If the robot is out of service, you can place the library in manual mode. Then 
mount messages are displayed on each tape drive.
Lists to volser number of the tape as well as the location within the library 
where that tape can be found. You just open all the
doors and have your operator(s) play tape-ape....protein robot.... You can also 
display the mount messages on the library manager
console on the back of the L-frame.

I think there's a section in the 3494 operator's guide that explains how to 
function in manual mode.

If these libraries are in an un-attended data center, then you'll probably be 
better off buying the "insurance".


Bill Boyer
"Some days you're the bug, some days you're the windshield" - ??

-----Original Message-----
From: ADSM: Dist Stor Manager [mailto:ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU] On Behalf Of 
Richard Rhodes
Sent: Tuesday, October 11, 2005 8:54 AM
To: ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU
Subject: 3494/3584 HA1 High Availability Option - is it worth it?

Do you have the HA1 high availability option on your 3494 or 3584 library?

If you have HA1, do you think it was worth the money?
How often has your robot failed?

We have a couple 3494 libraries with the HA1 option.  In 3-4 years of service
the spare robot only was needed a couple times.    As we think about
getting
another library we're asking ourselves if it's worth the price and floor space.
At first we said it wasn't worth it  . . . .but, it's insurance.  What would 
the consequences have been for the couple times we've
used it and if it wasn't available?
The
obvious operations in TSM would fail - this is bad, but not a disaster.  No 
production system is down because of this.  The worse
thing would probably be restores, if any were needed, would fail.

Interested in your thoughts . . . . .

Rick


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