Dell TL2000 Installation Planning, Determining the Number of Logical Libraries, Basic Guidelines

Chapter 3. Installation Planning

Before installing your library, take time to review the following information.

Determining the Number of Logical Libraries

You can partition the library into as many logical libraries as there are drives in the library.

Basic Guidelines

vEach logical library must contain at least one drive.

vA library configuration of exactly one logical library equals the entire physical library.

vThe library issues a warning to the user if media is moved across logical libraries.

Library Sharing

The library’s default configuration allows a single application to operate the library through a single control path. Often, it is advantageous to be able to share a single library between heterogeneous (dissimilar) or homogeneous (similar) applications.

Some applications (and some servers) do not allow for sharing a library between systems. Configurations can be created that enable the library to process commands from multiple heterogeneous applications and multiple homogeneous applications.

From the library’s Web User Interface or Operator Control Panel, the following actions can be performed:

vConfigure the library so that it is partitioned into separate logical libraries that independently communicate with separate applications through separate control paths. This configuration requires no special capabilities from the server or application. (For more information, see “Using Multiple Logical Libraries for Library Sharing” on page 3-2.)

vConfigure any single logical library (including the entire physical library) so that it is shared by two or more servers that are running the same application. Depending on the capabilities of the server and application, there are several ways to set up this type of configuration. Three typical ways include:

–Configuring one server (host) to communicate with the library through a single control path; all other servers send requests to that server through a network.

–Configuring all of the servers to communicate with the library through a single, common control path. This configuration is used in high-availability environments. Multi-initiator configurations are only supported by certain adapters and independent software vendors (ISVs). Check with your ISV.

–Configuring a single logical library to communicate with multiple servers through multiple control paths. This configuration requires that control paths be added (see “Using Multiple Control Paths” on page 3-2).

Library configuration is not limited to the examples given above. Many configurations are possible, and can be designed according to your business needs. For additional information, refer to your host application documentation.

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