SL8500 - CAP Will Not Work in Automatic Mode with HSC

Asset ID:	1-72-1015089.1
Update Date:	2011-02-09
Keywords:

Solution Type Problem Resolution Sure

Solution 1015089.1 : SL8500 - CAP Will Not Work in Automatic Mode with HSC

Applies to:

Sun StorageTek SL8500 Modular Library System
All Platforms
Checked for relevance on 9-Feb-2011.

Symptoms

HSC does not load cartridges from CAP
HSC is not working with CAP
HSC does not work properly when CAP in automatic mode

Changes

{CHANGE}

Cause

{CAUSE}

Solution

Resolution
Issue has been addressed in Microcode:
Install latest level of firmware as shown in Tape Support website.

There are two possible workarounds:

1) Stay at 2.0 microcode and operate the CAP in manual mode

2) If you are not running with pass through ports, back level the microcode in the SL8500 to 1.42a code and operate the CAP in automatic mode.

Additional Information
ACSLS does not manage the CAP in the same fashion as HSC since HSC has the potential of multiple host managing the same cap. In automatic mode HSC releases the CAP after the initial "unlock" command is issued via the HLI interface.

After the CAP door is opened by the operator for an enter an asynchronous broadcast message "CAP door open" is sent by the library controller to all HSC host. The first HSC host to respond will attempt to reserve the CAP for the subsequent CAP catalog and move commands which is sent to the LC.

ACSLS has only one reserving entity and they appear not to go through the same flow of HLI controlling commands; reserve-release-reserve. The last time I looked at this issue with ACSLS development they never released the cap after the initial reserve to unlock the CAP because there is only one host that controls the CAP.

The only issue I am aware of related to ACSLS in automatic mode:

If ACSLS has the CAP in automode and the SL8500 front door is subsequently opened while still auto mode it can get the reserve status at the LC out of sync with ACSLS; the LC resets the reserve status after the front door has been closed but ACSLS still things the CAP is reserved. If recovery is not done properly ACSLS may have to be bounced to resync.

The proper way to recover is to force the CAP offline and then reset the mode to auto, this should resynchronize the LC and ACSLS.

@ Automatic Mode, Cartridge Access Port, SL8500, ACSLS, Volser, Manual mode, Code 1.42a, Code 2.0, CAP, HSC, PPN 10117
Previously Published As STKKB68615

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