Inserting data or scratch cartridges
A description of cartridges that are used by the TS3500 tape library and two ways to insert data and scratch cartridges.
Notes:
- Management and handling of media cartridges is a customer function and responsibility.
- Never insert any type of cartridge into service bays.
After you install the TS3500 tape library, you can
insert cartridges into it. The following types of cartridges can be
inserted:
- Data or scratch cartridge
- A tape cartridge that is designed to receive information recorded to it by a tape drive. A scratch cartridge is a data cartridge whose tape no longer contains useful information and which can be overwritten. To ensure that your tape library conforms to IBM's specifications for reliability, use only the IBM® LTO Ultrium Data Cartridge in Ultrium tape drives and the IBM 3592 Enterprise Tape Cartridge in 3592 tape drives. You can use other LTO- or 3592-certified media, but they may not meet the standards of reliability established by IBM. If you are using mixed drive types, place only LTO Ultrium tape cartridges into Ultrium frames with black I/O slots; similarly, place 3592 tape cartridges into 3592 frames with gray I/O slots. For more information, see Using the I/O stations to insert data cartridges when virtual I/O slots are disabled, Using the I/O stations to insert data cartridges when virtual I/O slots are enabled, Bulk loading cartridges into non-HD storage slots, Bulk loading cartridges into HD slots, or Removing data cartridges from the library.
- Cleaning cartridge
- A tape cartridge that is used by the library to clean the heads of its tape drives. Use only the IBM LTO Ultrium Cleaning Cartridge or an IBM-approved cleaning cartridge to clean an Ultrium tape drive. Use only the IBM 3592 Cleaning Cartridge or an IBM-approved cleaning cartridge to clean a 3592 tape drive. The procedure for inserting and removing cleaning cartridges is different than the procedure for inserting and removing data and scratch cartridges.
- LTO Diagnostic cartridge or 3592 CE cartridge
- A tape cartridge that is used by the IBM Service Representative to service the TS3500 tape library. The service representative installs the cartridge at the same time that the library is installed. For libraries that use Ultrium and 3592 tape drives, the service representative installs a diagnostic cartridge for each type of drive.
The quantity of cartridges that you can add to the TS3500 tape library is equal to the maximum number of available storage slots (for more information, go to the section about frame capacity). Before you insert data or scratch cartridges, make sure that there are enough available slots. To check the availability of storage slots, see Determining the status of storage slots.
Conditions apply to mixing drives and media. For more information, refer to Mixing media in drives.
There
are two ways to insert data and scratch cartridges:
- Insert the cartridges into an I/O station and let the host application software move the cartridges into the library.
- Open the front door of a frame and bulk load the cartridges directly into empty storage slots.