We have alms configured, so we let the library do the cleaning. 

If we have a semi-bad tape drive we can end up going thru a cleaning cart.
We have configured the ts3500 to send snmp traps to a server which handles the 
traps. 
One of them indicates that a cleaning cart has expired. The trap handler 
forwards this message to the operations folks who replace the cart. 

In you cannot set up the trap handler there is a work around.  if you have 
someone moving tapes in and out of your library, the library posts a message on 
the front panel that a cleaning tape has expired and needs replacing. It spells 
out which cleaning tape. 

len

-----Original Message-----
From: ADSM: Dist Stor Manager [mailto:ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU] On Behalf Of 
Remco Post
Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2010 2:51 PM
To: ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU
Subject: Re: [ADSM-L] Ejecting cleaning cartridges from the TS3500/3584

On 17 mrt 2010, at 19:45, Richard Sims wrote:

> On Mar 17, 2010, at 2:24 PM, Clay Willoughby wrote:
> 
>> But there is a handy message displayed on the front console telling who ever 
>> walks by to eject a used up cleaning tape,,, that's very handy....
> 
> I don't have a SCSI library, but I should think it would be relatively easy 
> to set up a simple monitor based upon dsmadmc -consolmode to watch for 
> message ANR8915I, and over time to issue Query LIBVolumes Format=Detailed to 
> look for "Cleanings Left" (or Select from LIBVOLUMES, to act on the 
> CLEANINGS_LEFT field) to perform a Checkout when the time was right, 
> accompanied by some message to the operator.
> 

Richard,

unfortunately, in most cases the TS3500 will manage the cleaning, and the 
cleaners will not be visible to TSM. With ALMS, this is basically the only 
viable option. The only way to find out about worn out cleaners is via either 
the web interface or the operator panel on the lib itself. The most viable 
solution is to just put 10 or more in the lib, and check one every three months 
for any that need replacing, manually....

>   Richard Sims

-- 
Met vriendelijke groeten/Kind Regards,

Remco Post
r.post AT plcs DOT nl
+31 6 248 21 622