Manually Creating Partitions

You can manually create partitions any time after the initial configuration of the library. The maximum number of partitions that you can create is equal to the number of tape drives in the library.

You can mix tape drive interface typesand media types in partitions that you create manually.

The library must contain at least one unallocated tape drive and one unallocated slot to manually create a partition. If no unallocated tape drives or slots exist, you must modify or delete partitions to free resources. For information on modifying partitions, see Modifying Partitions. For information on how to delete a partition, see Deleting Partitions.

The first SCSI or Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) tape drive assigned to a partition is designated as the control path tape drive by default. If the partition contains only Fibre Channel (FC) tape drives, a control path tape drive is automatically selected only if FC I/O blades are not installed in the library. If FC I/O blades are installed in the library and the partition contains FC tape drives that are directly connected to host applications, you must manually select a drive control path for that partition. Do not select a drive control path for partitions that are connected to an FC I/O blade. For more information about control paths, see About Control Paths.

Before creating a partition, verify that all tape drives are unloaded and all cartridges are in their appropriate storage slot locations. For information on unloading tape drives, see Unloading Tape Drives.

NOTE: This operation should not be performed concurrently by multiple administrators logged in from different locations. You can access the appropriate screens, but you cannot apply changes while another administrator is performing the same operation.

Administrators can manually create partitions. Users cannot manually create partitions.

1. From the Setup menu, select Partitions.

   The Setup - Partitions screen displays.

2. Click Manual.

   The Create Partition screen displays.

3. Type a name to describe the new partition into the Enter Name text box.
   
   

   NOTE: Partition names are limited to 12 lower-case alphanumeric characters and underscores (_).

4. Type the number of slots to assign to the new partition into the Enter Number of Slots text box.
   
   
5. • Standard Six — Six character barcode number with or without a two-character media ID; for example, “XXXXXXL4” or ”XXXXXX”. Only the six character barcode number is reported to the host.
   • Plus Six — Six character barcode number followed by a two-character media ID; for example, “XXXXXXL4”. The six character barcode and media ID are reported to the host.
   • Extended — Five to 16 characters total, including a barcode number and optional two-character media ID. All characters are reported to the host, regardless of the barcode label having a media ID or not. If a media ID is included, the label must have a five to 14 character barcode followed by a media ID; for example, “XXXXXXXXXXXXXXL4”. If a media ID is not included, the label must have a five to 16 character barcode number; for example, “XXXXX” or “XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX”.
   • Media ID Last — Five to 14 character barcode number followed by a two-character media ID, for example, “XXXXXXXXXXXXXXL4”. The media ID is reported to the host last, as in “XXXXXXXXXXXXXXL4”.
   • Media ID First — Five to 14 character barcode number followed by a two-character media ID, for example, “XXXXXXXXXXXXXXL4”. The media ID is reported to the host first, as in “L4XXXXXXXXXXXXXX”.

   NOTE: The library supports barcodes up to 16 characters on tape cartridge labels. However, a 16-character barcode label length may not be printable according to the Code 39 label specifications for the tape cartridge area to which the label is attached. The effective tape cartridge barcode label length, including any media ID, may be limited to a maximum of 12 characters.

   • Normal — Evaluates the cartridge memory (CM) and scans selected portions of the tape, focusing on areas most likely to indicate problems. Takes up to 20 minutes per tape. Examples of when to use a normal scan:
     • For tapes in frequent use within the library, with scanning triggered by drive-reported media Tape Alert events.
     • For tapes in frequent use within the library, with scanning being performed at regular time intervals.
   • • When tape cartridges are accessed infrequently and are used primarily for onsite or offsite long-term data retention.
     • When tape cartridges with valuable data are introduced into the library and the state and condition of the tapes are unknown.
   • 01h (1)– Read Warning
   • 03h (3) – Hard Error
   • 04h (4) – Media
   • 05h (5) – Read Failure
   • 06h (6) – Write Failure
   • 12h (18) – Tape Directory Corrupted on Load
   • 33h (51) – Tape Directory Invalid on Unload
   • 34h (52) – Tape System Area Write Error
   • 35h (53) – Tape System Area Read Error
   • 37h (55) – Loading Failure
   • 3Bh (59) – WORM Medium Integrity Check Failed
6. Click Apply.
   
   The Progress Window displays. The Progress Window contains information on the action, elapsed time, and status of the requested operation.
   • If Success displays in the Progress Window, the partition was successfully created. Click Close to close the Progress Window.
   • If Failure displays in the Progress Window, the partition was not created.
7. Save the library configuration.

   For instructions on how to save the library configuration, see Saving the Configuration.

See also: