Configuring tape libraries

If you change the physical or logical configuration of a tape library you will need to re-IPL all of the attached IOPs or cycle power on all of the attached IOAs to cause the IBM® i partition to re-configure the tape library. Because of this requirement, tape library devices and disk units should not be on the same IOA.

The system creates a device description named TAPMLB xx, where xx is the next available device description number, and configures any associated tape resources (MLBRSC) and tape device descriptions (TAP xx). The system creates tape device descriptions for each tape resource. These tape device descriptions are used for stand-alone operations for service and when the tape library is in stand-alone, auto (sequential), or manual mode.

Configuration Requirements:

1. A tape device description is required for each device resource for the tape library device to operate properly.
2. A maximum of 32 drives from a logical library can be attached to an IBM i partition.
3. When the tape library is attached using an I/O adapter with an IOP, or when running releases earlier than IBM i 7.1, drives with different capabilities within the same tape library must either be connected to separate IOAs or the tape library must be partitioned so that each type of drive is in a separate logical partition. When running IBM i 7.1 or later with an IOPless configuration, drives with different capabilities can be connected to the same IOA. There must be at least one control path drive defined for each kind of drive. There will be a separate tape library device description created for each kind of tape device within the tape library.
4. If multiple tape library devices are attached to a multiple port SCSI IOA, every library device and drive attached to the same IOA must have a unique SCSI address.
5. Tape library devices and tape drives can not have multiple connections to the same IBM i partition.
6. When running IBM i 6.1 and an IOPless configuration there must be at least 1 control path drive per IOA. Multiple control path drives are not recommended. All of the media in the tape library is required to have a bar code label. The maximum number of elements in one logical library is limited to 5000.
7. When running IBM i 6.1.1 with an IOPless configuration and PTF MF50093 applied there must be at least 1 control path driver per IOA port. Multiple control path drives are not recommended. The maximum number of elements in one logical library is limited to 5000 unless PTFs MF55406 and MF50093 are applied. PTF MF55406 enables support for tape library devices with up to 15,000 storage elements.
8. When running IBM i 7.1 with an IOPless configuration there must be at least one control path drive per IOA port. Multiple control path drives can be attached to the same IOA port and if a control path drive fails the library operations will automatically switch over to use a different control path drive. The maximum number of elements in one logical library is limited to 5000 unless PTF MF55409 is applied. PTF MF55409 enables support for tape library devices with up to 15,000 storage elements.
9. If a TS7610/TS7650 (ProtecTIER®) drive is going to be used for an alternate IPL device (D-mode), there can only be one drive visible on the adapter as the alternate restart device.

The 3494 tape library supports connections to multiple 3490, 3590, and 3592 tape devices within the same physical unit. When the system configures these devices, it creates a unique device description for each kind of tape device in the physical 3494 tape library. When any of these device descriptions is varied on, all devices of that type within that 3494 tape library will be associated with it.