StorageTek 6 manual Tape Management Interface, Software Requirements

Software Requirements

The following software requirements apply:

•LMU 3.0 (or higher) or 9315/9330 1.0 (or higher) µ-software is required for a multiple-level communications service.

•ACF/VTAM 3.2 (or higher) must be available to use the VTAM method of communications.

Tape Management Interface

The tape management interface component provides you with the interface definitions that can be used to interface a tape management system with the HSC.

Various functions are provided by the HSC to assist the tape management system (TMS) with device allocation and cartridge mounting to optimize library cartridge handling, and to minimize the need for operator intervention. The HSC provides the following assistance to the tape management system.

•The HSC returns configuration information which describes the location of all drives, the pass-thru connections between LSMs, and other information the TMS might use to understand the library’s environment.

•The HSC returns volume location information including: whether the volume resides in an ACS, in which LSM it is located, and the volume’s location in the LSM. This information allows the TMS to determine whether the volume should be mounted on an automated or a manual drive.

•The HSC returns a list of drives that are physically accessible to the volume. If a scratch volume was specified, ordering is by LSM scratch counts. Drives in the same LSM are considered to be closest; those accessed by one pass-thru event, the next closest; and so forth. The list is ordered by proximity to the LSM containing the volume. This information allows the TMS to match an ACS drive from this list to a drive which the TMS determines to be available for mounting the cartridge.

•The HSC selects a scratch volume when requested, and returns volume information. This allows the TMS to validate the volume’s scratch status before it is mounted. The HSC also supports specifying, at mount time, that a scratch volume be used.

•The HSC mounts, dismounts, and ejects volumes at the request of the TMS. The HSC returns status and success information about the operation.

•The TMS may direct the HSC to operate as if no operator were present. In this mode, any operation which would require operator action, including responding to a message, will be cancelled, and failure returned. The TMS may choose to retry the operation.

Refer to the HSC Interface to Tape Management Systems Manual for more information.

Chapter 2. Host Software Component Functions 81

1st ed., 6/30/04 - 312579601