Storage slot pooling

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Storage slots are a shared resource in the TS4500 tape library.

The Advanced Library Management System (ALMS) allows logical libraries to be added or deleted without disrupting operation. All storage slots are pooled (available on a first-come, first-served basis) to each logical library based on cartridge insert operations. They are a shared resource such that changes to the capacity allocation for each logical library can occur without downtime or administrator involvement. The minimum logical library has a name and can be thought of as a file folder that has no contents. Drives are assigned to the logical library from the Drives page of the TS4500 management GUI. Cartridges are assigned to the logical library based on their volume serial (VOLSER) numbers and by using one of the following methods, which are listed in priority order:

  • VOLSER ranges
  • Software application move from the I/O station (based on the source application that issued the command)
  • Manual assignment by an operator by using the TS4500 management GUI

The primary and backup copies of VOLSER assignment and physical location of cartridges are stored in nonvolatile random access memory (NVRAM).