Fibre Channel Connectivity; Storage-Only Expansion Frame - IBM TS4500 Manual

DPF includes load balancing of the HBAs because the channel is a data-intensive
path. This means that the control path carries very little data and load balancing
is not an issue. Dynamic load balancing support optimizes resources for devices
that have physical connections to multiple HBAs in the same machine. When an
application opens a device that has multiple HBA paths configured, the device driver
determines which path has the HBA with the lowest usage and assigns that path to
the application. When another application opens a different device with multiple HBA
paths, the device driver again determines the path with the lowest HBA usage and
assigns that path to the second application. The device driver updates the usage
on the HBA assigned to the application when the device is closed. Dynamic load
balancing uses all HBAs whenever possible and balances the load between them to
optimize the resources in the machine.

Fibre Channel connectivity

Tape drives in TS4500 tape library Models D25, D55, L25, and L55 are designed to
connect to host systems using Fibre Channel interfaces. An LTO Ultrium Tape Drive
with a Fibre Channel interface or 3592 Tape Drive can be selected for attachment to
host systems and servers utilizing Fibre Channel adapters. Fibre Channel connection
distances up to 500 meters are possible. By utilizing selected Fibre Channel
switches, it is possible to exceed 500 meter distances.

Storage-only expansion frame

TS4500 tape library Models S55 and S25 are driveless, storage-only expansion
frames, with Model S55 designed to contain up to 1,320 Ultrium (LTO) tape
cartridges and Model S25 designed to contain up to 1,000 3592 tape cartridges.
Model S55 offers a 3 to 1 increase in slot capacity over Model D55, and Model S25
delivers a 2.5 to 1 increase in slot capacity over Model D25.
The TS4500 Model S55 can be attached to installed Model D55 and L55 with IBM
TS1060, TS1050, or LTO Ultrium Tape Drives. The TS4500 Model S25 can be
attached to Model D25 and L25 with Enterprise or 3592 Tape Drives.
The TS4500 Models S25 and S55 incorporate patented IBM HD slot technology,
which allows multiple cartridges to be stored in a tiered architecture. The depth of
a cartridge location in a high-density slot is known as a tier. Previous model frames
supported only one cartridge per storage slot. HD slots are designed to contain
multiple cartridges in Tiers 1 through 4 (Model S25) or Tiers 1 through 5 (Model
S55).
The TS4500 tape library frames support HD CoD features (#1645 or #1646) that
provide a license key to nondisruptively increase licensed capacity in the library.
These advancements reduce automation floor space requirements, enhance library
management, and provide flexibility, growth, and a foundation for automation across
an enterprise or business installation.
The TS4500 tape library (machine type 3584) is part of the family of tape library
storage solutions designed for the large, unattended storage requirements in
today's midrange to high-end systems. Each aspect of the subsystem is designed to
optimize access to data and reliability. The TS4500 tape library supports the IBM LTO
Ultrium and Enterprise Tape Drives.
The TS4500 tape library includes support for HD2 expansion frames, Models S55 and
S25, which are compatible with current TS4500 library frames. Models S55 and S25,
are driveless, storage-only expansion frames, with Model S55 designed to contain
up to 1,320 Ultrium (LTO) tape cartridges and Model S25 designed to contain up to
1,000 3592 tape cartridges. Model S55 offers a 3 to 1 increase in slot capacity over
Model D55, and Model S25 delivers a 2.5 to 1 increase in slot capacity over Model
D25.
The TS4500 tape library is designed to provide an excellent network data backup/
archive solution. With the granularity and scalability to follow your requirements
from a few servers to hundreds of clients, from gigabytes to petabytes, this powerful
pairing can grow with you, helping to protect your investment.
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