Bulk loading cartridges

Bulk load cartridges into storage slots in the IBM® Diamondback tape library during the initial cartridge insertion.

About this task

After cartridges are inserted into storage slots and the library frame door is closed, the cartridges are assigned to logical libraries based on their volume serial (VOLSER) number. If the VOLSER of a cartridge does not match any of the existing VOLSER ranges, the cartridge remains unassigned. (VOLSER ranges are created and assigned to logical libraries during the initial library setup.)

Procedure

Complete the following steps to bulk load cartridges into the UHD frame:

Open the front door and wait until the robotic accessor goes down to the bottom of the frame.
Insert the cartridges into any UHD slot that accepts cartridges by gently pushing the cartridges into the slot against the resistance of the constant force spring. Insert cartridges until the retention latch locks around the front of the cartridge or until the slot accepts no more cartridges because it is full.
LTO slots accept nine cartridges.
Important:
- For the initial bulk load on a newly installed frame, insert cartridges into the deep slots, but leave the top row empty. The slots in the top row must be empty for the initial audit of the frame to start. The initial audit fills these slots and then they are used like any other UHD slot in subsequent library operations.
- The write-protect switch is on the left side of the LTO cartridges. Insert LTO cartridges into UHD slots so that the write-protect switch is on the left and the bar code label is visible (see Figure 1).
Figure 1. Proper orientation of LTO tape cartridges in UHD slots. The cartridge retention latch ( 1 ) and write-protect switch ( 2 ) are shown.
Gently close and lock the front door.
After approximately 15 seconds, the IBM Diamondback tape library automatically inventories the library.
The inventory of the library after the initial bulk load takes approximately 5 seconds per cartridge.