Sun Microsystems StreamLine SL8500 - Manual (Page 48)

Robotics Interface Module
8 StreamLine™ SL8500 Modular Library System User's Guide • March 2007 Revision K • 96154
Firmware Versions
Flash memory holds both the most recently activated firmware version and the
previous firmware version. Therefore, if there is a requirement to return machine
control to a previous version, a service representative merely re-activates the previous
version and places the now-deactivated version into the “previous” state.
Features
When features are added to a library, they are tracked to the machine’s serial number 3 .
Any upgrade must be matched to the serial number before activation. The upgrade
process is accomplished over the command line interface (CLI) by the service
representative.
HBC Card
The HBC card is the library controller, responsible for coordinating all component
operations within the library. It is the interface between the host and the library. One
HBC card can control a library’s operation, but a second HBC is available to assure
redundancy. Operating voltage for HBC cards is +3.3 VDC.
In addition to the cards in the electronics control module, the HBC card interfaces with
the following cards and components:
■
Ethernet hubs (Library-to-library LANs, tape drive service LAN)
■
TCP/IP/Web host interface
■
HBS cards (robots)
■
Power, smoke, and environmental monitoring circuits throughout the library
■
Flash memory
HBT Card
The HBT card translates commands from the HBC controller card into unique drive
commands, transferred across differential RS422 lines. The HBT card contain 66
Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitters (UARTs); 64 are responsible for the
parallel-to-serial conversion for the tape drives and the remaining two communicate
with the tape environmental monitor card (HBD card).
Robotics Interface Module
The robots move cartridges between storage slots, between slots and tape drives, and
between the CAP and slots.
There are four robotic rail assemblies in the library that provide both power and
communications to the four or eight robots. Each robot can service up to 16 tape drives.
Robots consists of:
■
Rail, brush, and HandBot assemblies
3. The machine serial number is on the rear, bottom of the Tape Drive and Electronic Module.