Mixing of LTO4 and LTO5 drives

[alexiszp]

Hello!
Yes, I know what LTO4 and LTO5 drives and tapes can be mixed in one library.
Who is controlling such situation as possible mounting of LTO5 tapes in LTO4 drives ? It can't be readed or writed in this drives types.
And another possible situations when reclamation going from LTO4 to LTO5 tapes and vice verca?

It is controlled on hardware side by library or by software at TSM side?
Is any document about this?

[moon-buddy]

You control it from the setup.

If you had defined your LTO5 as LTO5, TSM will use the structure as it sees it. If the LTO5 picks up a LTO4 tape, it recognizes it and reads/writes accordingly. No problem with LTO5 tapes.

If the LTO4 tapes picks up a LTO5 tape, pendng on the drive's firmware, may refuse to handle it. Or, it may write (assuming the tape is 'blank') on it using LTO4 format. It cannot read LTO5 written format.

This is where it gets complicated.

I suggest using just one tape - LTO4 for a mixed environment.

Or, you could do logical separation: LTO4 drives for LTO4 tapes, and LTO5 drives for LTO5 tapes.

[mikeymac]

You can mix LTO4/5 with no problems at all. Check out the greatest RedBook ever written:

http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/abstract...6502.html?Open

The key is the TSM device class. No LTO5 tape will be mounted to LTO4 drives.

[GregE]

MikeyMac likes that Redbook. I've read that description of it around here before.

Definitely a good one. Lays out all the scenarios.

[mikeymac]

MikeyMac likes that Redbook. I've read that description of it around here before.

Definitely a good one. Lays out all the scenarios.

Well, it IS the GREATEST REDBOOK EVER WRITTEN!