Adding, removing, or replacing a tape drive

ESD label
CAUTION:

Static Sensitive

Risk of damage to devices
  • A discharge of static electricity damages static-sensitive devices or micro circuitry.
  • Proper packaging and grounding techniques are necessary precautions to prevent damage.
Table 1. Pinch hazard
Pinch hazard
Pinch hazard
Pinch hazard
CAUTION:
Risk of pinching hands or fingers. Can trap hands, fingers, and cause serious injury. Keep hands clear during operation. (L012)
Warning: Only individuals who are informed about the procedures and risks can replace or upgrade this tape drive assembly. Read all troubleshooting documentation and procedures before you proceed with repair or upgrade procedures. Hazardous moving parts exist inside this product. Do not insert tools or any portion of your body into the drive bay openings.
Important: ESD events occurring during tape drive installation or removal may cause SAS link reset on tape drives installed in the library. If this occurs, restart any jobs that were running on affected SAS links.

Before you begin

Read the topic, READ and FOLLOW before replacing drives. before doing and of the procedures on this page.

Adding a tape drive

Remember:
  • Half-height tape drives can be installed in any drive bay in a module.
  • Full-height tape drives must be installed in the lowest two bays of a module. Installing a full-height drive in the top two bays of a module is not supported.
  1. If you are adding a tape drive, remove a drive bay cover. With a Philips screwdriver, remove one half-height drive bay cover to install one half-height drive, or remove two drive bays covers to install a full-height tape drive.
    Figure 1. Drive bay covers
    Drive bay covers
    Note: A full-height tape drive must be installed in the lowest bay of the module.
  2. Align and slowly insert the new tape drive into the drive bay along the alignment rails ( 1  in Figure 2) while the drive assembly is supported. The tape drive must be flush with the back panel of the library.
    Figure 2. Alignment rails
    Alignment rails
  3. Tighten the captive thumbscrews ( 1  in Figure 3) with your fingers until the tape drive is secure.
    Figure 3. Installing a tape drive
    Installing a tape drive
  4. Verify the drive operation. Check Library communication LED (10101) on sled is blinking green. At this point drive should be ready on GUI.
  5. Use one of the logical library wizards to add the drive to a logical library as needed.

Removing a tape drive

  • Ensure that all host activity, including library operations are stopped to the drive that is being removed. Exercise extra caution in case of a control path drive. Removing a control path drive will have severe impact on the operation of logical library the drive was installed in.
  • Ensure that the tape cartridge is removed from the tape drive. Use the Management GUI to move the cartridge to a storage slot or I/O station.
  • Remove the FC or SAS cables from the tape drive.
  • Loosen the blue captive thumbscrews ( 1  in Figure 4) on the tape drive. Press the lock lever ( 2  Figure 4) to the right and pull straight back on the tape drive handle while the bottom of the drive is supported to remove it from the unit.
    Figure 4. Unlocking the drive
    Unlocking the drive
    Attention: Support the bottom of the tape drive when it is removed to avoid damaging any of the internal connections.
  • Execute Reset the list of known drives and modules. See Locating Management functions.
  • Confirm that the drive is logically removed by checking the Operator Panel or Management GUI.
  • If replacement drive is not available, install the drive bay cover.
  • If you are replacing the drive, see Adding a tape drive.

Verifying Drive installation and operation

Using the Operator Panel or the Management GUI:
  1. Confirm that the library recognizes the new tape drive by checking the Operator Panel or Management GUI. The new drive appears in the module status overview area on the left side of the screen.
  2. Use the Management GUI or Operator Panel to verify that the tape drive has the current firmware. Update the firmware if necessary.
  3. Use the Management GUI or Operator Panel to test the drive. See Locating Management functions.