Configuring Control Path Failover - Quantum scalar i500 User Manual

Configuring Control Path Failover

Scalar i500 User's Guide
If a tape drive is the control path for a partition, you can select another
tape drive in that partition for control path failover. This means that if the
control path tape drive fails, the failover tape drive becomes the control
path for the partition. The failed-over tape drive remains the control path
for the partition unless it fails or the library is restarted. When either of
these events occurs, the library starts over and attempts to use the
original control path tape drive as the control path, and the original
failover tape drive for failover.
Details about control path failover include:
• The SNW license must be sufficient to cover both the control path
and failover tape drives in order to enable a tape drive for failover.
• The control path and failover tape drives must both be same drive
and vendor type.
• Both the control path and failover tape drives must have their
topology configured as Point to Point (see
Parameters on page 83). Previously, the library allowed you to
change the topology once control path failover was configured, even
though this prevented the feature from working. Now, the library
will not enable control path failover unless both the control path and
failover tape drives are configured as Point to Point, and will not
allow you to change the topology from Point to Point on any tape
drives configured for control path failover.
• For basic control path failover, the control path and failover tape
drives must be connected to an NPIV-enabled switch on the same
fabric. They must not be connected to an FC I/O blade.
• The control path and failover tape drives are assigned by location in
the library, so even if you replace a tape drive, the library will still fail
over or revert to the specified location.
• When control path failover is configured for a partition, the partition
uses a virtual port as the control path communication port. The
World Wide Port Name (WWPN) for this virtual port is listed in the
library's System Information Report in the Library Partitions section
under Control Path (see
page 271).
Chapter 6 Storage Networking
Configuring Control Path Failover
Setting Tape Drive
Viewing the System Information Report on
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