Sun Storage DLT8000 FlexiPack
 

PLA-Support>Sun Systems>TAPE>Tape Hardware>SN-TP: OEM Drive and Library
 

Applies to:

Goal

After performing an unload (to eject a tape) on a standalone SPARCstorage(R) DLT 8000 tape drive, the "in use" status re-appears on the tape drive 10 minutes later.

Solution

This is the result of a new feature for power management. The tape drive goes offline correctly, but if you do not operate the handle, and remove the tape within 10 minutes, the power-saving feature kicks i,n and the tape goes back into the "tape in use" state.

Issuing an "mt status" command from the host, will still show the drive as "offline" when this happens, but you will no longer be able to operate the handle or eject the tape.

If the customer doesn't get the tape out, within this 10 minute period, he/she needs to press the unload button again.

This subject is covered in the patch readme file, for the firmware that introduces this change :

Release Revision V85

A.4.2 Enhancement: Added a low power mode used while waiting in the unlocked state for the door to be opened. If, after 10 minutes the door has not been opened, the door will lock and the current holding the tension on the tape willbe reduced. After entering this state, the eject button, SCSI unload, or library unload must take place to remove the cartridge. A SCSI load or library load will load the cartridge and remove the drive from the low power state.

The drive is EOL and the documentation will not be changed to more clearly explain this change.
Note that the Solaris host will not be aware that the tape goes back into the"in use" state. Mt will still report it as offline.
mt, offline, tape, in, use, dlt, eject, DLT8000, DLT 8000
Previously Published As 79214

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