Operational Overview - Spectra TFinity User Manual

Chapter 9 — Configuring and Using Media Lifecycle Management

Operational Overview

PostScan — either FullScan or QuickScan — performs a readability
verification test to verify data integrity for all of the cartridges in the MLM
database. FullScan uses an LTO‐4 or later generation or TS11xx technology
Global Spare drive assigned to the partition and QuickScan uses an LTO‐5
or later generation or TS11xx technology drive in the partition or Global
Spare drive assigned to the partition to check each cartridge in the partition
for media errors that can impact the ability to restore the data.
The PostScan process is performed by the library independent of the
storage management software normally used to read and write data to the
tape. You can choose to perform PostScan either automatically or manually.
For automatic scans you can set the scanning frequency and select options
to determine the type of scan performed.
Using FullScan on tapes that are written using variable‐length block sizes
is not recommended.
Prerequisites for Starting a PostScan Operation
When an MLM‐enabled cartridge meets the PostScan trigger criteria
configured for the partition, the cartridge is added to the PostScan queue.
The queue is processed in a first‐in‐first‐out (FIFO) basis.
Before beginning the PostScan process, the library verifies that the
following prerequisites are met:
 The system has been idle for the period of time specified for the
 The library is not currently in a PostScan blackout period (see
 If Full Scan is enabled, an LTO‐4 or later generation or TS11xx
November 2020
Note: The automatic PostScan triggers only apply to MLM‐enabled
cartridges. Cartridges that are not MLM‐enabled must be
manually added to the PostScan queue (see Request a Manual
PostScan on page 313).
partition (see Enable and Configure MLM PreScan and PostScan on
page 201).
Configure PostScan Blackout Periods on page 300).
technology Global Spare drive assigned to the partition is available.
—OR—
If QuickScan is enabled, an LTO‐5 or later generation or TS11xx
technology drive in the same partition as the cartridge that met the
PostScan trigger criteria is available.
—OR—
If QuickScan with Spare Drives is enabled, an LTO‐5 or later
generation or TS11xx technology Global Spare drive assigned to the
partition is available.
Operational Overview
User Guide—Spectra TFinity Library
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