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contents of this section
HP Library & Tape Tools diagnostic utility
installing
using
compatibility
firmware updates
using hp library and tape tools to update firmware
using a firmware update cartridge
TapeAlert
how it works
TapeAlert for OpenView
a new standard
summary
HP Library & Tape Tools diagnostic utility
The HP Library & Tape Tools software provides a number of utilities for getting
information about your tape drive and troubleshooting problems. It includes the
following functionality:
Installation help and advice to help you install your product and
operate it correctly
A Discovery utility to find out what devices are attached to your
SCSI bus
An Identity utility to find out detailed information about individual
devices, for example the firmware version.
Tests to check that your drive is operating correctly.
A Firmware Update Utility that helps you find update files for
your tape drive and performs the update
A Support Ticket that generates detailed troubleshooting
information for support calls (if you are connected to the Internet,
you will be able to e-mail this information directly to your Support
Center)
Comprehensive Help that is topic sensitive, should you need
additional information for the screen currently displayed
Updates and the latest versions of this software are available from our World Wide
Web site: www.hp.com/support/tapetools
installing HP Library & Tape Tools
You can install HP Library & Tape Tools from the web site:
www.hp.com/support/tapetools. The tool is distributed without firmware and
firmware files are downloaded separately. Installation is simply a question of
selecting the required option and following the instructions on the screen.
using HP Library & Tape Tools
HP Library and Tape Tools checks for
the presence of a SCSI controller and
its driver software and identifies the
SCSI IDs of existing SCSI devices.
You can then select the required
device from the device list and run one
of the diagnostic utilities for that device
by selecting the appropriate icon:
Identity, Firmware, Test or Support.
For ease of use, comprehensive online
help is built into the software.
compatibility
There are HP Library & Tape Tools versions for:
Windows NT 4.0 (workstation and server)
Windows 2000 (professional and server)
Novell NetWare 5 or 5.1
firmware updates
You can update the firmware in HP Surestore DLT1 tape drives either by
downloading over the SCSI bus or by loading a firmware update cartridge.
Caution: DO NOT RESET OR POWER CYCLE THE DRIVE during firmware
update. Doing so can damage the drive's controller hardware.
using HP Library & Tape Tools to update firmware
Use HP Library & Tape Tools to download via SCSI. Any tape in the drive will be
ejected automatically before update. The Write Protected and Ready LEDs flash
at the same time during firmware update for about two to three minutes.
Note: If a corrupt or incompatible image is downloaded for firmware update then
the Write Protected and Ready LEDs do not flash. The drive resets and leaves the
code update cartridge loaded to indicate that the code update was not successful.
using a firmware update cartridge
Firmware update tapes are only available from HP. Refer to the Hewlett-Packard
Support web site for update information (www.hp.com/support/dlt1).
To update the firmware from tape:
1. Locate the firmware update cartridge.
2. Remove all DLTtape cartridges from your DLT1 drive.
3. Press and hold the Eject button on your DLT1 drive's front panel until all
three LEDS illuminate (6 seconds) and continue to hold down until the lights
go off (4 seconds). Release the Eject button.
4. Press and hold the Eject button again (4 seconds) until the Write Protected
and Ready LEDs flash, then release the Eject button. The drive is now in
firmware update mode. If you decide not to perform a firmware update at
this point, no action is necessary. The drive returns to its normal operational
state after 30-45 seconds of inactivity. If the drive does not go into the
update mode, refer to the troubleshooting information on update mode.
5. Insert the code update cartridge into the drive. The drive temporarily turns
off the Write Protected and Ready LEDS while it reads the cartridge and
verifies that the firmware image file is valid. This process may take several
minutes to complete.
❍ If the drive's code is up-to-date, the drive cancels firmware update
mode, and the process is complete.
❍ If the drive's code is not up-to-date, the drive reads the code image
file from the cartridge. The Write Protected and Ready LEDs flash at
the same time during the update process which typically takes two to
three minutes.
When the drive finishes reading the code image file from the update
cartridge, the drive rewinds the cartridge to the beginning, resets, and
performs a Power-On Self-Test (POST). The drive then ensures that the
code image file is valid. If so, it updates the controller's flash EEPROM. The
Write Protected and Ready LEDs flash at the same time during theupdate
process.
6. The drive ejects the code update cartridge. Your DLT1 drive is now ready to
use with the new code.
Note: If the drive does not eject the code update cartridge, the firmware update
failed. For troubleshooting information, refer to
code update failed.
TapeAlert
Tape storage systems have a vital role to play in backing up essential data safely
and securely. Yet until now, there has been no reliable way to identify errors and
potential problems that may compromise their effectiveness or reliability.
Thanks to a new industry standard developed by Hewlett-Packard, however, that
situation has changed. TapeAlert is a tape drive status monitoring and messaging
utility that makes it easy to detect problems which could have an impact on
backup quality. From the use of worn-out tapes to defects in the drive hardware
TapeAlert provides easy-to-understand warnings of errors as they arise, and
suggests a course of action to remedy the problem.
To take advantage of TapeAlert, you need:
● TapeAlert-compatible tape drives
● TapeAlert-compatible backup software
Network administrators will also find it extremely valuable to have TapeAlert for
OpenView, which extends the benefits of TapeAlert across the network.
how it works
TapeAlert compatible tape drives - such as the latest DLT1 drives from Hewlett-
Packard - are delivered with TapeAlert features built in as standard. The internal
TapeAlert firmware constantly monitors the drive hardware and the media,
checking for errors and potential difficulties. Any problems identified are flagged
on a new SCSI log page, where 64 bytes have been reserved for use by
TapeAlert.
After a backup has been completed, the TapeAlert-compatible backup application
will automatically read the drive's TapeAlert SCSI log page to check for any
problems. If an error is flagged, the backup software displays a clear warning
message on the user's screen, and adds the TapeAlert messages to its logs.
These messages are standard across all applications that support TapeAlert, and
are designed to give clear explanation of the problem and suggested resolution.
For example, a user attempting to backup onto a worn-out tape would encounter
the message:
WARNING: The tape cartridge has reached the end of its useful life:
1. Copy and data you need to another tape
2. Discard the old tape
Errors Monitored
TapeAlert currently checks for errors occurring in the following main categories:
● Drive recoverable read problems
● Drive recoverable write problems
● Drive unrecoverable read problems
● Drive unrecoverable write problems
● Drive hardware defects
● Worn-out media
● Expired cleaning tapes
● Wrong media used
● Abnormal error conditions
TapeAlert for OpenView
TapeAlert for OpenView allows you to bring all TapeAlert-compatible tape drives
on the network under the control of the network administrator. It integrates all the
features and functions of TapeAlert into HP's network management utility,
OpenView for Windows. As a result, tape drives can now be monitored and
controlled remotely in the same way as other network elements such as disk
drives and printers.
With TapeAlert for OpenView installed, error messages flagged by tape drives are
passed to the backup applications in the usual way. The software then forwards
the information to the network management console through the server's SNMP
interface.
An OpenView alarm is then activated on the management console, alerting the
network manager to the tape drives problem. The icon for the relevant server will
change color, with the color indicating the severity of the alarm as follows:
RED
Critical
YELLOW
Warning
BLUE
Information
TapeAlert for OpenView also provides a graphical view of the tape drives on the
selected server. Detailed configuration information is shown, together with a
history of previous errors recorded.
For each alarm, TapeAlert provides a brief description of the error, together with
the date and time of occurrence and an indication of severity. By clicking on the
"More Info" button, it is possible to drill down to details such as the device and
media involved, and suggestions for correcting the problem. For consistency and
convenience, the error messages are identical to those displayed locally by
TapeAlert.
As a result, it is easy for network managers to identify the source of problems
occurring on any TapeAlert-enabled drive on the network.
a new standard
TapeAlert has been developed by Hewlett-Packard as a proposed new
standard tape drive management. All new tape drives from Hewlett-Packard will
be fully compatible with TapeAlert, and many major manufacturers and software
companies are expected to adopt the standard. Software companies adopting
the standard currently include:
● Computer Associates Software
● Seagate Software
● Stac
● Legato
● Novastor
The TapeAlert standard has been designed
to allow easy integration into backup
applications from any software vendor.
Applications which comply fully with the
requirements for TapeAlert will be awarded
the use of the TapeAlert logo.
Designed for the Future
TapeAlert is an advanced technological standard which provides a
comprehensive range of state-of-the-art features and functions. However, it has
also been designed to allow considerable expansion and development in the
future, as new possibilities and opportunities open up.
summary
Reliable, high-quality backups are essential to safeguard the vast amount of data
stored on computer systems today. TapeAlert is an innovative standard that
enhances reliability by monitoring tape drives and associated media during backup
procedures.
Offering clear warnings of problems as they arise, TapeAlert allows users and
network managers to eliminate unnecessary errors and ensure that data integrity
and security is never compromised. Already gaining substantial support across the
industry, TapeAlert is set to become the established standard for tape drive
management.
© 2000, Hewlett-Packard Company
file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/topher.COL-SPRINGS/Desktop/manual/document/dlt1/user/reseller/eng/diag.htm [12/3/2001 7:50:37 AM]