On 4 feb. 2013, at 20:32, Zoltan Forray <zforray AT VCU DOT EDU> wrote:

> Thanks for the "explanations" but I still don't understand.  Does the fibre
> channel connection replace the 3494 IP link?  I think read that you still
> need IP for CLI?
> 

yes, there is an IP interface (or usually even multiple for GUI and 'CLI' 
access as well as SNMP.

> Are the drives still separate when it comes to paths (other than being
> defined as part of a library)?  Is the fibre connection to the library the
> way the library communicates with the drives (like the old RS422 in the
> 3494)?  or how the TSM library manager server communicates with the
> library/TS3500?
> 

there is some communications between the drives and the library, but as to 
which protocol is used… I don't know (nor do I care)

> With the 3494, you used a driver called ibmatl which used /etc/ibmatl.conf
> (this is RedHat Linux) to define the IP/host connection to the library.
> How do you configure a TS3500?

place a control path on one or more drives, do your thing to detect scsi 
devices (autoconf) and off you go… the atl is lung on the drives where you 
defined the control path (as is customary for scsi libraries).

> 
> On Mon, Feb 4, 2013 at 2:06 PM, Remco Post <r.post AT plcs DOT nl> wrote:
> 
>> On 4 feb. 2013, at 19:43, Zoltan Forray <zforray AT VCU DOT EDU> wrote:
>> 
>>> As this project moves forward, I am doing more and more research since I
>> am
>>> unfamiliar with this beast (3494 has been my baby since it was installed
>> in
>>> 1995).
>>> 
>>> The book talks about "*to communicate with a server, the IBM System
>> Storage
>>> TS3500 Tape Library uses a Fibre Channel interface (also called a
>> port).*"
>>> 
>>> Why?  What is this "fibre channel interface" used for?   The 3494 use IP
>> to
>>> communicate/manage the library and the drives inside the library used
>> fibre
>>> plus an RS422 connection to the library manager.
>> 
>> Because that is the way a 3584 works…. 'in band'. leftovers from when the
>> 3584 was still midrange and midrange libraries are controlled in band. BTW,
>> with modern ts3500's features like control path failover are inclusive and
>> losing one tape drive does not mean that the library is uncontrollable.
>> 
>> 
>>> --
>>> *Zoltan Forray*
>>> TSM Software & Hardware Administrator
>>> Virginia Commonwealth University
>>> UCC/Office of Technology Services
>>> zforray AT vcu DOT edu - 804-828-4807
>>> Don't be a phishing victim - VCU and other reputable organizations will
>>> never use email to request that you reply with your password, social
>>> security number or confidential personal information. For more details
>>> visit http://infosecurity.vcu.edu/phishing.html
>> 
>> --
>> 
>> Met vriendelijke groeten/Kind regards,
>> 
>> Remco Post
>> r.post AT plcs DOT nl
>> +31 6 24821622
>> 
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> *Zoltan Forray*
> TSM Software & Hardware Administrator
> Virginia Commonwealth University
> UCC/Office of Technology Services
> zforray AT vcu DOT edu - 804-828-4807
> Don't be a phishing victim - VCU and other reputable organizations will
> never use email to request that you reply with your password, social
> security number or confidential personal information. For more details
> visit http://infosecurity.vcu.edu/phishing.html

-- 

Met vriendelijke groeten/Kind regards,

Remco Post
r.post AT plcs DOT nl
+31 6 24821622