Configuring tape libraries

After you have set up the tape library and connected it to your partition, the partition automatically configures it.

If you change the physical or logical configuration of a tape library you need to re-IPL all of the attached IOPs or cycle power on all of the attached IOAs to cause the IBM® i partition to re-configure the tape library. Because of this requirement, tape library devices and disk units should not be on the same IOA.

The system creates a device description that is named TAPMLB xx, where xx is the next available device description number, and configures any associated tape resources (MLBRSC) and tape device descriptions (TAP xx). The system creates tape device descriptions for each tape resource that is connected to the primary path. These tape device descriptions are used for stand-alone operations for service and when the tape library is in stand-alone, auto (sequential), or manual mode.

Configuration Requirements:
  1. A tape device description is required for each device resource for the tape library device to operate properly.
  2. A maximum of 32 drives from a logical library can be attached to an IBM i partition.
  3. When the tape library is attached using an I/O adapter with an IOP, or when running releases earlier than IBM i 7.1, drives with different capabilities within the same tape library must either be connected to separate IOAs or the tape library must be partitioned so that each type of drive is in a separate logical partition. When running IBM i 7.1 or later with an IOPless configuration, drives with different capabilities can be connected to the same IOA. There must be at least one control path drive that is defined for each kind of drive. There is a separate tape library device description created for each kind of tape device within the tape library.
  4. If multiple tape library devices are attached to a multiple port SCSI IOA, every library device and drive attached to the same IOA must have a unique SCSI address.
  5. Tape library devices and tape drives are not allowed to have multiple connections to the same IBM i partition unless the partition is running IBM i 7.2 TR2 or a later release. For more information about multiple connections, see the Tape multipath topic.
  6. When running IBM i 6.1 and an IOPless configuration there must be at least 1 control path drive per IOA. Multiple control path drives are not recommended. All of the media in the tape library is required to have a bar code label. The maximum number of elements in one logical library is limited to 5000.
  7. When running IBM i 6.1.1 with an IOPless configuration and PTF MF50093 applied there must be at least 1 control path driver per IOA port. Multiple control path drives are not recommended. The maximum number of elements in one logical library is limited to 5000 unless PTFs MF55406 and MF50093 are applied. PTF MF55406 enables support for tape library devices with up to 15,000 storage elements.
  8. When running IBM i 7.1 with an IOPless configuration there must be at least one control path drive per IOA port. Multiple control path drives can be attached to the same IOA port and if a control path drive fails the library operations will automatically switch over to use a different control path drive. The maximum number of elements in one logical library is limited to 5000 unless PTF MF55409 is applied. PTF MF55409 enables support for tape library devices with up to 15,000 storage elements.
  9. If a Virtual Tape Library is going to be used for an alternate IPL device (D-mode), there can only be one tape drive visible to the adapter tagged as the alternate restart device.
To prepare a tape library for use, take the following steps.
  1. Ensure that the tape library is set to random or library mode. If it is not, use the device panel or GUI interface to set the correct mode.
  2. At the character-based interface, type WRKMLBSTS and press Enter. This command allows you to work with the status of the device.
  3. In the option field next to each resource, select option 4 (ALLOCATE) or option 5 (UNPROTECTED) and press Enter. This step makes the resource available to the tape library.
  4. Add cartridges to the tape library. See the documentation for your media management application, or Making cartridges available to the tape library inventory for more information.