Scalar i3 Devices
Overview
Devices are the physical components of the library that can be accessed, removed or have their status changed.
The available devices are as follows:
Robotics |
Includes the robot and allows you to position the robot for maintenance or to install additional modules. |
Import/Export |
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Storage |
Includes all the magazines in the library available to be ejected from the WebGUI |
Scalar LTFS iBlade |
Displays the LTFS blade and allows you to configure your iBlade |
Veeam Tape Server iBlade |
Displays the Veeam iBlade |
Layout
Lists all available library devices.
Lists all configured parameters for any highlighted partition.
Provides options for device interaction.
Configuration | |
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Settings |
Available for the Robot |
Remove |
Allows you to permanently remove an iBlade from your library. |
Actions | |
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Vary-On |
Allows you to vary-on the robot to prepare it for positioning |
Position |
Allows you to position the robot at the top or bottom of the library for maintenance procedures |
Eject |
Allows you eject any magazine in the library from the WebGUI |
Vary-Off |
Allows you to vary-off the robot for maintenance procedures |
Restart |
Allows you to restart a blade to activate any changes |
Device Snapshot |
Allows you to capture information about the selected device |
BaseOS |
Allows you to view the current OS installed on your iBlade and/or upload and install a new version of the iBlade OS |
Save/Restore |
Allows you to save your iBlade's configuration and then restore the iBlade to a previous state |
Sequester | Allows you to eject a magazine configured with airgap polices against a magazine hard stop. |
Insert | Allows you to send a request to insert a sequestered airgap magazine back into the library. |
Inventory | Allows you to inventory specific magazines in the library. |
Tasks
Configuration
The Settings feature allows you to set the robot parking time delay and enable/disable the Magazine Request Release buttons.
- From the Navigation panel, select Devices.
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In the Operations panel, click Settings.
Item Description Action Robot Parking Delay Allows you to set a specific idle time interval between a robot completing a motion request and parking at the bottom of the library rack.
Note: The default delay is 3 minutes.
Select the time delay from the drop down menu. Magazine Release Button Functionality Allows you to enable or disable the Magazine Release Request buttons on the front of each module in the library.
Select the check box to enable the release buttons. Deselect the check box to disable the buttons. -
Click Apply to save your settings.
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Click Close to exit the window.
The Settings features allows you to configure your Scalar LTFS iBlade.
- From the Navigation panel, select Devices.
- In the North Panel, select the + next to the LTFS Blade and then select the check box next to iBlade.
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In the Operations panel, click Settings.
Item Description Action NAS Share Name Unique identifier for the file system associated with SLTFS. The default is ScalarLTFS but this can be modified.
The field is limited to 15 alphanumeric characters and underscores (_).
If desired, enter a new name.
Note: This change requires that you restart the iBlade.
Scratch Pool Allows you to automatically assign media from the scratch pool if more storage capacity is needed to complete data I/O.
Note: The scratch pool setting is a global reference and new volume groups will default to this enabled. To diable the scratch setting for an individual volume group, refer to Modify a Volume Group.
Default is enabled. Deselect the check box to disable. Extended File Attributes Allows Offline (i.e. Vaulted) files to be displayed with greyed-out crossed-out file icons in Windows Explorer to indicate a file is inaccessible for writing, reading or deletion.
Disabling extended file attributes may provide a performance increase for some host systems.
Default is enabled. Deselect the check box to disable.
Note: This change requires that you restart the iBlade.
Idle Volume Timeout Allows you to automatically dismount media that has been inactive for a specified time. Values include:
- 5 minutes
- 10 minutes
- 20 minutes
- 30 minutes (default)
- 1 hour
- 2 hours
- 4 hours
- 8 hours
Note: The Idle Volume Timeout setting indicates when SLTFS will timeout during I/O operations. It does not apply to maintenance operations, such as formatting tapes.
Select a value from the drop-down menu. Metadata Retention Timeout Allows you to select the length of time metadata will be retained by the system for exported volumes. Values include:
- Off
- Export/Import Delay
- 1 week
- 1 month
- 3 months
- 6 months
- 1 year
- No expiration (default)
Select a value from the drop-down menu. Server Access List Allows you to assign specific access to the NAS Share based on IP Address.
It provides a way for you to manage the IP addresses you want to interface with the Scalar LTFS server. If you do not specify an IP address - meaning the IP address list is empty - all IP address will have access to the /ScalarLTFS (share name)/ directories. If you populate the IP address list by specifying one or more IP address, only the IPs entered are allowed access to the /ScalarLTFS/ directories.
IP addresses are limited to IPv4 addresses only.
Click the + and enter an IP address in the field.
To remove an IP address, click the Trash icon next to the IP address.
Note: This change requires that you restart the iBlade.
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Click Apply to save your settings.
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Click Close to exit the window.
The Remove button allows you to permanently remove an iBlade from your library.
- Remove and Replace an iBlade
- Delete a Partition
- From the Navigation panel, select Devices.
- In the North Panel, select the check box next to the LTFS Blade.
- In the Operations panel, click Remove.
- Click Apply. The iBlade is removed from the list of devices.
- Click Close.
Actions
There are two robot states:
- Vary Off - powers off a robot.
- Vary On - powers on a robot.
You vary a device off to prepare for removal and maintenance.
Note: If the robot is varied off, it will be automatically varied back on after a restart of the library.
The position feature allows you to place the robot at it's designated top or bottom position. You can use this feature to prepare for robot replacement or maintenance if the robot motors are still functioning.
Note: The library will remain in a ready state and any operation requests that require the library will still be accepted and reposition the robot.
- From the Navigation panel, select Devices.
- In the North Panel, select the + next to the Robotics then check box next to the robot.
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In the Operations panel, click Position.
Item Description Action Park Moves the robot to the bottom-most module. Select this radio button if you want to move the robot to it's designated bottom position. Click Apply to begin the position operation.
Note: After the completion of a motion command, the robot will not park until 3 minutes of idle time are observed.
Replace Moves the robot to the second module from the top. Select this radio button if you want to move the robot to it's designated top position. Click Apply to begin the position operation. -
Click Apply to save your settings.
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Click Close to exit the window.
This feature allows you to remotely eject any magazine from your library. When selecting a magazine and clicking the Eject button, any media in that magazine become unavailable for any library operation. Also, you will need someone at the library to put the magazine back into the library.
The Restart feature allows you to stop iBlade operations, shut down the iBlade, and then restart the operating system.
Changing the NAS Share Name, Server Access List, and/or Extended File Attributes require a restart to activate the changes.
The Snapshot feature allows you to capture detailed information about the selected device in a single file. The downloaded snapshot can then be viewed locally or emailed.
Note: A device snapshot collects a large amount of log data so capturing a device snapshot may take up to 30 minutes.
- From the Navigation panel, select Devices.
- In the North Panel, select the + next to NAS then select the check box next to iBlade.
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In the Operations panel, click Device Snapshot.
Item Description Action Standard Allows you to capture details on the selected iBlade for use in troubleshooting issues. A snapshot depicts the current configuration, any log files, and existing diagnostic tickets. Extended Allows you to generate and save additional information on the selected iBlade. Since extended snapshots can be quite large, only retrieve an extended snapshot under the direction of your service support representative.
Note: The Extended option is not available for Veeam Tape Server iBlade.
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Click Apply to save your settings.
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Click Close to exit the window.
Caution: If you have an iBlade, updating Scalar
The BaseOS feature allows you to upgrade the operating system on your Scalar LTFS and/or Veeam Tape Server iBlade. If a new version is available, you can select it for upload and install.
Click here and select the Firmware tab to download the latest BaseOS firmware.
Note: The BaseOS on an iBlade cannot be rolled back. Only current or later versions can be uploaded and installed.
- From the Navigation panel, select Devices.
- In the North Panel, select the + next to your iBlade and then select the check box next to the iBlade.
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In the Operations panel, click BaseOS.
Item Description Action Current Version Displays the current version of firmware installed on your blade. No action. Information only. Install OS Firmware Allows you to select the firmware package you want to upload and install on your iBlade.
Note: Depending on the contents of the BaseOS upgrade, the iBlade may or may not restart. If the upgrade is complete without a restart, the Current Version field will indicate the newly installed version. If a restart is required for the upgrade, the Current Version field will display Update In Progress.
Click Browse and navigate to where the firmware package is stored. When selected, click Open. Then click Apply to begin the install. -
Click Close to exit the window.
Your iBlade has many configurable items, such as the NAS Share Name, Server Access and Idle Volume and Metadata retention timeouts. The Save/Restore window allows you to save your Scalar LTFS iBlade's configuration and then restore it to a previous state in the event of a failure or upgrade.
- From the Navigation panel, select Devices.
- In the North Panel, select the + next to the blade name and then select the check box next to iBlade.
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In the Operations panel, click Save/Restore.
Item Description Action Restore Configuration Restores the iBlade to the selected configuration. After the restore, the iBlade will automatically reboot.
Select the radio button. Restore Filename Allows you to select the name of the iBlade configuration file you want to restore. Click the Browse button and navigate to the configuration file you want to use. Click Apply to begin restoring the iBlade configuration. Save Configuration Saves the current iBlade configuration. Select the radio button. Click Apply. The iBlade configuration file is downloaded. You can then save the file locally or email it. -
Click Close to exit the window.
Magazine sequestration supports the Ransom Block airgap feature in the Scalar i3 library (see Airgap Policies). A airgap magazine assigned to a partition is sequestered when it is ejected from the library against a magazine eject stop. The media in the sequestered magazine cannot be physically accessed by the library robot for any GET/PUT operations.
Unlike a traditional library magazine eject, media in a sequestered magazine can still be identified and inventoried by the Scalar i3 library.
To sequester an airgap magazine, do the following:
- From the Navigation panel, select Devices
- Select your magazine to sequester in the North panel. A magazine with an airgap policy applied will have a Device Type of Magazine (Airgap).
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From the Operation panel, select Sequester. The library will begin the sequester procedure. Once the sequester is complete, the magazine will be in the following state:
There are several scenarios where the magazine will need to be inserted into a library.
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The magazine was ejected from the library using the magazine eject button on the front of the library.
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The magazine was ejected using the eject function in the WebGUI (see Eject a Magazine).
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A magazine has a Sequestor on Insert airgap policy (see Airgap Policies) applied to it and is sequestered. When this policy is applied, the magazine will automatically re-sequester if it is physically inserted back into the library and an insert request was not made by the library. To remove this policy and allow the magazine to be reinserted into the library, an insert a magazine request must first be sent to the appropriate magazine.
To successfully insert a sequestered airgap magazine with a Sequestor on Insert policy applied, do the following:
- From the Navigation panel, select Devices
- Select your magazine to insert in the North panel.
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From the Operation panel, select Insert. The magazine will now be in the following state:
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Magazine will still be ejected out of the library. For magazines that were sequestered, the magazine will be against the magazine eject stop.
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Magazine eject button will now flash orange and green in one second intervals.
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Magazine will have a status of Pending Insert in the Library > Devices north panel.
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To complete the insert, the magazine must be physically pushed back into the library. The magazine eject button will begin to flash green in one second intervals. Once the insertion is complete, the magazine will be in the following state:
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Magazine will be reinserted into the library.
For magazines that were sequestered, the magazine will no longer be against the magazine eject stop and will be reinserted into the library.(see image below)
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Magazine eject button will have no flashing state.
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Magazine will have a status of Good in the Library > Devices north panel.
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There are instances when a specific magazine needs to be identified in the physical library. In these cases, using the Identify feature causes the magazine eject button to blink rapid orange so that the magazine can be found quickly.
- From the Navigation panel, select Devices.
- In the North Panel, select the check box next to one or more magazines you want to identify.
- In the Operations panel, click Identify On. The magazine eject button for the selected magazines will flash rapid orange. In addition, the magazine location in the North panel will begin to flash green.
- In the Operations panel, click Identify On or Identify Off.The magazine eject button for the selected magazines will no longer flash. In addition, the magazine location in the North panel will no longer flash green.
To inventory media in specific magazines, select one or more magazines in the North Panel.
Additional Information
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Media contained in a sequestered airgap magazine can still be inventoried by the library (see Airgap Policies).
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Media that has logical tape blocking applied to it can still be inventoried by the library (see Block Media ).
- From the Navigation panel, select Devices.
- In the North Panel, select the check box next to one or more magazines you want to inventory.
- In the Operations panel, click Inventory.