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Summary

This article describes how to manually add a jukebox to your enterprise.

 

 

Resolution

 

 

Before performing any of the following steps, you must install the BEX jukebox driver on the node to which the jukebox is attached. Follow the instructions in the DPX  documnetation that was part DPX installation or can be found on MySupport Catalogic site. 

 

 

Note 1: Jukebox, automated tape library, and robotic device are synonymous terms.

Note 2: A jukebox cannot simultaneously contain devices on a storage area network (SAN) and devices directly connected to a server.

To add a jukebox to the DPX enterprise:

1. On the Configure Robotic Devices screen click the Add Jukebox button. The Add Jukebox dialog appears.

2. Complete the fields in the Add Jukebox dialog:

  • Jukebox Name. Enter a name of up to 14 alphanumeric characters for the jukebox (for example, SALES_JUKE). No two jukeboxes in the enterprise can have the same name.

 

  • Storage Area Network. Specify whether devices in the jukebox are connected to a SAN. A jukebox cannot contain both devices on a SAN and devices directly connected to a server.

 

  • Jukebox Type. Select a jukebox type (for example, EXB210) from the drop-down list. If you select either ACSLS for a StorageTek Automated Cartridge System (ACS) or IBMATL for an IBM Magstar 3494 Tape Library (IBM 3494), the Using Slot and Cleaning Slot fields become inactive. If you select ACSLS, the Controller ID field changes to the ACS Number field. If you select IBMATL, the Category Field becomes active. If you select ADIC_AML for an AML Automated Storage Library, the Storage Area Network field is forced to No, the list on the Device Type field is disabled, the OK button changes to the Test button, and the Using Slot, Cleaning Slot, and Cleaning Threshold fields become inactive.

 

  • Controller Node. A controller node for a jukebox is analogous to a device server for a tape drive. The controller node is connected to the jukebox robotic arm either directly or over a SAN. Select the DPX node name (for example, SALES_SERVER_1) of the device server where you have installed the DPX jukebox driver. The controller node is connected to the jukebox robotic arm either directly or over a SAN. Although this node must be running one of the operating systems specified in the DPX documentation, jukebox devices (tape drives) can be attached to any device server or NDMP node in your regular network or SAN. Note that even in a SAN, you need to choose one node as the primary controller for the jukebox. This node will manage the robotics and messages. The drives in the jukebox can be accessed from any node that can access the SAN. Also note, a jukebox robotic arm can be controlled by the NDMP node, eliminating the need for a separate Windows or UNIX device server. To enable a tape library robotic arm to be controlled by the NDMP node, select the NDMP node name in the Controller Node field in the Add Jukebox dialog.

 

  • Controller ID. Enter the complete path and name to the jukebox robotic arm controller file on the controller node. For example, the jukebox robotic arm controller filer could be /dev/sync_sa/0 for Solaris or C:\dpx\bin\JB\sync_sa0 for Windows. This file is created by BEX during jukebox driver installation. For an IBM 3494, this is the logical name of the library control point that you specified when you first configured the IBM 3494. This field does not appear if you choose ACSLS in the Jukebox Type field. The Category field is only used for IBM Magstar 3494 tape libraries. The remaining fields in the dialog are filled in automatically based on the jukebox type you selected. If your jukebox type is not listed or is atypical, you can enter numbers for Using Slot, Cleaning Slot, and Cleaning Threshold. However, the numbers must be correct for your jukebox to function. The numbering of using slots starts with 0, not 1.

 

  • ACS Number. This field only appears if you choose ACSLS in the Jukebox Type field. Enter the ACS Number. The ACS Number was specified in ACSLS when the ACS was first configured and should be between 0-126. For more information on ACS, see the BEX Configuration Guide.

 

  • Category. This field is inactive unless you choose IBMATL in the Jukebox Type field. Before adding an IBM 3494 to BEX, you need to reserve two categories in the IBM 3494 Library Manager. One of these categories should not have any tapes assigned to it. Enter that category in this field. For more information on using IBM Magstar 3494 tape libraries, see the IBM 3494 documentation.

 

  • Device Type. Select a device type (for example, LTO) from the drop-down list. All devices in a jukebox must be the same type.

 

  • Using Slot. Enter the starting and ending slot numbers that will be used for media volumes (for example, entering 1 and 11 tells BEX that slot numbers 1 through 11 are reserved for BEX media volumes). Note that slot numbers start at zero (0). Thus, slot number 1 is the 2nd slot.

 

  • Cleaning Slot. Enter the slot used for the cleaning tape or disk. Typically this is a single slot, so you would enter the slot number twice. For example, 16 through 16 indicates that slot number 16 (the 17th slot) contains a cleaning tape or disk. If there is no cleaning slot, leave this field blank.

 

  • Cleaning Threshold. Enter a number to indicate how many times a drive can be used before it is cleaned. An internal counter is incremented each time a tape is inserted in the drive. For example, if you enter 50, a tape can be used (inserted in the drive) 50 times. Just before the next use, the cleaning tape will be inserted to clean the drive head. After the drive is cleaned, the counter is reset to 0. Note that cleaning can be scheduled via the Devices function on the BEX Administrator Menu. A scheduled cleaning also resets the counter to 0.

 

  • Comment. Optionally enter an alphanumeric string of up to 48 characters.

 

3. If you are not adding an AML virtual jukebox, skip to the next step. For an AML virtual jukebox only, click the Test button in order to update the Device Type field. If the device type is successfully updated, the Test button will change to an OK button. If not, BEX displays a message stating that it is unable to get information for the specified virtual jukebox.

4. Click OK.

The newly defined jukebox appears in the left pane of the Jukeboxes window. A non-SAN jukebox is solid gray. A SAN jukebox has a blue stripe. You can then add devices to the jukebox.