Robotics Failover - Spectra TFinity User Manual

Chapter 2 — Architecture Overview
Drive Connectivity Failover
The full‐height Fibre Channel drives used with the library are equipped
with two Fibre Channel ports. The two Fibre Channel ports cannot be used
simultaneously to provide redundant data paths between the hosts and the
drive. However, they can be used to provide failover capability in the event
that communication to the port currently in use is interrupted. This
failover can be accomplished several ways, including:
 Manually disconnect the fiber optic cable from the failed port and
 Connect each port on the drive to a separate Fibre Channel HBA in the

Robotics Failover

The standard library configuration includes dual robotic TeraPorters.
During normal operation in a two TeraPorter library, each TeraPorter
operates independently. The library's BlueScale software manages the
TeraPorters to ensure that they perform as efficiently as possible and do
not interfere with each other.
In the event that one of the TeraPorters experiences a problem, it
automatically moves into service position, either in the service bay of a
service frame or in the exclusion zone of a right or left media expansion
frame, and the other TeraPorter takes over all media move operations. In
the event that the malfunctioning TeraPorter is unable to move itself into
its service position, the other TeraPorter pushes it into position.
November 2020
connect it to the other port. You may need to reconfigure your host
software to recognize the alternate port.
host. You can also use a dual‐port Fibre Channel HBA. Configure one
HBA (or HBA port) as the primary connection and the other HBA (or
HBA port) as the failover connection. Install failover software on the
host computer to control the transfer of I/O from one HBA to the other
in case of a failure. You may also need to configure your storage
management software to correctly recognize both ports. Refer to your
failover software, HBA, and storage management software
documentation for instructions.
Note: Tape drives sold by Spectra Logic do not support MPIO.
Note: Starting with BlueScale12.8.04, a non‐isolating service frame
configuration is available that replaces the right and left service
frame with media expansion frames. This provides more storage
slots at a lower cost, but means that some slots may be
inaccessible if a TeraPorter is in the service position.
User Guide—Spectra TFinity Library
Robotics Failover
80