Methods of cleaning drives
Automatic cleaning of tape drives is disabled by default in the library. However, automatic cleaning of tape drives is recommended for this library. It is also possible to initiate manual or host cleaning methods.
The head of every tape drive in the tape library must be kept clean to prevent errors that are caused by contamination. To help you keep the drives clean, IBM provides a cleaning cartridge with the library. The library uses the cleaning cartridge to clean the drive with whatever cleaning method that you choose. In all methods, cleaning is done after the data cartridge is unloaded from the drive and before the next load.
If you put the cleaning cartridge into a storage slot that is assigned to a logical library, it is visible to any hosts that are associated with that logical library. If you don't want the cleaning cartridge visible to any hosts, put it into a storage slot that is not assigned to any logical libraries.
It is the operator’s responsibility to monitor cleaning cartridge usage and replace cleaning cartridges as necessary. This tape library provides multiple ways to monitor and manage cleaning cartridges. If SNMP traps are enabled, a trap is generated when a cleaning cartridge expires. It is also possible to use the Management GUI to monitor the cleaning cycles that remain on a cleaning cartridge.
- Automatic cleaning
- Automatic cleaning enables the library to automatically respond to any tape drive's request for
cleaning and to begin the cleaning process. The cleaning process is transparent to any host
application that uses the library.
Select Auto Clean to enable the auto cleaning feature. When enabled, the library automatically initiates a cleaning operation when media is unloaded from a drive that requires cleaning instead of creating a warning event when a drive requires cleaning. For reliable operation, enable Auto Clean for each logical library and ensure that the library has a valid cleaning cartridge.
It is preferred to put the cleaning cartridge into a storage slot that is not assigned to a logical library. If you put the cleaning cartridge into a storage slot that is assigned to a logical library, it is visible to any hosts that are associated with that logical library. If you don't want the cleaning cartridge to be visible to any hosts, put it into a storage slot that is not assigned to any logical libraries.
When a cleaning operation is initiated, the library first attempts to use an unexpired cleaning cartridge from the same logical library as the tape drive. If the logical library does not contain an unexpired cleaning cartridge, the library attempts to use an unexpired cleaning cartridge from a storage slot that is not assigned to a logical library. The library does not use a cleaning cartridge from a different logical library. When auto cleaning is enabled, ensure that each logical library has an unexpired cleaning cartridge. Or, place at least one unexpired cleaning cartridge into a storage slot that is not assigned to a logical library.
After the initial configuration, Auto Clean can be turned on or off by accessing the Logical Library Wizard Expert Mode.- Go to .
- Select the logical library, then click Edit.
- Click Next to go to the General Settings screen.
- Check or clear Auto Clean, then click Next on the subsequent screens.
- If a change was made, click Finish and the Logical Libraries are reconfigured. If no changes were made, click Cancel.
Note: IBM recommends enabling the Auto Clean function on the library. With the Auto Clean function enabled, drive cleaning occurs automatically. The only time Auto Cleaning must be disabled is when your backup application requires that it has control. - Manual cleaning
- Manual cleaning requires that you select a menu option from the Management GUI to clean one or more of the tape drives. Manual cleaning is always supported.
- Host cleaning
- Host cleaning enables the backup application to define and control the cleaning process. Automatic and manual cleaning use the CLNxxx VOLSER. It is mandatory to put the cleaning cartridge into a storage slot that is assigned to a logical library. The host needs to "recognize" that the cleaning cartridge is available for use.