> That is what I understood from previous emails but wanted to make sure
but
> someone here keeps insisting there should be another cable just for the
> library.

Our libraries have one fiber cable per tape drive, and two lan cables.

The lan cables are for the specialist web interface.  One lan cable
plugs into the lan port in the first frame.  The other plugs into
the lan port of a node card in one of the other frames that has
drives.  You can assign IP numbers to these lan ports
via the front panel.

>
> As for internally, how does the library talk to the drives/canisters? In
> the 3494, it used RS422 cables from the drive cages/frames to the RTIC
> cards.

I don't know if it's RS422, but the 3584 is similar.  It has a
internal bus connects to the drives with the controllers.  This
allows you to power cycle a drive, load microcode, etc.

>My understanding is there is a fibre patch-panel in each D-frame to
> which you connect 2m cables to the drives and then I guess to connect
the
> fibre cables from the SAN switch to this same patch-panel?

Exactly.  Each drive has two fibre ports.  Both ports have cables
to a patch panel at the bottom of a frame. You connect from the patch
panel to your switch.


I really wish I
> had the "maintenance manual" for the 3584!

If you haven't already, download these manuals:
  TS3500 Introduction and Planning Guide.  (lots of gory details)
  Redbook:  IBM TotalStorage Tape Libraries Guide for Open Systems

The full maintenance manual comes with the library.  IBm has it
stashed in the back of one of the frames.  So it's probably in
the boxes from IBM . . . go hunting!




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