Tapealert - Tandberg Data SLR7-140 PROGRAMMER Manual

Tandberg Data

2.11. TapeAlert

The TapeAlert information is accessed via LOG SENSE page
2Eh (see section
configuration is done via MODE SELECT page 1Ch (see
section 14.3.9 Informational Exceptions Control Page).
The Mode Sense/Select
interface is compatible
standard for disc drives. The host software should first
check the tape drive to determine whether it supports
the TapeAlert Log Sense page 2Eh. By default the host
software access to the TapeAlert Log Sense page is via
polling.
The TapeAlert Log Sense page shall be read from a tape
drive device at the following times as a minimum:
At the beginning of a write/read job, even if media
is not loaded.
Immediately
write/read job.
At the end of each tape when the write/read job
spans multiple tapes. If the tape is to be ejected
then the Log Sense page must be read BEFORE this.
At the end of a write/read job.
Though not mandatory, the host software may also poll
the Log Sense page at regular intervals (e.g. every 60
seconds) while the tape drive is idle.
The TapeAlert Log page contains 64 one-byte alert flags.
The specific conditions for any one flag to be set and
cleared are defined in section 13.3.5.
There are three flag severity levels, listed below in
order of severity:
Critical (C)
Warning (W)
Information (I)
Each time the host software reads the TapeAlert Log
page, it should check all 64 flags to discover which are
set (there may be more than one). The definitions of the
64 flags are device type specific, so that there is one
definition for
definition for
libraries). For each flag that is set, the host software
shall communicate the defined error message and severity
for that flag to the user, and also log it. If multiple
flags are set simultaneously, they will be displayed
together in ascending
beginning of each set of TapeAlert error messages, the
tape device that initiated them must be identified. For
the tape drive media-related flags (flags 4, 7 and 14)
the software label of the media, if such exist, should
be included in the TapeAlert error messages so that the
user is aware what piece of media the error refers to.
Such information
messages for other
information read in the TapeAlert flags should not in
itself cause
backup/restore job.
2-36 Tandberg SLR Product Line SCSI Functional Specifications
13.3.5 TapeAlert
configuration
with
after a fatal
tape drive devices,
stand-alone
order
could also be
flags as well
the software
About Tape Streamers
Page),
of the TapeAlert
the SMART diagnostic
error during
and a different
changer devices
of severity. At
displayed with
if required.
to stop a current
and
the
(in
the
the
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