Multi-Path Architecture - IBM TS3500 Manual

Table 1. Compatibility among Ultrium tape drives and tape cartridges
Cartridge
Ultrium 5
Type
(F5A)
2. WORM tapes (JX, JW, and JR) may be reformatted only if they are initialized and
labeled; if data exists on the tape, reformatting is not allowed.
3. N/A = not applicable
Parent topic: Overview
Related concepts
Ultrium bar code label
3592 bar code label

Multi-Path Architecture

This section explains Multi-Path Architecture, a feature of the TS3500 Tape Library that
allows Open Systems applications to share the library's robotics.
The TS3500 Tape Library features the Storage Area Network (SAN)-ready Multi-Path
Architecture, which allows homogeneous or heterogeneous Open Systems applications to
share the library's robotics without middleware or a dedicated server (host) acting as a
library manager. The SAN-ready Multi-Path Architecture makes sharing possible by letting
you partition the library's storage slots and tape drives into logical libraries. Servers can
then run separate applications for each logical library. This partitioning capability extends
the potential centralization of storage that the SAN enables. Partitioning also provides
investment protection for Ultrium 1 and Ultrium 2 tape drives if your application does not
support the mixing of Ultrium 1, Ultrium 2, Ultrium 3, Ultrium 4, and Ultrium 5 tape drives
and media in the same logical library. The Multi-Path Architecture is compliant with the
following attachment interfaces:
• Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI)
• Fibre Channel
The Multi-Path Architecture of the TS3500 Tape Library is designed to provide the capability
for sharing of the library robotics. This is accomplished by partitioning the library into up to
192 multiple logical libraries (up to the number of drives installed), and providing each
logical library its own separate and distinct drive(s), storage slots, and control paths. I/O
slots are shared on a first-come-first-served basis. This type of partitioning is designed to
allow heterogeneous applications to share the library robotics independent of each other.
Cartridges under library control are not shared between logical libraries, nor are they
allowed to be moved between logical libraries. An example of heterogeneous sharing is a
Microsoft Windows 2003 application using the drive and storage slots of one logical library,
while a UNIX application uses the drive and slots of another logical library. Logical libraries
can also be used for separating Ultrium 2 tape dives and cartridges from Ultrium 4 tape
Drive Type
Ultrium 4 (F4A)
Ultrium 3
Ultrium 2
(F3A/ F3B)
Ultrium 1