Bulk loading cartridges into HD slots

Follow this procedure to bulk load (manually insert) cartridges directly into HD slots of the TS3500 tape library.

About this task

Important:
  • With the Advanced Library Management System (ALMS) enabled, cartridges that are not in a cartridge assignment policy are not added to any logical library.
  • Only bulk load cartridges into HD frames during initial cartridge insertion.

Procedure

  1. From the library's Activity screen (see Figure 1), press the PAUSE key. The library displays the message: If you open the door the library will go Not Ready and any remaining jobs in the work queue may fail. Press ENTER to continue.
    Figure 1. Activity screen on the front panel of the IBM® TS3500. Use the screen to pause the library.
  2. Press ENTER. The message PAUSE in Progress displays. The library parks the cartridge accessor in the base frame and displays the message: The library is now paused. Normal operations will resume in 30 seconds.
  3. Within 30 seconds, unlock and open the front door on any HD frame. If you do not open the door within 30 seconds, the Activity screen redisplays.
  4. Insert the cartridges into any HD 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 front of the cartridge or until the slot accepts no more cartridges because it is full. For the initial bulk load on a newly installed frame, do not insert cartridges into HD slots with the black and yellow bar code labels that are shown in Figure 2.
    Important:

    All HD slots are black, however the location of the cartridge retention latch differentiates LTO HD slots from 3592 HD slots. The cartridge retention latch is on the left side of LTO HD slots and on the right side of 3592 HD slots.

    Place only LTO tape cartridges into the LTO HD slots (see Figure 3); place only 3592 tape cartridges into the 3592 HD slots (see Figure 4).

    Exclamation point and caution notice
    CAUTION:
    Only place cartridges in a frame whose front door is open. Do not add or remove cartridges from an adjacent frame.
    Exclamation point and caution notice
    CAUTION:
    When you are doing a bulk load on newly installed HD frames, do not load cartridges into slots with the black and yellow label that is shown in Figure 2. These slots 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 HD slot in subsequent library operations.
    Figure 2. Black and yellow bar code label
    The write-protect switch is on the left side of both LTO and 3592 cartridges. Insert LTO and 3592 cartridges into HD slots so that the write-protect switch is on the left and the volume serial (VOLSER) number label is visible (see Figure 3 and Figure 4). The orientation differs from the orientation in an I/O slot.
    Figure 3. Proper orientation of LTO tape cartridges in HD slots. The cartridge retention latch ( 1 ) and write-protect switch ( 2 ) are shown.
    Figure 4. Proper orientation of 3592 tape cartridges in HD slots. The cartridge retention latch ( 1 ) and write-protect switch ( 2 ) are shown.
  5. Gently close and lock the front door.
  6. After approximately 15 seconds, the TS3500 tape library automatically inventories the frame of the door that you opened. During the inventory, the message INITIALIZING displays on the Activity screen. When the inventory is complete, READY displays.
    Notes: