automatic export. Or moving tapes from a reserved cell to a selected CAP.
- 4. Automatic release of CAP after export/import to allow normal customer use.

Library running microcode below FRS_3.0
The 2.81 release notes tell us...
"Import/export of clean and diagnostic cartridge functionality has not yet been implemented for this library. For SCSI hosts, if an import/export is needed, the CAP must first be closed and empty and not explicitly reserved by the host. Then use SLConsole to switch the CAP to diagnostic mode. The CAP may then be used to import/export clean and diagnostic cartridges. It is up to the user to ensure all cartridges are imported or exported and that the CAP is empty. Then again use SLConsole to re-assign the CAP to host mode. Please refer to the SLConsole User Guide for more information."

Library running microcode FRS_3.0 or higher:
The following is from the SLC help file explaining how to implement and use auto clean.
There are 2 other help files on the SLC you would want to review.
"Import Cleaning Cartridges" and "Exporting Cleaning Cartridges"

Drive Cleaning : Library Auto Clean

Note:
This feature is available starting with SL3000 firmware version FRS_3.0 and SL Console version FRS_5.00.

The library auto clean feature allows all drive clean functions to be managed by the library controller. You can import cleaning cartridges into the library, where they are stored in reserved system cells. As soon as a drive indicates that it needs cleaning, the library controller automatically selects a compatible cleaning cartridge from the system cells and mounts it on the drive. When the cleaning activity is completed, the library controller dismounts the cartridge and returns it to a system cell.
With the auto clean feature, the library tracks cleaning cartridge usage and notifies you when cleaning cartridges have expired or have reached a user-defined usage threshold. You can automatically export
cleaning cartridges from the library, in bulk, by expiration date, or by selected cartridge volume ID (VOLID or volser).
In partitioned libraries, auto clean can be configured for the entire library or for individual library partitions.
See Special Considerations for additional details about library auto clean operations.

Note:
Library auto clean differs from drive cleaning managed by ACSLS or HSC; see Host-Managed Tape Cleaning to compare the two methods.

Library Auto Clean Process Summary
Following is a summary of the actions you should take to configure and use the library auto clean feature.
1 .Enable library auto clean. In partitioned libraries, the feature can be enabled or disabled separately for
   each partition.
   - See Configure Library Auto Clean Library Auto Clean for details.
2. Configure the maximum usage warning threshold for each cleaning cartridge type.
   - See Define Cleaning Cartridge Warning Thresholds for details.
3. Import cleaning cartridges into the library. The cartridges are placed in reserved system cells.
    - See Import Cleaning Cartridges for details.

Note:
When using the library auto clean feature, do NOT use ACSLS or HSC to enter cleaning cartridges into the library. ACSLS and HSC store cleaning cartridges in regular storage cells, and the library controller does not have access to these cells for the auto clean function.

4. Have the library controller manage drive cleaning as required.
5. Monitor status of cleaning cartridges and drives. See the following procedures for details:
    - Display Cleaning Cartridges
    - Display Drive Cleaning Status
6. Export cleaning cartridges from the library as necessary. You can use any of the following methods:
    - Export all cartridges
    - Export expired cartridges
    - Export selected cartridges

See Export Cleaning Cartridges for details.
See Drive Cleaning Tasks for a list of all tasks related to drive cleaning.

Special Considerations
Following are details and special considerations about the library auto clean feature.

Host Interactions
With the auto clean feature, the library controller initiates a drive clean operation immediately upon receipt of a cleaning request from the drive, which typically occurs when the drive dismounts a data cartridge. While the drive is being cleaned, the data cartridge dismount remains pending to the host. The host is not notified that the Library Auto Clean data cartridge dismount is complete until the drive clean operation
has finished and the cleaning cartridge has been returned to a system cell.
While a drive is being cleaned, it is marked as busy to all hosts. If an FC SCSI host requests the drive while the drive is being cleaned, the request is rejected.

Unsuccessful Cleaning Operations
If the library controller cannot locate a non-expired cleaning cartridge that is compatible with the drive, the library controller sends messages to the system Event Log and the Status Module screen.
See Library Events and Status Alert Messages for details.
After a cleaning cartridge has been mounted on a drive, if the drive indicates that the cartridge is unusable, the library controller automatically returns the cartridge to a reserved system cell and selects another cartridge to fulfill the cleaning request.

Use of Reserved System Cells
When cleaning cartridges are imported into the library, the library distributes the cartridges as evenly as possible among the sides of the library. Cleaning cartridges can be stored in any available system cell.
The reserved system cells are not assigned to partitions. Therefore a cleaning cartridge can be used to clean compatible drives allocated to any library partition.

Host-Managed Tape Cleaning
The host tape management software (ACSLS or HSC) can be used to manage drive cleaning in HLI libraries or partitions. Following is a summary of the actions you should take in order to use host-managed
cleaning. For full details, see the ACSLS or HSC documentation.

Note:
This method differs from the library auto clean feature; see Library Auto Clean to compare the two methods.

1. Disable the library auto clean function. In partitioned libraries, you can do this on a per-partition basis.
    - See Configure Library Auto Clean for details.
Library auto clean must be disabled in order for ACSLS or HSC to receive notification from the library when drives need cleaning.

Library Auto Clean
2. Enable automatic cleaning within the tape management software.
    - For HSC, see the MNTD AUtocln(ON) command in the HSC System Programmer's Guide for
       instructions on enabling the cleaning function.
    - For ACSLS, automatic cleaning is enabled by default. For details, see the AUTO_CLEAN variable,
       which is set by the acsss_config utility, in the ACSLS Administrator s Guide.
3. Use the applicable ACSLS or HSC commands to enter cleaning cartridges into the library.

Do NOT use the SL Console Import/Export screen to enter cleaning cartridges, as the library controller will store the cartridges in reserved system cells. ACSLS and HSC do not have access to these cells.

4. Have the tape management software manage drive cleaning as required.
5. Use the applicable ACSLS or HSC commands to monitor status of cleaning cartridges and drives.
6. Use the applicable ACSLS or HSC commands to eject cleaning cartridges from the library.

You cannot use the SL Console Import/Export screen to eject host-managed cleaning cartridges.

Provided by Kevin Luther

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