SL500 - Auto Clean Feature

Asset ID:	1-71-1017248.1
Update Date:	2018-04-10
Keywords:

Solution Type Technical Instruction Sure

Solution 1017248.1 : SL500 - Auto Clean Feature

Applies to:

Sun StorageTek SL500 Modular Library System - Version Not Applicable and later
All Platforms

Goal

This document describes SL500 - Auto Clean feature.

Solution

Cleaning Cartridge Requirements:
The cleaning cartridge VOLSER must have 'CLN' in its prefix plus CU (universal cleaning cartridge label).

Manual Clean Method:

You can manually clean tape drives by placing a compatible cleaning cartridge into a slot or the CAP and using the CLI command:

> drive clean

Note: This is only done via service/remote/advsrv. Customer cannot do the following.

Auto Clean Method:

To enable the Auto Clean option, use the CLI command:

> autoclean on

Reference Chapter 11 in the SL500 User's Guide for the section titled "Library Auto Clean Special Considerations"

Verify Method Enabled:

To find out if the option is already enabled, type:

> autoclean print

Auto Clean defaults to 'off', unless a cleaning cartridge is in a reserved slot when the library is powered-on, in which case Auto Clean is set to on. The Auto Clean option cannot be turned 'on', if no cleaning cartridges are in the library. Once the Auto Clean option is set to 'on', it will remain on, unless it is disabled by the CLI command.

Cleaning Cartridge Count:

When a cartridge has been used a set number of times, it is expired and can no longer effectively clean a tape drive. That cartridge must be replaced and disposed of at the site.

You can set a warning threshold to monitor when a cartridge approaches expiration.

The warning count should be set lower than the cartridge's recommended usage, to allow time to obtain a replacement cleaning cartridge. For example, if the maximum warning count equals 20 uses, you may want to set the warning count to 17. Check your tape drive's product manual for the recommended use and life of the cleaning cartridge.

If the usage count is equal to or exceeds the warning threshold, a message is posted to the warning log, stating that the warning threshold has been exceeded for the cartridge with a given label and that the cartridge should be replaced.

A usage count for the cleaning cartridge is stored in a table in nonvolatile memory. This table holds 18 entries containing a usage count, expired indicator, and label for each cleaning cartridge. After the power-up audit, the cleaning cartridges in the inventory are compared against the table stored in nonvolatile memory. If a label matches one in the table, it is tied to this table entry. After all matches are made for the current inventory, the remaining unmatched entries in the table are cleared from the table. The inventory is then checked for new cleaning cartridges that were not in the table. The new cartridges are added to the table as an initialized entry with no counts.

Expired Cleaning Cartridges:

When the drive ejects the cleaning cartridge, it can report the cleaning cartridge as expired. A nonvolatile indication that the cartridge is expired is saved.

A CLI message displays the appropriate cartridge label and tape drive:

*** Drive Cleaning notice: ***

Cleaning cartridge CLN123CU is expired.

Drive 3 was not cleaned.

Please replace this cartridge.

If a cartridge is expired, it is returned to its original location. If the cleaning activity was selected with the 'any cartridge' option, or if it was Auto Clean initiated, another cleaning cartridge is selected and tried.

If the tape drive was performing a cleaning operation and, after unloading a cleaning cartridge, the status of the tape drive reports that it still needs cleaning, but the expired indication is not set, the cartridge is marked expired.

To discuss any of this information further with Oracle experts and industry peers, we encourage you to review, join or start a discussion in the Oracle Tape Hardware Community

Attachments

This solution has no attachment