Configuring STK Libraries with Multiple LSMs

The following procedure describes the steps involved in configuring the STK libraries with multiple LSMs attached to the ACSLS Server using the Library and Drive Configuration window.

Due to the unique nature of this library, the goal of this configuration is to eliminate the sharing of resources across LSMs. In order to do this, each LSM is configured as a logical library. The following procedure describes the steps involved in configuring a LSM as a virtual library. Repeat this procedure to configure all the LSMs in the library.

Before You Begin

Pre-configuration tasks in the ACSLS Server computer

Perform the following tasks in the ACSLS Server computer in which the library controller will be configured:

  • Ensure that the hardware is configured according to the guidelines provided in Hardware Configuration Guidelines - STK Libraries Attached to ACSLS Server.
  • Verify that the ACSLS server is online and the STK library is functioning.

    NOTES

    See the STK/ACSLS documentation for instructions on verifying the status of the ACSLS Server/STK library.

  • In the ACSLS server, create a scratch pool for each LSM. Ensure that all volumes moved into each scratch pool reside in their respective LSMs.

    NOTES

    See the STK/ACSLS documentation for instructions on creating the scratch pool and moving the tapes to the scratch pool.

Pre-configuration tasks in the MediaAgent computer

  • Ensure that the hardware is configured according to the guidelines provided in ACSLS Library Configuration.
  • Install one of the following, depending on the MediaAgent�s Operating System:

    For a Windows MediaAgent, install an instance of StorageTek�s Library Attach for Windows on the computer in which the MediaAgent will be installed.

    NOTES

    See the STK/ACSLS documentation for instructions on installing the Library Attach for Windows.

  • For a Solaris MediaAgent, install the ACSLS Client Service. This service can be installed in one of the following ways:
    • During the MediaAgent software installation on the Solaris computer. See Install the MediaAgent - Solaris for step-by-step instructions on installing the MediaAgent software on Solaris.
    • If you have already installed the MediaAgent, you can run the config_acsls program on the Solaris MediaAgent computer. See Install ACSLS Client Service on Solaris for step-by-step instructions .
  • As each LSM is configured as a library, verify that you have sufficient Library Control Module licenses available in the CommServe.

  • This feature requires a Feature License to be available in the CommServe® Server.

    Review general license requirements included in License Administration. Also, View All Licenses provides step-by-step instructions on how to view the license information.

Required Capability: See Capabilities and Permitted Actions

To configure a StorageTek library using ACSLS server (Direct-attached library or SAN-DDS Configuration)
1. Display the Library and Drive Configuration window.
You cannot configure a StorageTek library attached to ACSLS server from the Library and Drive Configuration window displayed during the MediaAgent installation.
2. Detect the devices as described in Detect Devices.

Do not perform an Exhaustive Detection now.
  The devices are displayed in the library tree with detection status not configured, detect success in the Library and Drive Configuration window.

If the system detects the drives and displays them as a standalone library in the Library and Drive Configuration window, perform the steps described in Configuring Drives Displayed as Stand-Alone Drives.
3. If you want to modify the library properties, right-click the library and select Properties.

From the Library Properties dialog box, you can change the following properties:

Alias: The user-defined name for the library. This name is displayed in the CommCell Console for the library. We recommend that you give each library a descriptive name as its Alias, for easier system administration.
4. When you are satisfied with your changes, click OK.
5. Configure the library as described in Configure Devices.

Perform the following steps, if you are configuring the library with DDS
6. From the Library and Drive Configuration window, click the Start menu and choose Select MediaAgents.

Select the following MediaAgents:

  • The MediaAgent in which the library is already configured.
  • Another MediaAgent in which you wish to configure the library using DDS.
7. Detect the devices that are controlled by MediaAgents that will access the library as described in Detect Devices.
Exhaustive detection operation does not provide any additional advantage on StorageTek libraries using ACSLS server.
8. The system detects the drives and automatically displays them with the DDS setup in the Library and Drive Configuration window.
9. Configure the Master Drive Pool. Make sure that the drive pool and drives are configured.
10. Repeat steps 6 to 10 to configure another MediaAgent in the DDS setup.

Post-Configuration Considerations
Consider the following after configuring all the LSMs as a virtual library:

Creating Storage Policies

Recommended Method

When a library is configured, the system automatically creates a storage policy. In the case of libraries with multiple LSMs, a storage policy will be created for each of the LSMs configured as a library.

  • Use one of these storage policies and associate all the subclients using the library to this storage policy.
  • Add the data paths for each LSM in the library as alternate data paths in this storage policy. A data path for each LSM implies all possible MediaAgents that have visibility to the drives in that LSM. (Review Alternate Data Paths (GridStor) for additional information. Also, Configure Multiple Data Paths for a Storage Policy Copy provides step-by-step instructions on how to configure alternate data paths.)

The advantages to this configuration method is that when there is failure in any one of the LSMs , data protection operations will automatically use the resources in the other LSM. Thus this configuration minimizes the impact of a robot failure in any one of the LSMs. In addition only one storage policy must be configured (and maintained) resulting in easier administration.

Note that data may get scattered across several tape cartridges within the library. However, the system can keep track of all the data and automatically restore data from the appropriate tape cartridge. In addition the MediaAgent software provides several methods to reconsolidate the data. This is discussed in the Best Practices section for Alternate Data Paths (GridStor).

Other Methods

  • Configure all the storage policies associated with each of the LSMs with alternate data paths in each of these storage policies. These alternate data paths must point to all other MediaAgents that have visibility to the drives in that LSM. Make sure to set the criteria for selecting alternate data paths as When resources are busy or offline. (Load balance (Spill and fill) between Data Paths is applicable only in the case of load balancing.) The advantage to this method is that data associated with each storage policy will be limited to the LSM to which the storage policy is associated. (Data is less scattered than in the previous method.)

    However, keep in mind that you must configure and maintain multiple storage policies in this method.

  • Configure all the storage policies associated with each of the LSMs with no alternate data paths. The disadvantage here is that when one LSM fails, all backups to that LSM would fail.

Configuring Drives Displayed as Stand-Alone Drives
Perform the following steps if the system detects the drives and displays them as a standalone library in the Library and Drive Configuration window, as shown in the sample image.
  From the Library and Drive Configuration window, click the Start menu, choose Add and then select IP Library from the shortcut menu.
  In the Add IP Library dialog box, enter/select the following information:

MediaAgent: The name of the MediaAgent controlling the library.

Library Type: The IP library type. (ACSLS)

Library Host Name: The host name of the ACSLS server. If you have SN6000 attached, the host name of SN6000.

Work Pool Number: The work pool number associated with the work pool created for the system in the ACSLS server.

As we are configuring a library for each LSM, make sure to specify the appropriate work pool number associated with the LSM.

Volume Range: The ascending barcode range(s) of volumes available in the specified work pool. Use a dash to specify range and commas to delimit ranges. For example: 000065-000165,000167,000170-000199.

Vendor: The manufacturer of the library. (STK)

Model: The library model. (ACSLS)

Description: An optional field into which you can enter a description for the library

Drive Count: The number of drives in the library.
  When you are finished, click OK.

The system detects the library and displays the library information in the Library and Drive Configuration window.
  Right-click a stand-alone drive and choose the Move To option.
  In the Move to the Empty Drive Slot dialog box click the drive number to which you wish to move the standalone drive.
  Click OK.
  Click Yes in the confirmation prompt for moving the drive to the empty slot.
  Repeat steps 8 to 11 to move all other associated stand-alone drives to the appropriate drive slots in the library tree.
  The devices are displayed in the library tree with detection status not configured, detect success in the Library and Drive Configuration window.
  Right-click the drive and then click Properties.  
  In the Drive Properties dialog box, select the correct ACSLS Drive ID to match the Serial Number of the physical drive in the library.

Verify the drive serial number and obtain the corresponding drive ID, before selecting the drive ID in this dialog box.

To assist in this mapping operation, use the following ACSLS command on the ACSLS server to map the Serial Number to the ACSLS Drive ID:

To obtain the serial number of a specific drive:

display drive <ACSLS Drive ID> -f serial_num

To obtain the serial number of all drives:

display drive * -f serial_num
If the list of the ACSLS drive IDs is not populated, verify and ensure that the ACSLS Client Service is running.
  Repeat steps 14 to 15 for all the drives within each LSM in the library.
  If you are not sure of the drive serial number and drive ID mapping, then perform an exhaustive detection of the devices at the Library Controller level.

This will ensure that the drives are mapped to the appropriate serial number.
  Select the most likely drives or all the available drives in the Select Drive IDs dialog box.

NOTES

As this process attempts to mount a media in each of the selected drives to determine the drive numbers to its correct serial number, depending on the number of drives selected, this operation may take several minutes to complete.
  Proceed to Step 3.