Re: [ADSM-L] Is there a simple way to test a tape drive?

Well, one quick thought I had was to update all the drives you don't
want test to online=no.  Checkout one scratch tape with remove=no and
then do a label libvol search=yes overwrite=yes.  That way it will write
a label on the tape and then read that label.

Oh, be sure to update all the drives back to online=yes... 


Kelly J. Lipp
VP Manufacturing & CTO
STORServer, Inc.
485-B Elkton Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80907
719-266-8777
lipp AT storserver DOT com

-----Original Message-----
From: ADSM: Dist Stor Manager [mailto:ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU] On Behalf Of
Richard Rhodes
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2007 1:23 PM
To: ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU
Subject: [ADSM-L] Is there a simple way to test a tape drive?

Sometimes I want to have TSM test out a tape drive.
Something like . . .
  - pick a drive
  - pick a tape
  - have tsm mount the tape and read the label (or something)
  - tell me this succeeded or not

Like yesterday . . . IBM repaired a tape drive.  After fixing it, IBM
tells us it's fixed.  We put the drive online . . .and wait for TSM to
use it.  For this particular drive, it was several hours before TSM used
it.

We also get this after an upgrade, or adding a new drive.  To get TSm to
used any drive, let alone a particular drive, requires starting a
migration, update stgpool, backup to tape, etc.  All are large
processes.

Is there a simple way to get TSM to exercise a particular tape drive?
Or, what do you do in these situations?

We have 3590 drives in 3494 libraries, and 3592 drives in 3584
libraries.

Thanks

Rick


-----------------------------------------
The information contained in this message is intended only for the
personal and confidential use of the recipient(s) named above. If the
reader of this message is not the intended recipient or an agent
responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, you are hereby
notified that you have received this document in error and that any
review, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this message is
strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error,
please notify us immediately, and delete the original message.