Hi ,

     I am facing a very starnge problem.

     My Environment is:

     IBM Backup System: NSM 3466 C-30
     RS 6000 , OS version AIX :- 4.3.2
     TSM : 3.7.4.0

     Hardware :

     IBM 3494 Library
     1 Gripper
     3 frames in total
        L12
        D12
        S10

     3590 E1A Magstar Tape Drive ( 3 Nos.)

     Problem Description : ( Wondering how to describe this...)

     The library is not able to checout volumes from a particular section
     of slots ( from cell no. 5 E 1 to 5 E 20 , in S10 frame).

     5 - Rack No.

     E - Column No.

     1 and 20, - Cells ( 1 is at the top...)

     Though , it is able to checkout tapes in the same column (i.e 5 E)
     from cell no. 21 onwards.

     The surprise doesn't end here.

     The problem is only with the checking out the volumes.The Automatic
     robot is able to mount/dismount these particular tape volumes to/from
     the drives.

     When I try to checkout the volumes from the above mentioned cells
     following are the observations:

     1. ) The library changes it's state from AUTO to PAUSE.

     2.) Operator intervention LED starts to blink.

     3.) I get following message on the library manager console:

     A cartridge could not be released from Gripper 1 , Accessor A
     The system has failed.
     A service call is required.

     When I see the service log, the error code is 2BC2.

     After that I clear the message and try to turn the library to AUTO.
     The library puts the volume back to it original cell and turn to AUTO
     mode and start functioning in a normal behaviour.

     But the volume is not checked out.

     On the ADSM side I get following error message:

     ANR8310E : An I/O error occurred while accessing the library.

     Action taken :

     1). Power Reclycled the library.
     2.) Re-inventoried the library.
     3.) Teaching done once again.
     4.) ADSM Server restarted.

     Any inputs shall be greatly appreciated.

     Thanks and Regards

     Mahesh