Data Protection Software

Hi,

Are there any special instructions on how to label LTO9 media with IBM Spectrum Protect?

With LTO9, there is a new "feature" that media has to be "calibrated" on first load/write. Basically, when you run LABEL LIBVOLUME... within ISP, the library loads media into drive, the library (or drive) starts "calibrating" media, and it looks like unresponsive device. It takes some time, like several tens of minutes to complete. At the end, media gets labeled, next one loaded, but it fails then, or a bit later, with third media... (IO error, or similar)

I believe the proper way must be documented somewhere, it's just (lazy) me not being able to find it, right?

Mita

Hi,

First the media must be 'calibrated'.  You can do this be loading the media (via the library GUI), LTO9, to the drive, this is how it is calibrated. Can take about 15 minutes or can be up to 45 minutes. After the 'calibration' process, the media is ready for the 'label volume' command of SP.

That's the process we used for LTO9 labeling.

B

Hi,

Are there any special instructions on how to label LTO9 media with IBM Spectrum Protect?

With LTO9, there is a new "feature" that media has to be "calibrated" on first load/write. Basically, when you run LABEL LIBVOLUME... within ISP, the library loads media into drive, the library (or drive) starts "calibrating" media, and it looks like unresponsive device. It takes some time, like several tens of minutes to complete. At the end, media gets labeled, next one loaded, but it fails then, or a bit later, with third media... (IO error, or similar)

I believe the proper way must be documented somewhere, it's just (lazy) me not being able to find it, right?

Mita

Hi Bobby, 

Thank you, 

I've already seen your post here about similar issue. 

And yes, it is what I did, after all. 

I am interested if there is any document issued by IBM, how properly to address the issue, documentation or technote. 

Apart of it, I really wonder  why tapes are not "factory pre-calibrated" but end user needs to do it? There must be some reason, I believe.

Thanks again, 

Mita 

Hi,

First the media must be 'calibrated'.  You can do this be loading the media (via the library GUI), LTO9, to the drive, this is how it is calibrated. Can take about 15 minutes or can be up to 45 minutes. After the 'calibration' process, the media is ready for the 'label volume' command of SP.

That's the process we used for LTO9 labeling.

B

Hi,

Are there any special instructions on how to label LTO9 media with IBM Spectrum Protect?

With LTO9, there is a new "feature" that media has to be "calibrated" on first load/write. Basically, when you run LABEL LIBVOLUME... within ISP, the library loads media into drive, the library (or drive) starts "calibrating" media, and it looks like unresponsive device. It takes some time, like several tens of minutes to complete. At the end, media gets labeled, next one loaded, but it fails then, or a bit later, with third media... (IO error, or similar)

I believe the proper way must be documented somewhere, it's just (lazy) me not being able to find it, right?

Mita

Hi,

This might help.

https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/t-tt-and-t?topic=features-media-optimization

Something to do with the physical location. Optimizing it onsite provides more durability. I think =)

B

Hi Bobby, 

Thank you, 

I've already seen your post here about similar issue. 

And yes, it is what I did, after all. 

I am interested if there is any document issued by IBM, how properly to address the issue, documentation or technote. 

Apart of it, I really wonder  why tapes are not "factory pre-calibrated" but end user needs to do it? There must be some reason, I believe.

Thanks again, 

Mita 

Hi,

First the media must be 'calibrated'.  You can do this be loading the media (via the library GUI), LTO9, to the drive, this is how it is calibrated. Can take about 15 minutes or can be up to 45 minutes. After the 'calibration' process, the media is ready for the 'label volume' command of SP.

That's the process we used for LTO9 labeling.

B

Hi,

Are there any special instructions on how to label LTO9 media with IBM Spectrum Protect?

With LTO9, there is a new "feature" that media has to be "calibrated" on first load/write. Basically, when you run LABEL LIBVOLUME... within ISP, the library loads media into drive, the library (or drive) starts "calibrating" media, and it looks like unresponsive device. It takes some time, like several tens of minutes to complete. At the end, media gets labeled, next one loaded, but it fails then, or a bit later, with third media... (IO error, or similar)

I believe the proper way must be documented somewhere, it's just (lazy) me not being able to find it, right?

Mita

Hi,

Yes, seen that one as well (not for my also IBM library, TS4300), but not convinced :-)

It may be that things are getting weird, that it is important to do it at appropriate latitude/longitude for best durability, but as curious person I would like to see more technical details. :-)

I was thinking about tape cartridges as of removable media - write it here, and if needed, read it somewhere across seven seas... Looks like it comes with the price, (durability wise) with LTO9.

Or not. We are just guessing now, I think.

I would love IBM to share more details on it, they are part of LTO Consortium, they must know more than I do.

Anyway, thanks for sharing your experience and thoughts on this. If you come to some new info, please share!

Mita

Hi,

This might help.

https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/t-tt-and-t?topic=features-media-optimization

Something to do with the physical location. Optimizing it onsite provides more durability. I think =)

B

Hi Bobby, 

Thank you, 

I've already seen your post here about similar issue. 

And yes, it is what I did, after all. 

I am interested if there is any document issued by IBM, how properly to address the issue, documentation or technote. 

Apart of it, I really wonder  why tapes are not "factory pre-calibrated" but end user needs to do it? There must be some reason, I believe.

Thanks again, 

Mita 

Hi,

First the media must be 'calibrated'.  You can do this be loading the media (via the library GUI), LTO9, to the drive, this is how it is calibrated. Can take about 15 minutes or can be up to 45 minutes. After the 'calibration' process, the media is ready for the 'label volume' command of SP.

That's the process we used for LTO9 labeling.

B

Hi,

Are there any special instructions on how to label LTO9 media with IBM Spectrum Protect?

With LTO9, there is a new "feature" that media has to be "calibrated" on first load/write. Basically, when you run LABEL LIBVOLUME... within ISP, the library loads media into drive, the library (or drive) starts "calibrating" media, and it looks like unresponsive device. It takes some time, like several tens of minutes to complete. At the end, media gets labeled, next one loaded, but it fails then, or a bit later, with third media... (IO error, or similar)

I believe the proper way must be documented somewhere, it's just (lazy) me not being able to find it, right?

Mita