HP StoreEver ESL G3 Tape Libraries - Manual (Page 27)

For more information, see “Working with partitions” (page 27) .
Working with partitions
A partition is an abstraction of a single underlying physical library that presents the appearance
of multiple, separate libraries for purposes of file management, access by multiple users, or
dedication to one or more host applications. For example, you can choose to run one software
application in one partition, and a different software application in a second partition.
Each partition contains the following components of the physical library:
•
Accessor: the robotic assembly that moves media within the library. The accessor includes the
picker and reach assemblies.
•
I/E station magazine: a magazine, consisting of slots for cartridges, that enables media to
be moved into or removed from the physical library. The type of media determines the number
of slots in the magazine. For example, an LTO magazine has six slots.
•
Storage magazine: a static column location within a section of the physical library rack that
holds removable media. For more about location coordinates, see
“Understanding location
coordinates” (page 88) .
•
Drive: the read/write device for removable media.
A partition consists of, at a minimum, one storage magazine and one drive. Neither the storage
magazine nor the drive can be shared with another partition. Each partition is specific to a media
type (for example, LTO tape drives). One 24–slot I/E station can be used by up to four partitions.
One 72–slot I/E station can be used by up to twelve partitions. The maximum number of I/E station
slots per partition is 240. The maximum number of partitions is determined by the lesser of either
the number of drives available in the physical library (assuming there are at least as many storage
slots), or 16.
NOTE: The library is licensed for either one partition or the maximum number of partitions, which
is 16.
Using the Secure Manager feature, multiple hosts can share a single partition, or a partition can
be restricted to one exclusive host.
Each host application can have a partition assigned to it. Each application uses its partition as if
it were a dedicated physical library.
Understanding partition media policy settings
The partition Media Type Checking Policy and Return Media Identifier settings help determine how
the library handles differing media types within the same library. Configure media policy settings
when you manually create or modify a partition.
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.
For example, Linear Tape Open (LTO) 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 uses L4, L5, and L6 to identify the LTO-4, LTO-5, and LTO-6 media types in a
volume serial number.
Working with partitions 27