Adding or replacing a Base or Expansion Module

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Weight hazard: 18 - 33.6 kg
Weight hazard: 33.6 - 46.3 kg
Warning:

Product Weight

Caution: The weight of this part or unit is between 18.1 and 33.6 kg (40 and 74 lb). It takes two persons to safely lift this part or unit. (C009)

Caution: The weight of this part or unit is between 33.6 and 46.3 kg (74 and 102 lb). It takes three persons to safely lift this part or unit. (C010)

Risk of personal injury

Before a module is moved or lifted
  • Observe local health and safety requirements and guidelines for manual material handling.
  • Remove all tapes to reduce the weight and to prevent cartridges from falling into the robotics path and damaging the library.
  • Remove all tape drives to reduce the weight.
  • Obtain adequate assistance to lift and stabilize the module during installation or removal.

Risk of damage to devices

When a module is placed into or removed from a rack
  • Extend the rack’s leveling jacks to the floor.
  • Ensure that the full weight of the rack rests on the leveling jacks.
  • Install stabilizing feet on the rack.
  • Extend only one rack component at a time.
ESD label
CAUTION:
Parts can be damaged by electrostatic discharge. Keep parts in electrostatic containers until needed. Ensure that you are properly grounded when static sensitive components are touched.

Adding a module: Overview

To add a module to an existing configuration, you will
  1. Power down the library.
  2. Remove the top or bottom plate of the module. See Preparing top and bottom modules.
  3. Install the module into the rack. See Installing modules in a rack.
  4. Align and connect the modules. See Aligning and connecting modules.
  5. Connect the components and cables. See Replacing the Module components and cables.
  6. Connect the power cords, power on the library, and complete Verifying Library Module installation and configuration.
  7. Add tape cartridges to the new module.

Replacing a module: Overview

To replace the module, you will
  1. Update the library firmware to the minimum code level of 1.2.1.0-A00 or higher.
  2. Save the library configuration. See Saving the configuration.
  3. Remove tape cartridges and power off the library. See Removing the magazines and cartridges and Powering off the library.
  4. Remove all the components from the module and disconnect the power cords and cables. See Removing the Module cables.
  5. Remove the module from the rack. See Removing the Module from a rack.
  6. Install the replacement module into the rack. See Installing the Module into a rack.
  7. Replace the components and cables. See Replacing the Module components and cables.
  8. Connect the power cords, power on the library, and complete Verifying Library Module installation and configuration.
  9. Replace the tape cartridges.

You need a T-10 Torx screwdriver to remove the drive bay covers and a small flat head screwdriver. Have several static safe bags available for the boards that are moved to the replacement chassis.

Before the replacement procedure is begun
  • Ensure that the rack is level side to side and front to back.
  • Verify that any applications that are using the library are idle.
Attention: If the temperature in the room where the replacement module is installed varies by 15 C (59 F) from the room where it was stored, allow it to acclimate to the surrounding environment for at least 12 hours before it is unpacked from the shipping container.

Saving the configuration

See Locating Management functions for instructions on saving configuration settings to a file or an FAT32 formatted USB flash drive with the Management GUI or with the Operator Panel. This action is needed only for the Base chassis module and only as an extra safety precaution for both chassis and controller card replacement.

Note: Do not do a Save Configuration on a library that is in a failed state. Save the configuration on a working library only.

Removing the magazines and cartridges

For detailed instructions, see Locating Management functions to open the magazines.
Note: As a best practice, complete this procedure while applications are idle. While the magazine is pulled or removed, the library robotic assembly cannot move media.

Powering off the library

Power off the library from the front panel. Depress Power and hold it for 5 seconds. If the library does not complete a soft shutdown, depress and hold Power for 10 seconds.
Important: Under normal circumstances, when the library is powered off by using the front Power, the robot automatically parks and locks into the Base Module behind the Operator Panel. If you are given a choice during the power down procedure, choose the default park position. To protect the spooling cable or other sensitive parts, the accessor must be in the Base Module before any modules are removed from the library. If it is not, follow the procedure for returning the accessor to the base module. See Returning the accessor to the Base Module.

Verify that all host processes are idle.

Removing the Module cables

  1. Remove the power cords from the module that is replaced.
  2. Remove the expansion interconnect cables ( 1 ) from the module that is replaced and from the modules that are connected to it.
    Figure 1. Interconnect cables
    Interconnect cables
    Note: Completely removing the cables from both ends prevents damaging the expansion interconnect cables during module removal and replacement.
  3. Remove any SAS, FC, or Ethernet cables from the module that is replaced.
  4. Remove the USB device, if present.

Removing the tape drives

Remove any tape drives from the module that is replaced. The library tracks the drive locations and issues events if the drives aren't in the expected locations. Note the drive locations so they can be replaced in the same order and drive bays.
  1. Use your fingers to loosen the blue captive thumbscrews on the tape drive.
  2. Pull straight back on the tape drive handle while the bottom of the drive is supported to remove it from the module.
Attention: Support the bottom of the tape drive when it is removed to avoid damaging any of the internal connections.

Removing the power supplies

While the power supplies are removed, be sure to support the bottom. For detailed instructions, see Adding, removing, or replacing a power supply.

Removing the Base or Expansion controller card

For detailed instructions, see Replacing a Base or Expansion controller card.

Removing the Module from a rack

Obtain assistance to lift and stabilize the module during removal and replacement.
  • If you are removing a module that has a module immediately above or below it,
    1. From the front of the library, use a #2 Phillips screwdriver to loosen the screws two full turns on the module and its adjacent modules.
    2. From the back of the library, unlock the alignment mechanisms that connect the module with the adjacent modules.
      Note: If a blue alignment lever lock is attached to the rear of the module, slide it to the left, then move the alignment lever. The lever lock has an internal spring, so hold it while the alignment lever is moved, and it automatically springs back into place after the lever is moved. See Figure 2.
      Figure 2. Unlocking or disengaging the alignment lever
      Unlocking or disengaging the alignment lever
From the front of the library, use a #2 Phillips screwdriver and your fingers to loosen the captive thumbscrews screws two full turns on the module to be removed (circled in Figure 3). Then, slide the module out of the rack.
Figure 3. Loosening the thumbscrews
Loosening the thumbscrews
Figure 4. Sliding the module out of the rack
Sliding the module out of the rack

Moving the library cover plates

Unpack the replacement module and place it on a sturdy work surface. Save the packaging materials to return the empty module.

The Base Module has removable top and bottom cover plates. The two covers are identical and the process for removing and installing them is the same for the top and bottom of the module. See Preparing top and bottom modules for details. While this procedure refers to moving a cover from the Base Module, the information is the same for moving a cover from an Expansion Module. The covers must be removed only if the failed unit does not have the covers (the cover is on another module).

The replacement module is shipped with a bottom cover plate but not a top cover plate. Move the cover plates as necessary so the replacement module has the cover plates in the same location as the empty module and the empty module has a bottom cover plate.

Installing the Module into a rack

See Installing modules in a rack for details.

Replacing the Module components and cables

Replace the module components by reversing the removal procedures. Align the components carefully in the guide slots and tighten thumbscrews only with your fingers. If the thumbscrews cannot be tightened easily, verify that the component is aligned properly.

  1. Replace the controller card. See Replacing a Base or Expansion controller card.
  2. Replace the tape drives in the same locations.
    Tip: To help align the drive, remove the drive bay covers for one drive at a time.
    See Adding, removing, or replacing a tape drive.
  3. Replace the magazines in the same locations.
  4. Replace the power supplies. See Adding, removing, or replacing a power supply.
  5. Reattach any SAS, FC, expansion interconnect, and Ethernet cables that was removed earlier.
  6. Reinsert the USB device if you removed it earlier.
  7. Reattach the power cords.

Verifying Library Module installation and configuration

  • Power on the library.
  • Verify that the library initializes correctly and that the status is Ready.
  • Run Library Verify to verify that the replacement module is visible in the Operator Panel or Management GUI.
  • If a module was replaced, validate the library configuration in the Management GUI at Library > Logical Libraries.
  • Properly complete the Repair Identification (RID) tag that was included with the replacement module.
    Note: A RID (Repair Identification) tag maintains the original serial number record of the module to ensure your warranty coverage, if applicable, is not interrupted. The tag is important for customer inventory accuracy. Follow the instructions on the RID tag precisely.
    • Copy the serial number of the defective module onto the RID tag.
    • Apply the tag to the front of the new replacement module.
      Figure 5. Placement of the RID tag (Base Module shown)
      Placement of the RID tag (Base Module shown)
  • If a module was added, you must reset your logical libraries by using the basic logical library wizard. See Locating Management functions to find and run the basic logical library wizard.