Share a Library Between Applications (Linux Only)

If two or more software applications (on one or multiple machines), are configured to use the same library, then you must use the following procedure to enable the library to be shared and to prevent media being overwritten when these applications are used. This task must be performed when the Configuration Wizard (CW) is run during initial StorNext setup and configuration. For more information on using the CW, see Configure StorNext Using the StorNext GUI.

Caution: Quantum strongly recommends using library partitioning features to present each application using the library with its own virtual library. Unless partitioning is used, two applications sharing the robot arm, drives and slots may over-write each others data.

Use the following instructions only if library partitioning is not an option.

Note: For library sharing to be effective, the steps in the following procedure must be performed in the order in which they are presented.

Note: You must have root privileges to perform this task.

  1. When you match hardware devices to their correct slots on the Matched Devices With Slots screen (you will see this screen during the execution of Step 4 of the Configuration Wizard, Add Tape Drive), only configure the tape drives that StorNext will use. You do not need to configure all tape drives listed as part of the library.
  2. Once the tape drives are added and configured in Step 4 of the CW (Add Tape Drive), but before continuing to Step 5 of the CW (Add Media), go to a Metadata Controller and perform these steps:

    1. Change directory to the config directory. Type:

      cd /usr/adic/MSM/internal/config

    1. List all files in the config directory. Type:

      ls -l

    1. Using a text editor, edit the media_file_<library_name> file. For example:

      vi media_file_<library_name>

      The media_file contains a filter for barcode labels that are read by StorNext. In the example above, <library_name> is the library that was configured in Step 3, Add Library, of the CW.

    1. Set up the pattern matching of the media file.

      Multiple entries may exist in the media file. Read the examples in the file to learn how to set up pattern matching.

      These are examples of pattern matching:

      scsi_archive 1111.. (brings in all media with the 1111 prefix)

      scsi_archive AB9... (brings in all six-character media labels with the AB9 prefix)

      scsi_archive CLN1.. (brings in all media that have the CLN1 prefix)

  3. Continue to the Add Media section of the Configuration Wizard.

Caution: After this procedure is done, StorNext will not use other media, but other applications may try to overwrite StorNext media. To avoid data loss, be sure you configure the other application to prevent overwriting StorNext data.