HP StoreEver ESL G3 Tape Libraries - Manual (Page 35)

Media Domain
The media domain is the family of all cartridge types that can be stored in the same storage slot.
Typically, a media domain represents all the generations and brands of a particular tape technology.
Linear Tape Open (LTO), for example, has many generations and vendors, but all LTO cartridges are
considered to exist in the same media domain.
Media Type
The media type is a particular generation of tape technology. Several media types can exist within
one media domain. Using LTO again as an example, within the LTO media domain is the LTO-4
media type, the LTO-5 media type, and so forth. A media type has an identifier, chosen by the tape
manufacturer or consortium, that enables users and libraries to distinguish between them. The LTO
consortium usesL4 and L5 to identify the LTO-4 and LTO-5 media types in a volume serial number.
Media ID Checking
Media ID checking policy restricts the movement of tape cartridges based on the media ID on the
barcode label. This policy also helps you monitor the management of tapes and drives by the host
applications. When you create or modify a partition, you can enable or disable the Media Type
Checking option. If you choose to enable media type checking, you also can use the Media Checking
Policy option to select from two modes of operation: Required or Not Required. With either mode,
the library checks whether a cartridge has a valid media ID on the barcode label.
In Required mode, if the library does not find a valid media ID on a cartridge, the library does not
allow it to be moved into or within the library. If the library finds a valid media ID, the library allows
it to be moved from an I/E station into a partition that contains magazines matching the media domain
of the cartridge (for example, LTO), but the library does not allow the cartridge to be moved from
storage to a drive that does not have a matching type (for example, an LTO-5 cartridge will not be
allowed to move to an LTO-4 drive).
In Not Required mode, if the library does not find a valid media ID on a cartridge, the library allows
it to be moved into or within the library as long as the I/E station magazine, storage magazine, or
drive matches the media domain of the cartridge. If the library finds a valid media ID, the library does
not allow the cartridge to be moved from storage to a drive that does not have a matching type (for
example, an LTO-5 cartridge will not be allowed to move to an LTO-4 drive).
Return Media Identifier
For the media policy settings, the library makes assumptions about a media identifier and its position
in a media barcode label. To be considered a media identifier, the identifier characters must be
correct for the media domain and media type. Also, the identifier, which for some media types can
consist of more than one character, must be complete and in the correct location. The correct characters
in the wrong position are not viewed as a media type identifier. In a physical library or partition
containing mixed media, the media identifier is not required for all cartridges.
Table 3 explains the media type identifiers and assumptions.
HP Enterprise Systems Library (ESL) G3 Tape Library 35