Robot Inventory not working with IBM TS-3500 TLD library.

Problem

IBM TS-3500 After ALMS and Virtual I/O features were enabled it was found that cartridges located in the Virtual I/O were not accessible to Netbackup. If the cartridge was moved to a slot belonging to a logical library via the IBM Library web interface, the cartridge will become accessible to Netbackup.

Cause

Library setting 'Queued Exports' incorrectly set causing the library to incorrectly function with NetBackup.

Solution

There are no settings in NetBackup that can influence the behavior of the Virtual I/O slots.

NetBackup up does not directly 'Inventory' a library. Instead it queries the library and waits to be told what tapes (barcodes) are located in which element address (slots/ drives). If NetBackup 'cannot see' a particular cartridge(s) it is because the library is 'hiding' the location, not because of any setting within NetBackup.

For the logical library, we set 'Queued Exports' to HIDE from within the IBM web console on the library. Running an inventory then causes the tapes to be added to the logical library and not left in the virtual I/O ports.

Robtest is a useful tool for checking what cartridges/ positions of cartridges that the library is allowing NetBackup to use. At no time, will the IBM 3500 series library allow Netbackup to directly access the virtual I/O slots. This can be demonstrated but the fact that the robtest ' s p ' (show ports) command will only ever show the contents of the physical CAP/ MAP.

To obtain further assistance or details regarding this library setting, Veritas recommends to contact IBM.

Applies To

AIX 6.1 / NBU 7.0.1 IBM 3584 Library