It is recommended that you store cartridges in their magazines, so that cartridges belonging to a multi volume backup are kept together and in the correct order.
FRU P/N OPT P/N
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Internal Autoloader 06H7541 3503100
External Autoloader 94G2725
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For external Tapeloader see > 3503 ext. Auto-Tapeloader
The 24/48 GB Tape Autoloader can hold up to six 120-m tape cartridges
in a removeable magazine. It can back up as much of 8 GB of data on a single
cartridge in just about 2 hours.
Tape / Data Capacity
The native (uncompressed) capacities for cartridges of different length follow.
Note that 60 m and 90 m cartridges are autom. written in DDS-1 format, and only
120 m cartridges are written in DDS-2 format.
Length Format Native Capacity
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60 m DDS - 1 1.3 GB typical
90 m DDS - 1 2.0 GB typical
120 m DDS - 2 4.0 GB typical
Supported IBM-Systems (External Tape Autoloader)
PS/2 Systems
Head Cleaning
| Number of DDS cartridges used each day | Cleaning interval |
|---|---|
| 1 | Weekly |
| 2 to 3 | Twice a week |
| 4 or more | Daily |
Before replacing a defective Tape Autoloader, have the customer clean the heads using a cleaning cartridge as follows.
Sequential Mode
| Message: | Action. |
|---|---|
| Cleaning | A cleaning cartridge is in the drive |
| Erase | The drive is erasing data from the drive |
| Format | The drive is creating a 1 or 2 partition tape, or changing the size |
| FW Check | The data to upgrade the firmware is being checked for compatibility |
| FW Program | The drive is being upgraded with the new firmware |
| FW Upgrade | Data to upgrade the firmware is being read from the tape or through the SCSI bus |
| Insert Mag | There is no magazine in the Autoloader |
| Loading | Either a cartridge is being moved from the magazine and inserted into the drive, or |
| Locate | The drive is moving the tape to a point specified by the host |
| Mag Check | The Autoloader is ejecting the magazine |
| Mag Loaded | A magazine is loaded, and the magazine check has been completed |
| New FW!!! | The firmware has been successfully upgraded |
| Partition | The drive is switching to the other partition on a 2 partition tape |
| Read | The drive is reading data from the tape |
| Ready xxm | A cartridge is loaded in the drive, and the drive is ready to respond |
| Rewind | The drive is rewinding the tape to the beginning of the partition |
| Search >> | The drive is searching for a record, file mark, set mark or EOD in the direction towards to the |
| Search << | The drive is searching for a record, file mark, set mark or BOD in the direction towards to the |
| Self Test | The Autoloader is performing its power on self test |
| SemiLoaded | A cartridge is in the drive, but not loaded |
| Unloading | Either the drive is unloading a cartridge, or a semiloaded cartridge is being ejected and moved back to its |
| Write x.y | The drive is writing data to tape. 'x.y' is the cumulative compression ratio since the power |
INFORMATION Messages The following information messages can be displayed
| Message: | Action. |
|---|---|
| Config: xxy | 'xx' is the hexadezimal value of the Configuration switches situated on the underside of the Autoloader, |
| Eject Mag | The Eject button has been pressed |
| Force Eject | A forced eject is in progress. It remains until the magazine is ejected |
| Load Tape | The Load Tape button has been pressed |
| SCSI ID: x | 'x' is the Autoloader SCSI address |
| Select Tape | Displayed when the Select button is pressed, and for a short time afterwards |
| Stray Tape: Insert Empty Mag | A cartridge is in the drive mechanism, although no magazine is inserted. |
ERROR messages
| Message | Meaning | Action |
|---|---|---|
| At BOD | A SPACE command encountered BOD unexpectedly | Retry the backup/restore operation |
| At EOD | A READ or SPACE command encountered the EOD area unexpectedly | Retry the backup/restore operation |
| Tape has DC data | A READ command has encountered compressed data on the tape, and the drive is not currently set up to decompress data | Make sure configuration switches are set correctly |
| SCSI Error | A SCSI command error has been detected | Check the SCSI bus connection and then retry the backup/restore operation |
| Partition 1 too large | A command to format the tape has failed because the requested size for partition 1 is to large | Retry the backup operation using 120 m tape. |
| Tape Full | A READ, SPACE, WRITE or WRITE FILEMARKS command encountered EOP unexpectedly | Retry backup operation with a longer or new tape |
| Bad Media | A READ or SPACE command has failed because the tape is not in DDS format | Replace tape with DDS certified tape, then retry operation |
| Cannot Write Non MRS Tape | A Write, Write FILEMARK or ERASE command has been attemted on a non MRS tape | Replace tape with a MRS Data Grade tape, then retry operation |
| Clean Me | A high error rate has been detected while reading or writing | Insert a cleaning cartridge to clean the tape heads, then retry operation |
| Close Door | The front panel door is open. Any autoloader motion will be delayed until the door is closed | Close the door |
| Eject Fail | An EJECT command has failed | Press the Eject button for 5 seconds (Forced Eject) to recover the cartridge and magazine. Try turning the power off and then back on. Check that labels are correctly affixed to the magazine and cartridge |
| Error x | The mechanism has jammed | Press the Eject button for 5 seconds (Forced Eject) to recover the cartridge and magazine. Try turning the power off and then back on. Check that labels are correctly affixed to the magazine or cartridge. If the problem persists, replace the Tape Autoloader |
| Force Eject | A forced eject is in progress | Wait for the 35 second pause to elapse |
| FW DataErr | The Autoloader has failed to upgrade the drive firmware because the new firmware is unreliable | Obtain a good copy of the firmware upgrade |
| FW Read Fail | A firmware upgrade failed because of an error in reading data from the tape | Clean the tape heads, the retry operation |
| FW Tape Write Protected | A firmware upgrade failed because the tape is write protected | Change the write protect switch on the tape and retry operation |
| FW Write Fail | A firmware upgrade failed because of an error in writing a modified upgrade count to the tape | Clean the tape heads. Try again |
| Illegal FW | The Autoloder has failed to upgrade the drive firmware because the new firmware is incompatible with the hardware | Obtain a correct version of the firmware upgrade, the retry operation |
| Illegal HW | The Autoloader has failed to upgrade the drive firmware because the new firmware is for incompatible hardware | Obtain a correct version of the firmware upgrade, the retry operation |
| Load Fail | A LOAD command has failed, or a LOAD PARTITIONS or CHANGE PARTITIONS command has failed to read the System area of the tape | Retry using a new cartridge, or eject the magazine |
| No EODmark | A READ command has encountered blank tape, that is, no DDS format. EOD pattern has been recognized | Retry operation with another tape |
| Read Fail | A read has failed | Clean the tape heads, then retry operation |
| Try again | The cartridge in the drive is faulty, possibly because the tape has snapped, or the cartridge has invalid pattern of identification holes |
Retry operation with a new cartridge |
| Tape Position Lost | A WRITE, READ SPACE or REWIND command has failed. The tape is on the far side of the bad data | Clean the tape heads, then retry backup/restore operation |
| Tape Stuck | The cartridge is stuck in the drive | Try forcing the Tape Autoloader to eject the cartridge |
| Upgrade Err | The Autoloader has failed to download an upgrade of the firmware via SCSI | Check the SCSI busconnection, then retry the operation |
| Worn Media | A high error rate was detected while writing. The tape probably is nearing the end of its useful life | Clean the tape heads and/or replace the cartridge with a new one. Then retry the operation |
| Write Fail | A WRITE, WRITE FILEMARK, or ERASE command has failed | Clean the tape heads and/or use a new cartridge. Then retry the backup operation |
| Write Protected Tape | A WRITE, WRITE FILEMARK or ERASE command was attempted on a write protected tape | Change the write protect switch on the tape and retry the operation |
| Drive Comms Error | The drive is not communicating with the changer mechanism | Replace the Tape Autoloader |
| FRU 1 Dead | The controller board for the drive has failed its self test | Replace the Tape Autoloader |
| FRU 2 Dead | The drive mechanism has failed its self test | Replace the Tape Autoloader |
Setting the SCSI ID (shipped with ID = 0)
0 = No Jumper / 1 = Jumper present
| SCSI ID | Bit 2 | Bit 1 | Bit 0 | SCSI ID | Bit 2 | Bit 1 | Bit 0 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Applying Power to the Tape Autoloader
When power is applied to the Tape Autoloader, the following takes place:
Cartidges and magazine labels must be firmly affixed to the recessed label areas, otherwise, the
mechanism will jam
It is recommended that you store cartridges in their magazines, so that cartridges belonging to a multi volume
backup are kept together and in the correct order.
Please see the LEGAL - Trademark notice.
Feel free - send a 
for any BUG on this page found - Thank you.