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Operating the Autoloader: Dell™ PowerVault™ 122T LTO Autoloader

• Operator's Panel Overview
• Understanding the Menu Structure
• Using Cartridges
• Cleaning the Tape Drive
• Creating an Inventory of Cartridges

Operator's Panel Overview

The Operator's Panel consists of four LEDs, four buttons, and a 2-line by 16-character LCD screen. The Operator's Panel provides everything you need to monitor autoloader status and to control all of its functions.

The display defaults to the Home screen. The Home screen consists of the autoloader status on the top line and the current cartridge inventory on the second line. If the tape drive does not have a cartridge loaded, the top line displays Drive empty (See Home Screen, Drive Empty, Below).

The cartridge inventory indicates all slots that contain a cartridge by displaying the slot number. Empty slots are indicated by a dash or hyphen (-).

Home Screen, Drive Empty

An exclamation point (!) displayed in the inventory indicates that the autoloader has identified a cartridge in the indicated slot that is either invalid or has had a media error. These can be caused by faulty media, possibly due to a corrupt imbedded servo signal, or dirty read/write heads in the tape drive. The Media Attention LED is also illuminated in this case. See LED Indicators for more information. Exporting the indicated cartridge will clear the error condition. See Exporting Cartridges for instructions. If these symptoms occur on multiple known good cartridges, consider cleaning the tape drive. See Cleaning the Tape Drive for instructions. If a particular cartridge causes these symptom repeatedly, that cartridge may be defective or invalid.

Occasionally you may see the message In Transit, which indicates:

• An error condition has caused a cartridge to be left between its slot and the drive. (Power cycle or reset the autoloader to clear this condition.)

• A cartridge is unexpectedly found in the Import/Export slot opening. (Power cycle or reset the autoloader to clear this condition.)

You may also see the message SEQ in the lower right corner of the display. This indicates that the autoloader is currently running in Sequential mode. See Autoloader Operating Modes for more information.

If the tape drive has a cartridge loaded, the top line displays Drive loaded. The cartridge currently loaded in the drive is indicated by an alternating black block and the slot number. This display can also indicate that the specified cartridge is being loaded, unloaded, imported, or exported, as well as indications of reading, writing, etc. The autoloader status line indicates the current operation. An example of this display is shown below.

Home Screen, Drive Loaded

LED Indicators

The Operator's Panel includes four LED indicators that provide a variety of information as detailed in the following table:

Operator's Panel Control Buttons

The Operator's Panel includes four buttons that provide access to all operations and information menus.

Understanding the Menu Structure

Operator's Panel Menu Structure

Using Cartridges

Maintaining Cartridges

NOTICE: Do not degauss LTO Ultrium cartridges! LTO Ultrium cartridges are prerecorded with a magnetic servo signal at the factory. This signal is required in order to use the cartridge with the LTO drive. Keep magnetically charged objects, such as audio speakers, computer monitors, etc., out of close range.

Before you use the autoloader, make sure you observe these general rules:

• Use only LTO Ultrium cartridges. The tape drive rejects all other types of cartridges. LTO Ultrium formatted cartridges contain embedded servo code, written on the media during the cartridge manufacturing process. LTO Ultrium cartridges cannot be bulk erased or degaussed. You can order tape cartridges at support.dell.com.

• Clean the tape drive when the Clean Drive LED is illuminated, or if there is any other indication that the drive is having trouble reading or writing, such as if the Media Attention LED is illuminated, or there is an exclamation point (!) in the inventory display. Be sure to use only LTO Ultrium universal cleaning cartridges. The tape drive rejects all other types of cleaning cartridges.

Importing Cartridges

This option forces the autoloader to import a cartridge into a specific empty slot in the carousel. To import tapes into the autoloader:

1. Make sure the write-protect switch is set as desired for each data cartridge (See Write-Protecting Cartridges). If applicable, apply a bar code label to the recessed area on the front of each cartridge. (See Bar Code Reader for more information.)

2. From the Home Screen or main menu, press the [+] or [-] button until Commands appears on the top line of the LCD screen.

3. Press the [Enter] button to access the available options.

4. Press the [+] or [-] button until Import appears on the LCD screen. Press [Enter] to select.

5. Press the [+] or [-] button until the desired slot number appears on the LCD screen and press the [Enter] button. You are not given the option to import a cartridge to an occupied slot.

6. When Insert Cartridge Slot appears on the LCD screen and the Media Door opens, insert the desired data cartridge into the Media Door so that the write-protect switch is facing out from the autoloader and towards the left.

   NOTE: If you are using the Operator's Panel to clean the drive, import the cleaning cartridge only when the operator panel requests it. You may keep a cleaning cartridge in the autoloader if the backup software can manage the drive cleaning.

7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 as needed for any additional cartridges.

8. Press the [Cancel] button when you are done importing cartridges.

9. Verify that the LCD screen shows that the desired slots have cartridges installed.

Importing a Cartridge

Exporting Cartridges

This option moves a cartridge from a specific slot to the Media Door. To export one or more cartridges from the autoloader, follow these steps:

1. From the Home Screen or main menu, press the [+] or [-] button until Commands appears on the top line of the LCD screen. Press [Enter].

2. Press the [+] or [-] button until Export appears on the LCD screen. Press [Enter].

3. Press the [+] or [-] button until the desired slot number appears on the LCD screen. Press the [Enter] button. You are not given the option to export from an empty slot.

4. When Remove Cartridge appears on the LCD screen and the cartridge is ejected through the Media Door, remove the exported cartridge from the autoloader, and press the [Enter] button.

5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 as needed for any additional cartridges.

6. Press the [Cancel] button when you are done exporting cartridges.

7. Make sure the LCD screen indicates that the desired slots contain cartridges.

Exporting a Cartridge

Loading Cartridges

This option loads a cartridge from the autoloader carousel into the tape drive. To use this option, follow these steps:

1. From the Home Screen or main menu, press the [+] or [-] button until Commands appears on the top line of the LCD screen. Press [Enter] to select.

2. Press the [+] or [-] button until Load Cartridge appears on the LCD screen.

3. Press the [Enter] button to select.

4. Press the [+] or [-] button until the desired slot number appears on the LCD screen and press the [Enter] button. The slot number you select indicates the cartridge to be loaded into the tape drive.

   NOTE: Only slot numbers that contain cartridges are displayed.

5. Status messages will be displayed while the cartridge is loading. Drive Stopped will be displayed when the operation is complete.

6. Press the [Cancel] button when you are done loading the cartridge.

Unloading Cartridges

This option unloads the cartridge from the tape drive into its original slot. To use this option, follow these steps:

1. From the Home Screen or main menu, press the [+] or [-] button until Commands appears on the top line of the LCD screen. Press [Enter] to select.

2. Press the [+] or [-] button until Unload Cartridge appears on the LCD screen. Press the [Enter] button to unload the cartridge from the tape drive.

   NOTE: Status messages will be displayed while the cartridge is unloading. Drive Empty will be displayed when the operation is complete.

3. Press the [Cancel] button when you are done unloading the cartridge.

Write-Protecting Cartridges

All cartridges have a write-protect switch to prevent accidental erasure or overwritting of data. Before loading a cartridge into the autoloader, make sure the write-protect switch on the front of the cartridge is positioned as desired:

• Slide the switch to the right to write-protect the cartridge. The standard "locked" symbol will be visible on the switch.

• Slide the switch to the left to allow the autoloader to write data to the cartridge. The standard "unlocked" symbol will be visible on the switch.

Write-Protecting a Cartridge

Maintaining Cartridges

CAUTION: Do not degauss LTO Ultrium cartridges! LTO Ultrium cartridges are prerecorded with a magnetic servo signal at the factory. This signal is required in order to use the cartridge with the LTO drive. Keep magnetically charged objects, such as audio speakers, computer monitors, etc., out of close range.

To ensure the longest possible life for all of your LTO Ultrium cartridges, follow these guidelines:

• Do not drop or strike a cartridge. Excessive shock can damage the internal contents of the cartridge, or the cartridge itself, making the cartridge unusable and possibly damaging the autoloader.

• Store your cartridges in their storage cases.

• Do not expose your cartridges to direct sunlight or sources of heat, including portable heaters and heating ducts.

• The operating range for your LTO Ultrium cartridges 50° F to 95° F (10° C to 35° C), and 20 to 80% relative humidity (non-condensing). The storage temperature range is 60° F to 90° F (16° C to 32° C), and 10 to 80% relative humidity (non-condensing).

• Tapes intended for archive should be placed intheir plastic containers at tempuratures between 5 degrees Celsius and 23 degrees Celsius (41 degrees Fahrenheit to 113 degrees Fahrenheit) and 10% to 50% relative humidity.

• If a cartridge has been exposed to temperatures outside the ranges specified above, stabilize the cartridge at room temperature for the same amount of time it was exposed to extreme temperatures or 24 hours, whichever is less.

• Store your cartridges in a dust-free environment.

• Do not place LTO Ultrium cartridges near sources of electromagnetic energy or strong magnetic fields, such as computer monitors, electric motors, speakers, or X-ray equipment. Exposure to electromagnetic energy or magnetic fields can destroy data and the embedded servo code, written on the media by the cartridge manufacturer, rendering the cartridge unusable.

• Apply identification or bar code labels only to the recessed area on the front of the cartridge.

Cleaning the Tape Drive

LTO tape drives utilize an internal head cleaner brush. The head cleaner brush is used as part of error recovery algorithms, after a tape unthread, if more than 150 thousand meters of tape have been pulled since the last use of the head cleaner brush, and when a cleaning cartridge is used. A scheduled maintenance/cleaning program is not required. A cleaning cartridge should only be used when the autloader asks for one.

Cleaning with a cleaning cartridge can take as long as five minutes, during which the Ready LED blinks. Each cleaning cartridge can be used for 15 cleanings. The drive will automatically reject a cleaning cartridge after it has been used 15 times. You may also refer to your backup software documentation for information on enabling automatic cleanings with the use of a dedicated cleaning slot.

CAUTION: Use only LTO Ultrium cleaning cartridges in the autoloader, available at support.dell.com. Use of any other type of cleaning cartridge could damage the read/write head in the tape drive. Therefore, if you load any other type of cleaning cartridge, the autoloader will automatically export the tape within approximately 25 seconds.

NOTE: If you are using Operator's Panel commands to clean the drive, import the cleaning cartridge only after you have selected the Clean Drive command. If you would like to keep a cleaning cartridge in the autoloader, the backup software must manage drive cleaning.

To clean the tape drive, follow these steps:

1. From the Home Screen or main menu, press the [+] or [-] button until Commands appears on the top line of the LCD screen. Press [Enter].

2. Press the [+] or [-] button until Clean Drive appears on the LCD screen. Press [Enter].

3. If the carousel is full, the LCD screen displays No slot free for transfer. Press the [Cancel] button repeatedly until the main menu or Home Screen is displayed. Export a cartridge to make room for the cleaning cartridge. See Exporting Cartridges for instructions then return to step 1 to clean the tape drive.

4. If the carousel is not full, the autoloader will select the first available slot and prompt you to insert a cleaning cartridge.

5. Insert the cleaning cartridge into the autoloader Media Door.

6. During the cleaning process, which can take up to five minutes, the LCD screen displays Drive Cleaning.

   NOTE: If the cartridge is not a valid cleaning cartridge, the LCD screen will display Bad clean tape and the cartridge will be exported.

7. When tape drive cleaning is complete, the Clean Drive LED turns off (If Previously On) and the autoloader unloads and exports the cleaning cartridge. Remove the cleaning cartridge, and press the [Enter] button when the LCD screen prompts you to do so.

   CAUTION: If the Clean Drive or Media Attention LED is illuminated again when you insert another cartridge immediately after cleaning, see Troubleshooting to troubleshoot.

8. If you had to remove a data cartridge to import the cleaning cartridge, import that data cartridge to its original slot. See Importing Cartridges for more information.

Creating an Inventory of Cartridges

This option will build a new inventory of cartridges in the autoloader. If using a bar code reader, this option will also scan the bar code labels on each cartridge in the carousel. (see Bar Code Reader for more information) To use this option, follow these steps:

1. From the Home Screen or main menu, press the [+] or [-] button until Commands appears on the top line of the LCD screen.

2. Press the [Enter] button to access the available options.

3. Press the [+] or [-] button until Re-inventory appears on the LCD screen. Press [Enter].

4. The autoloader will then check the drive and each slot for the presence of a tape in order to update the inventory information.

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