StorageTek T10000D Tape Drive
 
Sun StorageTek T10000 Tape Drive
 

PLA-Support>Sun Systems>TAPE>Tape Hardware>SN-TP: STK T-Series Drive
 

In this Document

Symptoms

Cause

Solution

Applies to:

Symptoms

 Define criteria for media expiration on T10000 series tape drives.

Cause

 Define criteria for media expiration on T10000 series tape drives.

Solution

T10000 Media Expiration

You can use SPLAT to help identify why the cartridge was put into a wear out, warranty, or warning status. When SPLAT processes a dump it will clearly define the expiration information for the last tape mounted. This information will be put into the Last Tape Stats tab in SPLAT. All that is needed to make this work for you is to load the suspect tape into a drive, then unload the tape, then force a drive dump. Submit the dump to SPLAT and review the Last Tape Stats information.

Expiration of a cartridge can occur based on the following criteria:

1. The number of loads exceeds the threshold.
2. The number of Full File Passes(FFP) exceeds the threshold.
3. ALP wear-out criteria.

If any of the above is true then the tape is expired.

These numbers are stored in both the MIR (tape directory) and the RFID on the tape cartridge.
The threshold numbers are given below.

Note that a T10000 tape could expire after only 10000 loads if it has exceeded the Full File Passes(FFP) criteria.
Calculating FFP is done by the drive code. It looks at the meter count on the tape for this calculation.

It is important to know if you are dealing with just a warning or if the tape is actually expired.
Look at the Fault Symptom Code(FSC) being returned to know if it is a warning threshold or if the tape is considered to be expired.

Media Warranty Life
The drive sends a percentage of use (Media Warranty Life or MWL) number back to the library when the tape is unloaded. This number is sent back to the library control software when requested. This would include ACSLS and ELS/HSC/VTCS.
This usage number is based on both the Load Criteria and the FFP number. It does not include the ALP criteria. The percentage number returned is the higher of the 2 usage numbers. This number can be monitored to determine how close your tapes are toward being expired.
For example VTCS will set the "W" flag for an MVC when the usage number from the drive exceeds 100%.

Impact Of An Expired Tape
The useful life of a tape is determined by the media vendor. It is based on many factors including wear factors on the physical media and the shell components.
1. The media vendor will not replace a tape that has failed if the tape is expired. The media vendor does not recognize the ALP wear out criteria.
2. The risk of a media failure goes up considerably for an expired tape.
3. If a tape drive is damaged due to an expired tape it is a concern for Oracle. This is especially true if many drives are damaged for this reason.

ALP Criteria

The T10000B/C/D tape drives will also post expiration for tapes if certain ALP related thresholds are exceeded. This is done to prevent wearing out of 1 section of tape.(for example if there was an active ALP that is referenced frequently) This expiration criteria is calculated/checked whether or not the account uses the ALP feature and regardless whether or not the tape is actually written in ALP format. The media vendor does not recognize T10000 media as being expired due to any ALP expiration criteria and this criteria is not factored into the Media Warranty Life (MWL) number presented by the drive. 

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