Scalar i3 Media

Overview

The Media menu displays all media contained in your library. They are shown by partition or listed as unassigned. Any cleaning media can be found under System.

All media tape cartridges in the library must have barcodes. Click here to review barcode requirements.

Media Care Guide

Click here to review the Quantum Media Care Guide. This guide explains how to properly handle and care for your media cartridges.

Important Information - Type M Media (M8) Format

The M format is used with LTO-8 tape drives and LTO-7 media. When LTO-7 media is M formatted by an LTO-8 tape drive, the data capacity of the LTO-7 media is 12TB native, compared to 9TB of a standard formatted LTO-7 tape.

To properly format M8 media, review the following:

Apply a type M8 media barcode label to your new un-formatted LTO-7 M8 media. For more information on tape barcodes, refer to Tape Drives, Media, and Barcodes in the Scalar i3 Site Planning Guide.
Using your backup application, write to your new LT0-7 M8 media. The IBM LTO-8 drive will format the new media as type M8 upon the first write.
LTO-8 drives are prepared for the higher capacity formatting of an LTO-7 M8 tape. However, capacity formatting issues will occur if the drive is assigned as both the source and destination for the media.

Important Information - LTO-9 Media

LTO-9 media calibration is a new requirement for LTO-9 media. Calibration is a one-time requirement for new cartridges prior to first-time read/write operations; it is not a requirement for older generations including LTO-8. Due to continued LTO innovation, with LTO-9 there is an increased number of tracks used to write data on tape that requires greater precision. Media optimization creates a referenced calibration for each cartridge that enables the tape drive’s intelligent alignment to optimize data placement and enhances LTO tape long-term media durability.

For a more detailed description of the different possible scenarios with LTO-9, please reach out to your Quantum representative or solutions architect.

LTO-9: Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is there a difference between the terms, “optimization”, “initialization” and“calibration”, in reference to LTO-9 media?

A: No. Quantum chose to use “calibration” to describe this one-time LTO9 media

event.

Q: What is Media Calibration?

A: Media calibration has been implemented in LTO-9 technology to optimize data placement to each LTO-9 cartridge characteristics. Brand new LTO-9 media requires a one-time step initialization prior to commencing read/write operations. LTO-9 media calibration enhances LTO tape long-term media durability.

Q: Once the LTO-9 media cartridge has been calibrated within the recommended environmental range, does it need to be re-calibrated when it is moved to a separate drive, separate library, separate data center or environment?

A: No, the LTO-9 calibration process is only required on the first load of a new and unused LTO-9 media, subsequent loads in any LTO-9 drive do not require calibration.

Q: Will LTO-8 media require calibration on first load to an LTO-9 tape drive?

A: No. Media calibration is required only on brand new LTO-9 media.

Q: How much time does the calibration add to the first-time load of a brand new cartridge?

A: Media calibration averages between 35 to 52 minutes per first load of a cartridge to a tape drive, could take up to 2 hours to complete the calibration.

Q: Why does the LTO-9 media require calibration?

A. Higher track densities (TPI) and longer tapes using thinner polymer base substrates in LTO-9 media achieve double digit Areal Densities and more than 21K TPI track density. A new tape calibration algorithm was introduced, ensuring data durability, compatibility and allowing for complex interchange requirements over the specified environmental conditions. The length of calibration is mainly for media optimum characterization and will vary based on these factors. This initial calibration, also, enables the tape drive’s intelligent alignment to optimize data placement.

Q: Does LTO-9 media calibration need to be performed in destination site?

A: It is recommended, due to environmental requirements, that calibration should be performed in the final installation destination where the drives and media are to be used to ensure optimized acclimation within recommended environmental range on Quantum product data sheets.

Q: Can the customer disable media calibration?

A: No, the one-time calibration cannot be disabled. In order for the tape to perform, it must be calibrated before first time use and one time only.

Q: Can I use uncalibrated LTO-9 media for IVT?

A: No, do not use uncalibrated LTO-9 media for IVT. The LTO-9 media needs to be calibrated before use with IVT.

Q: Can I use an Extended Data Life Management (EDLM) drive to calibrate new LTO-9 media?

A: No, the EDLM scan engine will recognize that the media is new and does not contain data and just unload it again without loading it. This mechanism will prevent the media from getting calibrated in an EDLM drive.

Q: Can I recalibrate an LTO-9 media cartridge?

A: Yes. The Format command with specific field settings will reinitiate calibration. However, regardless of recalibration, any Format command will result in loss of all existing data on the tape.

Layout

North Panel

Lists all the media in your library.

Column	Description
Partition	Indicates partition that selected media is assigned to. Will have a status of Unassigned if media is not assigned to a partition.
Barcode	Displays barcode of selected media.
Type	Displays media type: LTO-3, LTO-4, LTO-5, LTO-6, LTO-7, LTO-8, LTO-9, or Cleaning.
Location	Library coordinates of selected media. Click here to learn more about library coordinates.
Encryption Status	Encryption status of select media: Encrypted, Not Encrypted, or Unknown. Partitions can have an encryption status of Library-Managed, Application-Managed, or N/A.
Access Status	There are three different access status for media: Accessible, Inaccessible, and Questionable. The Questionable status indicates that the media is accessible LTO-9 media for which LTO-9 calibration status is unknown. With this status, you can sort and select all questionable LTO-9 media to start a calibration job.

Information Panel

Lists all the details of a highlighted piece of media.

Detail	Description
Barcode	Displays barcode of selected media.
Domain	Domain type: Data or Cleaning
Type	Displays media type: LTO-3, LTO-4, LTO-5, LTO-6, LTO-7, LTO-8, LTO-9, or Cleaning.
Location	Library coordinates of selected media. Click here to learn more about library coordinates.
SCSI Element Address	SCSI logical element address of where the media is locate.
Current Partition	Name of partition media is assigned to. N/A if the media is unassigned to a partition.
Access Status	There are three different access status for media: Accessible, Inaccessible, and Questionable. The Questionable status indicates that the media is accessible LTO-9 media for which LTO-9 calibration status is unknown. With this status, you can sort and select all questionable LTO-9 media to start a calibration job
Encryption Status	Encryption status of select media: Encrypted, Not Encrypted, or Unknown.
Calibration Status	Calibration status of selected media: Unknown, Calibrated or N/A (all non-LTO-9 media).

Operations Panel

Provides options for library interaction.

Actions
Import	Allows you to import media into your library. Only available if media is located in an I/E slot.
Export	Allows you to export media from your library to an I/E slot. Only available if media is selected in the North Panel.
Block	Allows you to enable logical blocking to one or more media tapes in the library.
Move	Allows you to move a single piece of media from one slot to another in your library. Only available if a specific piece of media is selected in the North Panel.
Vault Storage	Allows you to move a tape from a standard or library-managed partition to an Active Vault partition.
Vault Removal	Allows you to move a tape from an Active Vault partition to a standard or library-managed partition.
Calibration	Allows you to calibrate selected LTO-9 media.

Tasks

Actions

Import/Export Media

Additional Information - Unexpected Media Removal

Unexpected media removal can occur in the following two scenarios:

A tape cartridge is manually inserted into I/E for an import operation to a partition. It is then removed from I/E before being imported into a partition.
A tape cartridge is cross-partition moved from Active Vault to a standard partition and is removed before being imported from I/E.

Block Media

Media block (logical tape blocking) is an operation that can be applied to one or more tape cartridges in a magazine. A tape cartridge with media block applied cannot be accessed by the library robot for move operations.

Blocked Media - Standard Magazines

In library firmware 290 and above, you can use the Unblock Media feature in the Local User Interface (LUI) to unblock media in a magazine that does not have an airgap policy applied to it.
Blocked media is still eligible for library inventory operations.
Media blocks will be maintained after a library reboot or a power up initialization occurs. If the library is powered down and a blocked tape cartridge is manually removed from its known slot location in the library, the tape cartridge will not maintain a media block when the library is powered on.

Blocked Media - Airgap Magazines

To release a media block on a tape cartridge in a magazine with an airgap policy applied to it (see Airgap Policies), you must first sequester the magazine that contains the blocked tape from the library (see Sequester a Magazine). You cannot release the media block by ejecting a magazine manually or through the WebGUI.
Blocked media is still eligible for library inventory operations.
You can apply a media block to a tape cartridge in a sequestered airgap magazine (see Sequester a Magazine). When the sequestered airgap magazine is reinserted into the library, the media block will be enabled. To release the media block on the tape cartridge, you must once again sequester the magazine.
If a media block is applied to a tape cartridge when the magazine is sequestered, and the tape cartridge is manually removed from its known slot location in the magazine, the tape cartridge will not maintain a media block when the magazine is reinserted into the library.
You cannot apply a media block to a tape cartridge in an airgap magazine that is currently ejected. The magazine must be sequestered (see Sequester a Magazine).
Media blocks will be maintained after a library reboot or a power up initialization occurs. If the library is powered down and a blocked tape cartridge is manually removed from its known slot location in the library, the tape cartridge will not maintain a media block when the library is powered on.

From the Navigation panel, select Media.
In the North Panel, you will see all the partitions listed and also any media that is currently unassigned. Click the + next to a partition name. The + will expand the partition and all media assigned to that partition will display.
Select the media you wish to block.
In the Operations panel, click Block.

Move Media

After media has been imported into the library, you can use the Move operation to transfer a single piece of media between tape drives and slots within a partition.

From the Navigation panel, select Media.
In the North Panel, you will see all the partitions listed and also any media that is currently unassigned. Click the + next to a partition name. The + will expand the partition and all media assigned to that partition will display.

In the Operations panel, click Move.

Item	Description	Action
Filter	Allows you to filter by Location, Element Type, or SCSI Element Address	Select the filter icon next to the column header.
Display home slots for drive-mounted media	The default is unchecked. This means any target slot selection displayed will not list home slots for any media currently mounted in tape drives. This keeps you from selecting the home slot of a tape as the new storage slot for the media selected in the North Panel.	Select the check box.
	This unnamed column allows you to select an available target slot to move the selected media.	Select the check box next to the slot you want to move media to.
Location	Displays the coordinates where the available slot is located.	Display only.
Element Type	Displays what type of slot is available: Storage I/E Extended I/E Drive	Display only.
SCSI Element Address	Displays the element address for standard partitions only. If it's a library managed partition, it will display as N/A.	Display only.

Click Apply to save your settings.
Click Close to exit the window.

Vault Storage

The Vault Storage feature allows you to move a tape from a standard or library-managed partition to an Active Vault partition.

From the Navigation panel, select Media from the menu.
In the North Panel, select the check box next to the media you want to vault.

In the Operations panel, click Vault Storage.

Item	Description	Action
Target Partition	Lists the available Active Vault partitions you can move the media to. The selected media will be moved to the first available storage slot(s) within the vault partition.	Select the desired partition from the drop-down menu.

Click Apply to save your settings.
Click Close to exit the window.

Vault Removal

The Vault Removal feature allows you to move a tape from an Active Vault partition to a standard or library-managed partition.

From the Navigation panel, select Media from the menu.
In the North Panel, select the check box next to the vaulted media you want to remove.

In the Operations panel, click Vault Removal.

Item	Description	Action
Target Partition	Lists the available standard partitions you can move the media to. The selected media will be moved to the first available storage slot(s) within the target partition.	Select the desired partition from the drop-down menu.

Click Apply to perform the operation.
Click Close to exit the window.

Calibrate LTO-9 Media

The LTO-9 media calibration feature allows you to use offline, empty, operational LTO-9 drive resources in a standard partition to perform calibration operations on selected LTO-9 media.

What is Calibration?

New LTO-9 tapes are sensitive to tape tension and humidity. When a new LTO-9 tape is loaded into a tape drive for the first time, the drive automatically calibrates it. This calibration process can take up to 2 hours.

This time period is not always accounted for in a host application that mounts a media for new write or format operations, as the application may not be prepared or expect the drive to report not being ready for media access during such a long calibration time period. The tape calibration feature allows LTO-9 tapes to be calibrated before a host application uses the tape.

Calibration is required when:

A new library is installed with new LTO-9 tapes.
New LTO-9 tapes are imported into an existing library.
A previously calibrated tape is replaced with a new tape with the same barcode.

Calibration is NOT required when:

Previously calibrated tapes are imported into a library.

Prerequisites

Calibration requests in EDLM, Vault, and AMP partitions are not supported.
You must have one or more LTO-9 drives assigned to the standard partition.
Selected media must be located in storage slots only.
Selected LTO-9 drives must be offline (see Take Drive Online or Offline ), empty (see Drive Unload), and operational/varied on (see Vary Drive On or Off) .

From the Navigation panel, select Media from the menu.
From the North Panel, select one or more for eligible LTO-9 media for calibration operations. There are three different access status for media:
- Accessible
- Inaccessible
- Questionable
The Questionable status indicates that the media is accessible LTO-9 media for which LTO-9 calibration status is unknown. With this status, you can sort and select all questionable LTO-9 media to start a calibration job.

The access status of the selected media appears in the North panel of the selected media.
In the Operations panel, click Calibration.

You must have LTO-9 drives taken offline to calibrate LTO-9 media in the partition. If you do not see any available drives, take one or more LTO-9 drives offline (see Take Drive Online or Offline).

In addition to being offline, eligible LTO-9 drives must be empty, have a good operational status, and be varied on.
Select one or more LTO-9 drives from the Drive Selection list.
Click Apply to start the calibration operation for all selected, eligible LTO-9 media to be calibrated.

Note: The library will reject LTO-9 media calibration requests if ALL specified media shows a status of inaccessible. Inaccessible media includes media that is ejected, sequestered, or logically blocked.

Additional Information

An offline LTO-9 drive selected and applied for calibration operations will have a drive status of Calibrating.
To stop/cancel the LTO-9 calibration operations on a selected offline LTO-9 drive, switch all selected offline drives with a status of Calibrating back online (see Take Drive Online or Offline). The drive will complete the calibration process for any media mounted in the drive and will then discontinue any future calibration operations. A calibration operation may still take up to two hours before the drive will be dismounted and available for other operations in the partition.
The Media Calibration History Log will have calibration entries added each time media is successfully moved to a drive for a calibration attempt. In-accessible media at time of calibration attempt; such as media that moved to an I/E slot or drive location will be skipped and also recorded in this log as to why the media could not be calibrated (see Scalar i3 Logs)
Media being calibrated from an airgap-magazine-defined location, or placed to an airgap-defined-magazine location which has an automatic logical block or sequester on full policy set, will not affect the airgap-defined-magazine slot settings, and will not constitute a placement for logical blocking or sequester on full placement (see Airgap Policies).
A RAS ticket will be generated to report the successful completion or failure or cancellation of the media calibration attempts.
In the event of a library restart or unexpected power loss, any drive status or media indication of calibration in progress may be cleared and the assigned drives will return back to an online status. This will end all calibration attempts.
In the event of a drive failure, the drive calibration status will be cleared for the drive. This will end any calibration attempts on the failed drive.