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StorageTek SL150 Modular Tape LibrarySystems Assurance Guide

E22579-07

April 2014

StorageTek SL150 Modular Tape Library Systems Assurance Guide

E22579-07

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iii

Contents

Preface ................................................................................................................................................................ ix

Documentation Accessibility .................................................................................................................... ix

1 Product Overview

Bridging...................................................................................................................................................... 1-2Modules...................................................................................................................................................... 1-2Robot........................................................................................................................................................... 1-3Vision.......................................................................................................................................................... 1-3Class 1 Laser Product Notice .................................................................................................................. 1-4Tape Drives and Media ........................................................................................................................... 1-4

Cartridge Label Options.................................................................................................................... 1-6Human Interfaces ..................................................................................................................................... 1-6Partitions .................................................................................................................................................... 1-8SNMP.......................................................................................................................................................... 1-8StorageTek Tape Analytics..................................................................................................................... 1-9Automated Cartridge System Library Software................................................................................. 1-9Library Specifications........................................................................................................................... 1-10Environmental Information ................................................................................................................ 1-11

2 Planning

Multiple LUN Support ............................................................................................................................ 2-1Tape Device Driver .................................................................................................................................. 2-1SAN Connection ....................................................................................................................................... 2-1

Zoning.................................................................................................................................................. 2-1Persistent Binding .............................................................................................................................. 2-2

Serial Attached SCSI (SAS).................................................................................................................... 2-2SAS-2 Configuration Issues .............................................................................................................. 2-2

Power Over Ethernet (POE).................................................................................................................... 2-3IPv6 Network Address ............................................................................................................................ 2-3Equipment Service Clearances .............................................................................................................. 2-3Drives With Two Ports ............................................................................................................................ 2-3Tape Drive Cleaning................................................................................................................................ 2-4

3 Ordering

SL150 Modular Tape Library Part Numbers ....................................................................................... 3-1

iv

Configuration and Ordering Examples .......................................................................................... 3-2Cable Part Numbers................................................................................................................................. 3-3

Ethernet Cables................................................................................................................................... 3-3Multimode Fiber-optic Cables ......................................................................................................... 3-3SAS Cables........................................................................................................................................... 3-4

Power Cord Part Numbers...................................................................................................................... 3-4Information on Ordering Media and Labels ..................................................................................... 3-5

A Locations

Library Walls ............................................................................................................................................ A-1Tape Slot Locations ................................................................................................................................. A-1

Element Mapping.............................................................................................................................. A-1Library Configuration and Slot Maps ........................................................................................... A-2Capacity .............................................................................................................................................. A-5Diagnostic and Cleaning Cartridge Locations ............................................................................. A-6

B Partitioning Overview

Partitioning—General ........................................................................................................................... B-1Partitioning—Feature ............................................................................................................................. B-1

Partitioning—Access Control .......................................................................................................... B-3Partitioning—Shared Mailslot Behavior........................................................................................ B-3

Partitioning—Removing the Feature................................................................................................... B-5

C Controlling Contaminants

Environmental Contaminants............................................................................................................... C-1Required Air Quality Levels ................................................................................................................. C-1Contaminant Properties and Sources .................................................................................................. C-2

Operator Activity .............................................................................................................................. C-3Hardware Movement ....................................................................................................................... C-3Outside Air......................................................................................................................................... C-3Stored Items ....................................................................................................................................... C-3Outside Influences ............................................................................................................................ C-3Cleaning Activity .............................................................................................................................. C-3

Contaminant Effects ............................................................................................................................... C-4Physical Interference......................................................................................................................... C-4Corrosive Failure............................................................................................................................... C-4Shorts................................................................................................................................................... C-4Thermal Failure ................................................................................................................................. C-4

Room Conditions..................................................................................................................................... C-4Exposure Points ....................................................................................................................................... C-6Filtration.................................................................................................................................................... C-6Positive Pressurization and Ventilation ............................................................................................. C-7Cleaning Procedures and Equipment.................................................................................................. C-8

Daily Tasks ......................................................................................................................................... C-8Weekly Tasks ..................................................................................................................................... C-8Quarterly Tasks ................................................................................................................................. C-9

v

Biennial Tasks .................................................................................................................................... C-9Activity and Processes .......................................................................................................................... C-10

Glossary

Index

vii

List of Figures

1–1 90 Cartridge Library (Front View) ........................................................................................... 1-11–2 Base Module and Expansion Modules - Rear View............................................................... 1-21–3 Robot ............................................................................................................................................. 1-41–4 Tape Cartridge............................................................................................................................. 1-51–5 Operator Panel Home Screen .................................................................................................... 1-71–6 Remote Management Interface ................................................................................................. 1-7A–1 Non-Partitioned One Module Library, Standard Mailslot, and No Reserved Cells ....... A-3A–2 Non-Partitioned Two Module Library, Expanded Mailslot, and No Reserved Cells ..... A-4A–3 Non-Partitioned Ten Module Library, Standard Mailslot, and Three Reserved Cells .... A-5B–1 Ten Module Library, Two Partitions, and the Standard Mailslot Configuration ............ B-2

viii

List of Tables

A–1 Starting Element Address and Maximum Number of Elements ....................................... A-2A–2 Numbering Key......................................................................................................................... A-2A–3 Storage Slot, Mailslot, and Drive Counts for Different Configurations............................ A-6B–1 SCSI Commands Affected by the Shared Mailslot Assignment ........................................ B-4B–2 Shared Mailslot Door Locked and Unlocked Conditions ................................................... B-5

ix

Preface

This guide is intended for anyone involved with installation planning or the orderingof Oracle’s StorageTek SL150 Modular Tape Library.

Documentation AccessibilityFor information about Oracle's commitment to accessibility, visit the OracleAccessibility Program website athttp://www.oracle.com/pls/topic/lookup?ctx=acc&id=docacc.

Access to Oracle SupportOracle customers have access to electronic support through My Oracle Support. Forinformation, visit http://www.oracle.com/pls/topic/lookup?ctx=acc&id=info orvisit http://www.oracle.com/pls/topic/lookup?ctx=acc&id=trs if you are hearingimpaired.

1

Product Overview 1-1

1Product Overview

Oracle’s StorageTek SL150 Modular Tape Library is a rack-mounted, automated tapelibrary containing up to 300 tape cartridges (tapes) with one to 20 half-height LTOUltrium 5 or 6 Fibre Channel (FC) or Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) tape drives (see "TapeDrives and Media" on page 1-4). The robot control is a SCSI Medium Changer devicethat appears as LUN 1 on a bridged tape drive.

The SL150 Library scales from one to ten modules. A module has two tape drive slots.Each module stores up to 30 tapes in two 15-slot magazines (one on the left side andthe other on the right side). Additionally, a four slot mailslot is available in the basemodule for entering tapes into or removing tapes from the library (see Figure 1–1).

Figure 1–1 90 Cartridge Library (Front View)

Illustration Legend:

1 - Base module (Module 1)

2 - Expansion module (Module 2)

3 - Left cartridge magazines

4 - Right cartridge magazines

5 - Front control panel

6 - Mailslot

Bridging

1-2 StorageTek SL150 Modular Tape Library Systems Assurance Guide

BridgingTape drive bridging provides the external interface for library control. The bridgeddrive is LUN 0 and the library is LUN 1.

Data, command, and control signals travel directly to the data interface of the SAS orFC tape drive. The designated bridged drive handles all control communications forthe library or library partition and passes command and control signals to the librarycontroller.

A library without partitions must have one bridged drive. A partitioned library musthave a bridged drive for each partition.

ModulesThe SL150 Library has two types of modules: the base module (designated Module 1)and the expansion module (designated as Modules 2 through 10).

Module 1 is the smallest fully functional library, and it contains:

■ Front control panel

■ Two 15-slot tape magazines (left and right)

■ Standard Mailslot with four tape slots (see "Partitions" on page 1-8 for additionaldetails)

Note: Code version 2.25, and higher, supports a 19 slot ExpandedMailslot configuration.

■ Robotics with one hand

■ Power supply (with an option to add a second power supply)

■ Tape drive (with an option to add a second drive)

Up to three tape slots in Module 1 can be designated as reserved slots to storediagnostic or cleaning tapes.

At the rear of Module 1, there is an Ethernet port for remote management and nineUSB Type A ports for connection to expansion modules (see Figure 1–2).

Figure 1–2 Base Module and Expansion Modules - Rear View


Vision


1 - Base module (the Module 1 label is on the rear panel of the module)

2 - Expansion module (a label with the module number is on the rear panel)

3 - Robot lock (Improved Design)

4 - Tape drive tray

5 - Power supply

6 - Module controller (Module 2 and Module 3)

Note: In addition to the components listed previously, Module 1ships with an accessory kit containing rail components, attachmenthardware, and identification labels.

An expansion module can be added to the bottom of the library to provide additionaltape cartridge capacity and additional performance by adding tape drives (seeFigure 1–2). An expansion module requires 2U of rack space. An expansion moduleships with:

■ Two 15-slot tape magazines (left and right)

■ Module controller

■ Expansion cable that has two USB Type A connectors

■ Mounting hardware to secure the module to the rack

■ Identification labels

The module controller is connected to the base module by an expansion cable thatincorporates USB Type A connectors. The cable provides a communication pathbetween the base and expansion modules and a power source for the modulecontroller.

The expansion module has slots for two tape drives and two power supplies. There isinsufficient power from the expansion cable to support a tape drive. Therefore, a powersupply is required when the expansion module has a tape drive.

An SL150 Library can be divided into partitions (see "Partitions" on page 1-8).

RobotThe robotic mechanism resides in the base module. The bull wheel is located in the topof the base module. The Z platform cables go through pulleys and wind around thebull wheel (see Figure 1–3). As the bull wheel rotates, the cables lower or raise the Zplatform depending on the direction of bull wheel rotation. A hand assembly movesalong Z-platform rods to provide the track motion. The hand assembly contains aretractable reach mechanism, and the hand rotates to align with a left magazine slot, aright magazine slot, a slot in the mailslot, or a tape drive at the rear of the library. Thereach mechanism has spring-loaded grippers to grip and release a tape cartridge.

VisionThe hand assembly uses two vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) devices toscan barcodes and to target cells. One VCSEL is mounted on each end of the hand.Moving the VCSEL past a bar code or the edge of a tape cartridge slot generates a datastream which is decoded on the main processor to generate the bar code or to locate atarget position.

Class 1 Laser Product Notice


Figure 1–3 Robot


1 - Hand

2 - Pulleys

3 - Suspension cables

4 - Z platform

5 - Bull wheel

6 - Z motor

Class 1 Laser Product NoticeThe StorageTek SL150 Modular Tape Library contains a class-1 laser as defined by IEC60825-1 Ed. 2 (2007).

Tape Drives and MediaThe SL150 Library supports the following Linear Tape Open (LTO) half-height, tapedrives manufactured by HP:

■ Generation 5 Fibre Channel or SAS

■ Generation 6 Fibre Channel or SAS

The library supports simultaneous installation of Generation 5 and 6 tape drives asbridged tape drives and data drives.

Drive Firmware version required:

■ Fibre Channel:

Tape Drives and Media


– LTO-5: Y5BS, Y65S, or greater

– LTO-6: 22GS, 239S, or greater

■ SAS:

– LTO-5: Z55S, Z65S, or greater

– LTO-6: 32DS, 339S, or greater

Cartridges supported:

Standard LTO data cartridges are labeled with a unique, customer-assigned, volumeID, followed by a media ID field.

■ Generation 6:

– L6 media ID: read and write in LTO-6 format

– LW media ID (WORM): read and write in LTO-6 format

■ Generation 5:

– L5 media ID: read and write in LTO-5 format

– LV media ID (WORM): read and write in LTO-5 format

■ Generation 4:

– L4 media ID or LU media ID (WORM):

* LTO-6 drive: read only

* LTO-5 drive: read and write in LTO-4 format

■ Generation 3:

– L3 media ID or LT media ID (WORM): read only in an LTO-5 drive

Note: The LTO-6 drive does not support generation 3 media.

■ Universal Cleaning Cartridge

Figure 1–4 Tape Cartridge


1 - Write protect switch

2 - Volume ID label (barcode toward cartridge hub)

Human Interfaces


3 - Access door

4 - Leader pin

Cartridge Label OptionsTo accommodate the fullest range of possible labeling schemes, the SL150 Librarysupports labels eight to 14 characters long and provides a label windowing feature thatlets you specify how labels should be interpreted when communicating with the hostapplication.

The library user interface supports the following labeling options:

■ No type checking passes all characters in the label without modification andwithout checking the media domain and type. Use this option if your labels do notidentify the media; for example, M123456789AB does not contain a mediadescriptor (such as L5).

■ Prepend last two characters passes all the characters after moving the last twocharacters in the label to the front: KL10203012L5 is translated to L5KL10203012.

■ Full label passes the first eight characters in the physical label: KL10203012L5 istranslated to KL102030.

■ Trim last character passes the first seven characters in the physical label:KL10203012L5 is translated to KL10203.

■ Trim last two characters passes the first six characters in the physical label:KL10203012L5 is translated to KL1020.

■ Trim first two characters passes the third through eighth characters in the physicallabel: KL10203012L5 is translated to 102030.

■ Trim first character passes the second through eighth characters in the physicallabel: KL10203012L5 is translated to L102030.

See the StorageTek SL150 Modular Tape Library User’s Guide for additional informationon tape labels and use of the Configuration section of the SL150 remote GUI.

Human InterfacesThere are three ways to interact with the SL150 Library: the mailslot, operator panel,and remote interface.

■ The four cartridge mailslot, located above the right magazine in the base module,is used for entering tapes into and removing tapes from the library withoutinterfering with robot operations. It can be opened from the front control paneltouch screen or from the remote interface depending on your user role.

Note: Code version 2.25, and higher, supports a 19 slot ExpandedMailslot configuration.

■ The front control panel contains an LCD touch screen operator panel designed foruse as an information point rather than as a maintenance tool (see Figure 1–5).

Information shown on the panel is primarily in tabular format and is available for:the library, modules, magazines, the mailslot, partitions (if enabled), drives, tapes,and settings. The masthead contains a home button to return from an informationsection, a button to present the copyright information, an activity icon, the libraryhealth (Operational in this example), and the library state.

Human Interfaces


Figure 1–5 Operator Panel Home Screen

■ The remote GUI is the primary management interface for the SL150 Library, andyou access it by entering the library host name or IP address into a web browser.The interface example (shown in Figure 1–6) is for a library with two partitions,and provides menus for the library, partitions, drives, tapes, configuration,firmware, SNMP, users, and service.

Note: Library code versions lower than 2.0 had a Settings menuinstead of the Configuration, Firmware, and SNMP menus in 2.0.

Figure 1–6 Remote Management Interface


1 - Section navigation

2 - Left magazine control

3 - Right magazine control

Partitions


4 - Slot identification

5 - Tape drive (two-headed arrow indicates a bridged drive)

The library information is presented as a graphical representation of tape slots inthe left and right magazines, mailslots, drives, the robot, and all installed modules(Module 1 is expanded in Figure 1–6 while Module 2 is collapsed). In addition, theslot identification information is shown for the right magazine, first row, and firstcolumn. For additional information on slot identification see Appendix A,"Locations" and Appendix B, "Partitioning Overview".

The Library list (above the label for Module 1) provides the capability to displaylibrary properties, audit the library, unlock magazines, lock and audit magazines,run a self test, expand all available modules, or collapse all modules.

The partitions, drives, tapes, configuration, firmware, SNMP, and service menuspresent information in a tabular format. Some of the menus have tabs to presentinformation in distinct categories.

An administrator creates individual user accounts for the library and assigns adistinct user role to each account. The library recognizes four user roles: viewer,operator, service, and administrator. Each of these roles has limits on what screensare seen and what actions can be performed.

Refer to the StorageTek SL150 Modular Tape Library User’s Guide or the Help systemof the remote interface for specific information regarding the user interface.

PartitionsThe SL150 Library supports a maximum of eight partitions with each partition havingat least one tape drive and one magazine. Each partition behaves as an independentlibrary, but all partitions share the use of the reserved cells, the single robot, and thefour-cartridge mailslot. Each partition must have a tape drive to provide the hostinterface (bridging).

■ When ejecting cartridges, the mailslot must be explicitly assigned to a partitionbefore any cartridge movement takes place.

■ When entering cartridges through the mailslot, the user must specify thedestination partition.

Note: The administrator enables partitions from the Configurationbutton. Refer to the user’s guide or the remote interface online Helpfor specific information about setting configuration values.

Additional information on partitions is provided in Appendix B.

SNMPThe library’s SNMP agent can automatically send traps to alert network managementstations of faults and configuration changes. Both version 2c and version 3 of theSNMP standard are supported.

■ Version 2c is backward compatible with earlier versions of the standard, but it isnot secure because authentication credentials (community strings) andmanagement data are exchanged in clear text.

Automated Cartridge System Library Software


■ Version 3 is not backward compatible, but it supports a more secure authenticationmethod and can encrypt management data.

The administrator defines SNMP users and recipients in the SNMP section of theremote management interface. The MIB can be downloaded using the managementinterface. Refer to the StorageTek SL150 Modular Tape Library User’s Guide or the remoteinterface online Help for specific information.

StorageTek Tape AnalyticsStorageTek Tape Analytics (STA) is an intelligent monitoring application, availableexclusively for StorageTek modular tape libraries (including SL150, SL500, SL3000, andSL8500). It simplifies tape storage management and allows the customer to makeinformed decisions about future tape storage investments based on the current healthof the tape storage environment.

Note: STA requires a dedicated server. Oracle recommends that youplace the STA server on the same subnet as the library to improveSNMP UDP reliability.

To set up communications between the STA server and the libraries, you must performsome configuration procedures on the libraries and some on the STA server. STA usesboth the v2c and v3 SNMP protocols to communicate with the library.

■ The initial communication handshake between a library and the STA server isdone through the v2c protocol.

■ The traps and get functions are done through the v3 protocol. The authentication,encryption, and message integrity features in SNMP v3 provide a securemechanism for sending library data.

STA allows the customer to monitor globally dispersed libraries from a single,browser-based user interface. The customer can manage open systems and mainframe,mixed-media, and mixed-drive environments across multiple library platforms.

STA allows the customer to increase the use and performance of tape investments byperforming detailed performance trending analyses. These analyses are based on aregularly updated database of library operations. STA captures and retains data fromyour tape library environment and uses this data to calculate the health status of yourlibrary resources (drives and media). STA aggregates data according to a variety ofcriteria and displays it in tabular and graphical formats, allowing you to quickly assessenvironment activity, health, and capacity.

Refer to the STA documentation library on the Oracle Technology Network (OTN) foradditional information regarding the STA product and the dedicated STA server. Selectthe Tape Storage link at the following URL:

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/documentation/index.html#storage

Automated Cartridge System Library Software

Note: ACSLS is supported but not required for operation of theSL150 Library.

Library Specifications


StorageTek Automated Cartridge System Library Software (ACSLS) functions as thecentral service provider for all library operations, efficiently sharing library resourceswith any ACSLS-enabled application on any system, and allowing centralized librarycontrol across multiple StorageTek libraries.

ACSLS version 8.2 or greater is required for interfacing with the SL150 Library.

ACSLS version 8.3 (second patch) is required for library code version 2.25 whichsupports new ASC and ASCQ reporting.

Refer to the ACSLS documentation library for additional information regardingsupport for the SL150 Library. Use the link listed in the STA section to access the TapeStorage section of OTN.

Note: ACSLS versions 8.2 and 8.3 do not support the ExpandedMailslot configuration (19 mailslots) available with library codeversion 2.25.

Library SpecificationsPhysical:

■ Depth: 925 mm (36.4 inches including 2.25 inches of tape drive extension)

■ Height:

– 3U (130.8 mm, 5.15 inches): base module (Module 1)

– 2U (88.9 mm, 3.5 inches): expansion module (Modules 2 through 10)

■ Width: 481 mm (18.9 inches)

■ Weight:

– 21.3 kg (47 pounds [base module, two cartridge magazines, one tape drive,and one power supply])

– 14.3 kg (31.5 pounds [expansion module, two cartridge magazines, no tapedrive, and no power supply])

Power:

■ AC voltage: 100-240 VAC

■ Line frequency: 50-60 Hz single phase (auto-ranging)

■ Library (operating maximum continuous—not peak) see the power calculator atthe following URL

http://www.oracle.com/us/products/servers-storage/sun-power-calculators/index.html

The smallest SL150 Library consisting of a base module, one tape drive, and onepower supply has a total idle power of 44 W (150 Btu/hr) and a steady state maximumof 67.5 W (230 Btu/hr).

Rack space requirements:

■ Base module: 3U (131 mm, 5.15 inches)

■ Expansion module: 2U (88.9 mm, 3.5 inches)

■ Depth (minimum): 925 mm (36.4 inches)

http://www.oracle.com/us/products/servers-storage/sun-power-calculators/index.htmlhttp://www.oracle.com/us/products/servers-storage/sun-power-calculators/index.html

Note: The SL150 Library can be installed in a rack with front to rearrail spacing from 457 mm (18 inches) to 902 mm (35.5 inches).

Environmental Information


Environmental InformationTemperature:

■ Operating: +10° to +40°C (+50° to +104°F)

■ Non-operating –40° to +60°C (–40° to +140°F)

Relative Humidity:

■ Operating: 20% to 80% non-condensing

■ Non-operating: 10% to 95% non-condensing

The operating environment must meet the additional requirements listed inAppendix C, "Controlling Contaminants".

Environmental Information


2

Planning 2-1

2Planning

This chapter provides information for consideration when planning for the installationof the StorageTek SL150 Modular Tape Library.

Multiple LUN SupportThe SL150 Library uses a single SCSI ID and two logical unit numbers (LUN). LUN 0controls the tape drive and LUN 1 controls the robotics. The designated tape driveprovides the bridging function and must be connected to an HBA supporting multipleLUNs (also referred to as LUN scanning).

A library without partitions must have one bridged drive. A partitioned library musthave a bridged drive for each partition.

Tape Device DriverMake sure that the proper device driver is installed, if applicable. Download the driverfrom the HP website, if needed.

For example, Oracle has qualified the HP LTO-5 and LTO-6 drives with Windowsdriver 3.5.0.0.

SAN ConnectionThe library can be connected to the host HBA through a storage area network (SAN).Configure zoning on the Fibre Channel switch so only the backup servers access thelibrary.

The half-height FC tape drive has an 8 Gb per second data interface.

ZoningUse zoning to partition a SAN into logical groupings of devices so that each group isisolated from the other and can only access the devices in its own group. Two types ofzoning exist:

■ Hardware zoning: based on physical fabric port number

■ Software zoning: defined with the World Wide Node Name (WWNN) or WorldWide Port Name (WWPN)

While zoning can be reconfigured without causing an outage, some zoningconfigurations can become complicated. The advantage of the library’s WWNNimplementation is that you can avoid the exposure of introducing zoning errors

Serial Attached SCSI (SAS)


because there is no need to change the zoning configuration when a drive needsservice or replacement.

Note: The dynamic World Wide Name (dWWN) feature assignsworld wide names to the library drive slots rather than the drivesthemselves which allows you to swap or replace a drive withoutbringing down the entire operating system.

Persistent BindingWhen a server is started, it discovers attached devices and assigns SCSI target andLUN IDs. It is possible for these SCSI assignments to change between restarts. Someoperating systems do not guarantee that devices will always be allocated the sameSCSI target ID after restarting. Also, some software depends on this association, so youdo not want it to change.

The issue of SCSI ID assignment is addressed by persistent binding. Persistent bindingis a host bus adapter (HBA) function that allows a subset of discovered targets to bebound between a server and device.

Implemented by a WWNN or WWPN, persistent binding causes a tape drive’s WWNto be bound to a specific SCSI target ID.

Serial Attached SCSI (SAS)SAS uses serial connections, with a direct connection between the host server and eachof the storage devices. SAS signal rates require clean connections and a minimumnumber of connections between the HBA and the SL150 Library. Oracle recommends amaximum SAS cable length of six meters.

The half-height SAS tape drive has a 6 Gb per second data interface.

Oracle SAS HBAs:

■ 3Gb (SAS-1):

– SG-XPCI8SAS-E-Z

– SG-XPCIE8SAS-E-Z

– SG-XPCIE8SAS-EB-Z

■ 6Gb (SAS-2):

– SGX-SAS6-EXT-Z

– SGX-SAS6-EM-Z

SAS-2 Configuration Issues

Caution: The Solaris 10 (Update 8 and later) SAS driver disruptscommunications between Oracle Solaris and common tape backupapplications.

The SAS driver only allows one device driver to attach per device (sg, sgen, st, and soforth). Users must have every component in the following list to be affected:

■ Oracle Solaris 10 (Update 8 or later) or Solaris 11

Drives With Two Ports

Planning 2-3

■ Any SAS-2 HBA

■ Tape drives or libraries using a SAS-2 connection

■ A backup application that requires multiple SAS drivers. The most commonbackup applications that use multiple device drivers include:

– CA ARCserve

– EMC Networker

– HP Data Protector

– IBM Tivoli Storage Manager

– Symantec NetBackup

A SAS tape drive attached through the SAS-2 HBA will work on the Solaris systemusing just the Solaris native commands such as dd or tar.

Power Over Ethernet (POE)Network switches providing power over Ethernet (POE) must be IEEE certified.

Note: A switch that is not IEEE certified might provide too muchcurrent over the cable and overload the Ethernet connection on thelibrary. Results of an overload appear as the Ethernet port beingunresponsive and the remote management interface not working.

IPv6 Network AddressCode version 2.0, and higher, enables the SL150 Library to support a dual-stacknetwork configuration that uses both IPv4 and IPv6. In dual-stack mode, the librarycontinues to recognize the familiar, dot-delimited IPv4 addresses while adding thecapability to use hexadecimal IPv6 addresses.

The library administrator enables dual-stack IPv4 and IPv6 from the Configurationsection of the remote management interface. The available selections for IPv6 areDHCPv6, Stateless (SLAAC), or Static. If Static is selected, the administrator isprompted to enter the Prefix Length.

Always consult with the network administrator:

■ Before configuring or changing IPv6 addressing

■ To get the length of the network prefix for your location

Equipment Service ClearancesThe front and rear service clearance must be at least 965 mm (38 inches).

Drives With Two PortsWhen a tape drive has two ports, host applications can treat the second drive port as afailover port. The library may report a Check Condition to a command received on oneport when the other port is busy with a library command. When a host applicationreceives either of the following new Check Conditions, it should reissue the command:

■ Not Ready, Logical Unit Offline (02/04/12h)

Tape Drive Cleaning


■ Aborted Command, Logical Unit Communication Failure (OBh/08/00)

Notes: The half-height LTO-5 FC tape drive has one port while theother supported drives have two ports.

Only some host applications support this feature. Be sure to check thestatus of this feature with your application.

Tape Drive CleaningLTO drives send a cleaning request to both the SL150 Library and the host applicationmanaging the library (or partition). You can handle cleaning in either of two ways:

■ Automatically manage cleaning by configuring the host application (for example,Symantec NetBackup or IBM Tivoli Storage Manager) for Automatic, Tape Alert, orreactive cleaning depending on the application.

■ Monitor the library health for a Degraded state and initiate cleaning for thespecific drive. Because this is not an automatic process, you must monitor drivesregularly and respond quickly to cleaning requests.

Refer to the StorageTek SL150 Modular Tape Library User’s Guide for details onimplementing tape drive cleaning.

3

Ordering 3-1

3Ordering

This chapter provides the following information:

■ "SL150 Modular Tape Library Part Numbers"

■ "Configuration and Ordering Examples"

■ "Cable Part Numbers"

■ "Power Cord Part Numbers"

■ "Information on Ordering Media and Labels"

SL150 Modular Tape Library Part NumbersWhen ordering a new SL150, use the following part numbers:

■ 7101750: base module, 30 slots with one HP LTO-5 half-height FC tape drive

■ 7101760: base module, 30 slots with one HP LTO-5 half-height SAS tape drive

■ 7104475: base module, 30 slots with one HP LTO-6 half-height FC tape drive

■ 7104476: base module, 30 slots with one HP LTO-6 half-height SAS tape drive

■ 7101763: SL150 expansion module, 30 slots (contains neither a tape drive assemblynor a power supply)

■ 7101761: SL150 drive, HP LTO-5, half-height SAS


■ 7101762: SL150 drive, HP LTO-5, half-height FC


■ 7101769: SL150 power supply

For upgrades and other options to existing systems, use the following part numbers:

■ 7101770: SL150 expansion module, 30 slots (contains neither a tape drive assemblynor a power supply)





■ 7101771: SL150 power supply

■ 7101774: SL150 magazine set (left and right)

SL150 Modular Tape Library Part Numbers


Configuration and Ordering ExamplesA few examples are provided to show the use of both new library part numbers andupgrade part numbers.

Example 1:

■ 30 cartridge library with an FC drive, a second FC drive, and a second powersupply (redundant power):

7101750: SL150 library, 30 slots with HP LTO-5 half-height FC tape drive

7101762: SL150 drive, HP LTO-5, half-height FC

7101769: SL150 power supply

Example 2:

■ 60 cartridge library with two partitions, a total of four drives (2 SAS and 2 FC),and four power supplies:

7101760: SL150 library, 30 slots with one HP LTO-5 half-height SAS tape drive

7101763: SL150 expansion module, 30 slots (contains neither a tape drive assemblynor a power supply)

7101761: SL150 drive, HP LTO-5, half-height SAS



7101769: SL150 power supply (x3)

Note: For this example, partition 1 has SAS drives while partition 2has FC drives. However, the SL150 Library does support mixed driveswithout partitioning.

Example 3:

■ 90 cartridge library with one FC drive

7101750: SL150 library, 30 slots with one HP LTO-5 half-height FC tape drive

7101763: SL150 expansion module, 30 slots [contains neither a tape drive assemblynor a power supply] (x2)

Example 4:

■ Upgrade an existing nonpartitioned library from 30 to 120 cartridges with a SASdrive in each module (power is not redundant):

7101770: SL150 expansion module, 30 slots [contains neither a tape drive assemblynor a power supply)] (x3)

7101772: SL150 drive, HP LTO-5, half-height SAS (x3)

7101771: SL150 power supply (x3)

Note: Additional modules require a power supply when a tape driveis installed in the module.

Cable Part Numbers

Ordering 3-3

Cable Part NumbersThis section provides part numbers for:

■ "Ethernet Cables"

■ "Multimode Fiber-optic Cables"

■ "SAS Cables"

Ethernet CablesThe library uses Ethernet cables for network connections. Always use shieldedEthernet cables to connect to a drive installed in a library.

The following Ethernet cable part numbers can be ordered with the initial order or asupgrades.

■ CABLE10187033-Z-A: CAT5E, 8 feet, shielded


■ CABLE10187035-Z-A: CAT5E, 50 inches, shielded


Multimode Fiber-optic CablesThe following multimode (50-micron) fiber-optic cables connect Fibre Channeldevices. These cables are orange with tan LC connectors. The tape drive only supportsLC connectors.

The following fiber-optic cable part numbers can be ordered with the initial order or asupgrades.

Riser cable materials are not classified according to flammability.

■ CABLE10800307-Z-A

LC-LC, 50/125/ duplex, riser, 1 meter

■ CABLE10800308-Z-A


■ CABLE10800310-Z-A


■ CABLE10800311-Z-A


■ CABLE10800312-Z-A


■ CABLE10800340-Z-A


■ CABLE10800341-Z-A


Plenum cables meet UL standards for flammability.

■ CABLE10800313-Z-A

Power Cord Part Numbers


LC-LC, 50/125/ duplex, plenum, 10 meter

■ CABLE10800314-Z-A


■ CABLE10800315-Z-A


SAS CablesThe following SAS cable part numbers can be ordered with the initial order or asupgrades:

■ 7100274: 2x1 3M SAS cable

■ 7100276: 1x1 3M 4X Mini SAS cable, SHLD

Each SAS tape drive assembly has two SAS ports.

Power Cord Part Numbers■ PWRCORD10083243-A

Power Cord: Japan, 2.5 meters, METI plug, IEC60320-1-C13 connector, 15 A (forfactory installation)

■ PWRCORD10083244-A

Power Cord: Australia, 2.5 meters, SA3112 plug, IEC60320-1-C13 connector, 10 A(for factory installation)


Power Cord: Italy, 2.5 meters, CEI23 plug, IEC60320-1-C13 connector, 10 A (forfactory installation)


Power Cord: Switzerland, 2.5 meters, SEV1011 plug, 10A, IEC60320-1-C13connector, 10 A (for factory installation)


Power Cord: United Kingdom, 2.5 meters, BS1363A plug, 10A, IEC60320-1-C13connector, 10 A (for factory installation)


Power Cord: Denmark, 2.5 meters, DEMKO107 plug, IEC60320-1-C13 connector,10 A (for factory installation)


Power Cord: South Africa, 2.5 meters, BS546 plug, IEC60320-1-C13 connector, 16 A(for factory installation)


Power Cord: Europe, 2.5 meters, CEE 7/VII plug, IEC60320-1-C13 connector, 10 A(for factory installation)


Power Cord: North America and Asia, 2.3 meters, NEMA 5-15 plug,IEC60320-1-C13 connector, 10 A (for factory installation)

Information on Ordering Media and Labels

Ordering 3-5


Power Cord: North America and Asia, 3.0 meters, NEMA 5-15 plug,IEC60320-1-C13 connector, 15 A (for factory installation)


Power Cord: Taiwan, 2.5 meters, CNS10917 plug, IEC60320-1-C13 connector, 10 A(for factory installation)

■ 333U-10-10-C14

Power cord: Jumper, 1.0 meter, straight IEC60320-2-2 Sheet E (C14) plug, rightangle IEC60320-1-C13 connector, 10A. 250 VAC

Information on Ordering Media and Labels■ Call 1.877.STK.TAPE to order media from your local reseller or to obtain media

pre-sales support.

■ E-mail: [email protected]

See the tape media area on the corporate website for additional information.

http://www.oracle.com/us/products/storage/overview/index.html

Click the Tape Storage tab and the StorageTek LTO Data Cartridges link.

Information on Ordering Media and Labels


A

Locations A-1

ALocations

This appendix describes the SL150 Modular Tape Library walls (sides), tape slots, andlocation scheme.

Library WallsThere are two types of walls in the library:

1. Left side wall, which consists of a 15-cartridge slot magazine array

2. Right side wall, which consists of 15-cartridge slot array magazine and 4-cartridgeslot Mailslot magazine array

Tapes (cartridges) placed in slots lay flat, hub down, and parallel to the floor. Toprevent slippage, tapes are held within their slots by molded-in internal retainer clips.

Tape Slot LocationsFigure A–1 through Figure A–3 show valid storage slot, mailslot, and drive locations.

Tape locations in previous StorageTek libraries were listed by a LIBRARY Physicaladdressing scheme involving Panel, Row, and Column values. SL150 uses the USERPhysical addressing scheme which may change per the component being referenced.

Component SCSI Element Address USER Physical addressing

Slot (Data) Yes module,side,row,column

Slot (Reserved) No module,side,row,column

Drives Yes module,top|bottom

Mailslot Yes slot number

Expanded Mailslot Yes module,side,row,column

Power Supply No module,top|bottom

Hand (Robot) Yes n/a

Figure A–1 through Figure A–3 illustrate where these terms apply.

Element MappingTable A–1 shows the starting element address and the maximum number of eachelement type when the SL150 Library is installed with 10 modules.

Note: The mailslots allow an operator to insert or remove cartridgesduring library operations. The mailslots are also referred to asImport/Export elements or cartridge access ports (CAPs).

Table A–1 Starting Element Address and Maximum Number of Elements

Element TypeFirst ElementAddress

Maximum Number ofElements for an SL150Library with 10 Modulesand the StandardMailslot Configuration

Maximum Number ofElements for an SL150Library with 10 Modulesand the ExpandedMailslot Configuration

Hand 0 1 1

Mailslot 10 4 19

Drives 500 20 20

Storage Slots 1000 300 285

Tape Slot Locations

A-2 StorageTek SL150 Modular Tape Library Systems Assurance Guide

Table A–2 shows the element type and the associated numbering key in the SL150Library.

Table A–2 Numbering Key

Element Type Numbering Key

Hand Host Address: SCSI Element Address

Mailslot Host Address: SCSI Element Address

User Physical: slot number

Expanded Mailslot Host Address: SCSI Element Address

User Physical: module,side,row,column

Drives Host Address: SCSI Element Address

User Physical: module,Top|Bottom

Storage Slots Host Address: SCSI Element Address

User Physical: module,side,row,column

Reserved Slots User Physical: module,side,row,column

Power Supply User Physical: module,Top|Bottom

Library Configuration and Slot MapsFigure A–1 shows a library with a base module, no reserved cells, and the standardmailslot configuration.

Figure A–2 shows a library with two modules, no reserved cells, and the expandedmailslot configuration.

Figure A–3 shows a library with ten modules, three reserved cells, and the standardmailslot configuration.

Tape Slot Locations

Locations A-3

Figure A–1 Non-Partitioned One Module Library, Standard Mailslot, and No Reserved Cells


1 - Module 1 (Base)

2 - Robot

3 - Power supplies

4 - Standard mailslots

5 - Left magazine front

6 - Right magazine front

7 - Storage slots

8 - Tape drives

Tape Slot Locations


Figure A–2 Non-Partitioned Two Module Library, Expanded Mailslot, and No Reserved Cells


1 - Module 1 (Base)

2 - Robot

3 - Power supplies

4 - Tape drives


6 - Mailslot expansion



9 - Storage slots

10 - Module 2 (Expansion)

Tape Slot Locations

Locations A-5

Figure A–3 Non-Partitioned Ten Module Library, Standard Mailslot, and Three Reserved Cells


1 - Module 1 (Base)

2 - Robot

3 - Power supplies




7 - Storage slots

8 - Reserved slots (Configurable)

9 - Tape drives


CapacityTable A–3 shows the number of Storage, Mailslot, and Tape Drive slots as ExpansionModules are added to the library configuration.

Tape Slot Locations


Address numbering changes when a library is partitioned. Partition number isprefixed to the USER addressing indexes (see Appendix B, "Partitioning Overview").

Table A–3 Storage Slot, Mailslot, and Drive Counts for Different Configurations

Library ConfigurationStandard MailslotConfiguration

ExpandedMailslotConfiguration Total

Modules

TotalStorageSlots

TotalMailslots1

TotalStorageSlots

TotalMailslots

DriveSlots

Base Module 30 4 15 19 2

Base Module plus one expansion module2 60 4 45 19 4

Base Module plus two expansion modules 90 4 75 19 6

Base Module plus three expansion modules 1200 4 105 19 8

Base Module plus four expansion modules 150 4 135 19 10

Base Module plus five expansion modules 180 4 165 19 12

Base Module plus six expansion modules 210 4 195 19 14

Base Module plus seven expansion modules 240 4 225 19 16

Base Module plus eight expansion modules 270 4 255 19 18

Base Module plus nine expansion modules 300 4 285 19 20

Notes:

1. All Mailslots (Standard Mailslots and Expanded Mailslots) are physically located in the basemodule.

2. Each expansion module has 30 Storage Slots and 2 Drive Slots.

Diagnostic and Cleaning Cartridge LocationsA total of up to three slots are allowed to be configured within the front left (Column1) of the base module. The reserved slots may contain diagnostic and cleaningcartridges. The customer may not elect to configure any reserved slots, in which casethese are used as normal storage slots.

The user may configure up to three of these reserved slots in the base modulemagazine beginning from row 1, column 1 and proceeding to row 3 of Column 1.

Reserved slots in a partitioned library must be configured before you enablepartitioning.

B

Partitioning Overview B-1

BPartitioning Overview

The SL150 Library can be partitioned into a maximum of eight distinct sections.

Briefly stated, instead of one library—with all its cartridge slots, tape drives, andmailslots—being a single entity, the library and these components can now be dividedinto sections or partitions. A library supports a maximum of eight partitions. Eachpartition can be accessed by one host or multiple hosts.

Partitioning—GeneralPartitioning has terms associated with it that must be understood to effectively use thefeature. In certain cases, these terms redefine some concepts that are familiar to usersof the traditional, nonpartitioned library configuration.

A partition is defined as the process of dividing portions of a library into discretesections. The partitioning feature offers great flexibility for users.

Enabling the library to be partitioned requires some important considerations:

■ Each partition designates tape drives and magazines solely to its partition, theother partitions cannot use these tape drives or magazine storage slots.

■ Partition users must anticipate how much storage area is needed for their residenttape volumes and the amount of free slots required. Once storage needs aredefined for the partitions within the library, sufficient modules need to be presentwithin the library to accommodate this need.

Partitioning—FeatureThe SL150 Library supports one to eight partitions.

The customer has the choice of a nonpartitioned library or a partitioned library withone to eight partitions.

When a partitioned library is desired, the administrator enables the LibraryPartitioning option and adds the desired number of partitions. The administratorconfigures each partition with the following:

■ One or more magazines

■ One or more tape drives

■ A bridged drive

The mailslots are shared among all partitions. If the library is configured with theStandard Mailslots, then all partitions share the Standard Mailslots. If the library is

Partitioning—Feature

B-2 StorageTek SL150 Modular Tape Library Systems Assurance Guide

configured with the Expanded Mailslots, then all partitions share the ExpandedMailslots.

Refer to Figure B–1 as an example of how a customer might divide a library into twopartitions. In this example:

■ Partition one owns the magazines on the left side of the library.

■ Partition two owns the magazines on the right side of the library.

■ Partition one owns the top drive in every module.

■ Partition two owns the bottom drive in every module.

SCSI Element Addresses are assigned from left to right and top to bottom for eachpartition. The example in Figure B–1 shows the SCSI Element Address for the elementsin both partitions.

Figure B–1 Ten Module Library, Two Partitions, and the Standard Mailslot Configuration


1 - Module 1 (Base)



2 - Partition 1

3 - Partition 2

4 - Robot

5 - Power supplies

6 - Tape drives

7 - Standard Mailslots




11 - Partition 1 resource

12 - Partition 2 resource

13 - Shared resource

14 - Reserved slots (configurable, shared resource)

When the library is partitioned, all partitions report the mailslots with a starting SCSIElement Address of 10. The Mailslot Element count depends on the mailslotconfiguration:

■ The library reports four mailslot elements when the Standard Mailslot isconfigured.

■ The library reports 19 mailslot elements when the Expanded Mailslots areconfigured.

Partitioning—Access ControlAll hosts that issue commands to a bridged tape drive may also send commands to thelibrary partition. Commands are processed by the partition in which the bridged driveresides. The host sends commands to the drive on LUN 0 and to the library on LUN 1.

Partitioning—Shared Mailslot BehaviorWhen the library is partitioned, the mailslots become a shared resource. When apartition needs access to the mailslots, the operator must use the ASSIGN action in theuser interface to assign the partition to the mailslots before initiating an import orexport operation. Refer to the StorageTek SL150 Modular Tape Library User’s Guide forhelp.

A Partition-Mailslot assignment gives a partition exclusive ownership of the sharedmailslot. This ensures that cartridges are always entered into the correct partition andprevents the other partition from taking ownership of a shared mailslot that is alreadyin use.

If the mailslot is not assigned to the partition, a SCSI host application connected to thepartition will receive a status indication from the library that shows the mailslot isopen. When a SCSI host application receives status that the mailslot is open, theapplication will direct the operator to either close the mailslot or ASSIGN the mailslotto the partition. The SCSI host application cannot tell the difference between an openmailslot and a shared mailslot that has not been assigned to the partition.

The following SCSI commands will return mailslot open status when the mailslot isnot assigned to the partition or when the mailslot is actually open:



■ A SCSI MOVE command to or from a mailslot element. The command will end inCheck Condition Status. The sense data will indicate Not Ready, Mailslot Open(Sense Key =2h, ASC =3Ah, ASCQ =02h).

■ A SCSI READ ELEMENT STATUS command that includes the mailslot elements.The command will end in GOOD status. The Import/Export Element Descriptordata for the mailslot element will return an exception condition indicating that themailslot is open; the Except Bit will be set to 1, the ASC field will be set to 3Ah,and the ASCQ field will be set to 02h.

Table B–1 shows how the SCSI Move and SCSI Read Element Status commands areaffected by the shared mailslot assignment. For the purposes of this example, thelibrary has been configured with two partitions. The library supports up to eightpartitions. The behavior is the same for one or more partitions.

Table B–1 SCSI Commands Affected by the Shared Mailslot Assignment

Mailslot Assignment Commands from Partition 1 Commands from Partition 2

Unassigned Commands will be processed as thoughthe mailslot door is open. The followingcommands will report exception status:

■ Read Element Status command thatincludes the mailslot element(s)

■ Move command with source ordestination set to a mailslot

Commands will be processed as thoughthe mailslot door is open. The followingcommands will report exception status:



Assigned to Partition 1 Commands will be processed normally.

The SCSI Read Element Status and SCSIMove commands will only report that theMailslot is open if it is physically openedand the request includes the mailslot.

Commands will be processed as thoughthe mailslot door is open. The followingcommands will report exception status.



Assigned to Partition 2 Commands will be processed as thoughthe mailslot door is open. The followingcommands will report exception status:



Commands will be processed normally.

The SCSI Read Element Status and SCSIMove commands will only report that theMailslot is open if it is physically openedand the request includes the mailslot.

Note: The operator must use the UNASSIGN action in the userinterface to remove the partition ownership of the mailslots when theimport or export operation is complete.

The operator can open the mailslot only if it is unlocked. The locked or unlocked stateof the mailslot depends on the mailslot assignment and the SCSI Prevent/AllowMedium Removal state. The library keeps separate Prevent/Allow Medium Removaldata for each partition. Refer to the SCSI Prevent/Allow Medium Removal Commandin the SL150 Modular Tape Library Interface Reference Manual for more details.

Table B–2 shows the conditions under which the shared mailslot is either locked orunlocked. A value of Ignored indicates that the Prevent/Allow Media Removal statefor the associated partition does not matter. For the purposes of this example, thelibrary is configured with two partitions. The library supports up to eight partitions.The behavior is the same for one or more partitions.

Table B–2 Shared Mailslot Door Locked and Unlocked Conditions

Mailslot Assignment

Partition 1Prevent/AllowMedia RemovalState

Partition 2Prevent/AllowMedia RemovalState

MailslotLocked State

Unassigned Ignored Ignored Locked

Assigned to Partition 1 Allowed Ignored Unlocked

Assigned to Partition 1 Prevented Ignored Locked

Assigned to Partition 2 Ignored Allowed Unlocked

Assigned to Partition 2 Ignored Prevented Locked

Partitioning—Removing the Feature


Partitioning—Removing the FeatureThe administrator for the SL150 Library can remove all partitions by turning thelibrary partitioning OFF. The administrator must designate a bridged drive as part ofthe new configuration.

Partitioning—Removing the Feature


C

Controlling Contaminants C-1

CControlling Contaminants

Control over contaminant levels in a computer room is extremely important becausetape libraries, tape drives, and tape media are subject to damage from airborneparticulates.

Environmental ContaminantsMost particles smaller than ten microns are not visible to the naked eye under mostconditions, but these particles can be the most damaging. As a result, the operatingenvironment must adhere to the following requirements.

■ ISO 14644-1 Class 8 Environment.

■ The total mass of airborne particulates must be less than or equal to 200micrograms per cubic meter.

■ Severity level G1 per ANSI/ISA 71.04-1985.

Oracle currently requires the ISO 14644-1 standard approved in 1999, but will requireany updated standards for ISO 14644-1 as they are approved by the ISO governingbody. The ISO 14644-1 standard primarily focuses on the quantity and size ofparticulates and the proper measurement methodology, but does not address theoverall mass of the particulates. As a result, the requirement for total mass limitationsis also necessary as a computer room or data center could meet the ISO 14644-1specification, but still damage equipment because of the specific type of particulates inthe room. In addition, the ANSI/ISA 71.04-1985 specification addresses gaseouscontaminations as some airborne chemicals are more hazardous. All threerequirements are consistent with the requirements set by other major tape storagevendors.

Required Air Quality LevelsParticles, gasses and other contaminants may impact the sustained operations ofcomputer hardware. Effects can range from intermittent interference to actualcomponent failures. The computer room must be designed to achieve a high level ofcleanliness. Airborne dusts, gasses and vapors must be maintained within definedlimits to help minimize their potential impact on the hardware.

Airborne particulate levels must be maintained within the limits of ISO 14644-1 Class 8Environment. This standard defines air quality classes for clean zones based onairborne particulate concentrations. This standard has an order of magnitude lessparticles than standard air in an office environment. Particles ten microns or smallerare harmful to most data processing hardware because they tend to exist in largenumbers, and can easily circumvent many sensitive components’ internal air filtration

Contaminant Properties and Sources

C-2 StorageTek SL150 Modular Tape Library Systems Assurance Guide

systems. When computer hardware is exposed to these submicron particles in greatnumbers they endanger system reliability by posing a threat to moving parts, sensitivecontacts and component corrosion.

Excessive concentrations of certain gasses can also accelerate corrosion and causefailure in electronic components. Gaseous contaminants are a particular concern in acomputer room both because of the sensitivity of the hardware, and because a propercomputer room environment is almost entirely recirculating. Any contaminant threatin the room is compounded by the cyclical nature of the airflow patterns. Levels ofexposure that might not be concerning in a well ventilated site repeatedly attack thehardware in a room with recirculating air. The isolation that prevents exposure of thecomputer room environment to outside influences can also multiply any detrimentalinfluences left unaddressed in the room.

Gasses that are particularly dangerous to electronic components include chlorinecompounds, ammonia and its derivatives, oxides of sulfur and petrol hydrocarbons. Inthe absence of appropriate hardware exposure limits, health exposure limits must beused.

While the following sections will describe some best practices for maintaining an ISO14644-1 Class 8 Environment in detail, there are some basic precautions that must beadhered to:

■ Do not allow food or drink into the area.

■ Cardboard, wood, or packing materials must not be stored in the data center cleanarea.

■ Identify a separate area for unpacking new equipment from crates and boxes.

■ Do not allow construction or drilling in the data center without first isolatingsensitive equipment and any air targeted specifically for the equipment.Construction generates a high level of particulates that exceed ISO 14644-1 Class 8criteria in a localized area. Dry wall and gypsum are especially damaging tostorage equipment.

Contaminant Properties and SourcesContaminants in the room can take many forms, and can come from numeroussources. Any mechanical process in the room can produce dangerous contaminants oragitate settled contaminants. A particle must meet two basic criteria to be considered acontaminant:

■ It must have the physical properties that could potentially cause damage to thehardware.

■ It must be able to migrate to areas where it can cause the physical damage.

The only differences between a potential contaminant and an actual contaminant aretime and location. Particulate matter is most likely to migrate to areas where it can dodamage if it is airborne. For this reason, airborne particulate concentration is a usefulmeasurement in determining the quality of the computer room environment.Depending on local conditions, particles as big as 1,000 microns can become airborne,but their active life is very short, and they are arrested by most filtration devices.Submicron particulates are much more dangerous to sensitive computer hardware,because they remain airborne for a much longer time, and they are more apt to bypassfilters.

Contaminant Properties and Sources


Operator ActivityHuman movement within the computer space is probably the single greatest source ofcontamination in an otherwise clean computer room. Normal movement can dislodgetissue fragments, such as dander or hair, or fabric fibers from clothing. The openingand closing of drawers or hardware panels or any metal-on-metal activity can producemetal filings. Simply walking across the floor can agitate settled contaminationmaking it airborne and potentially dangerous.

Hardware MovementHardware installation or reconfiguration involves a great deal of subfloor activity, andsettled contaminants can very easily be disturbed, forcing them to become airborne inthe supply air stream to the room's hardware. This is particularly dangerous if thesubfloor deck is unsealed. Unsealed concrete sheds fine dust particles into theairstream, and is susceptible to efflorescence —mineral salts brought to the surface ofthe deck through evaporation or hydrostatic pressure.

Outside AirInadequately filtered air from outside the controlled environment can introduceinnumerable contaminants. Post-filtration contamination in duct work can bedislodged by air flow, and introduced into the hardware environment. This isparticularly important in a downward-flow air conditioning system in which thesub-floor void is used as a supply air duct. If the structural deck is contaminated, or ifthe concrete slab is not sealed, fine particulate matter (such as concrete dust orefflorescence) can be carried directly to the room's hardware.

Stored ItemsStorage and handling of unused hardware or supplies can also be a source ofcontamination. Corrugated cardboard boxes or wooden skids shed fibers when movedor handled. Stored items are not only contamination sources; their handling in thecomputer room controlled areas can agitate settled contamination already in the room.

Outside InfluencesA negatively pressurized environment can allow contaminants from adjoining officeareas or the exterior of the building to infiltrate the computer room environmentthrough gaps in the doors or penetrations in the walls. Ammonia and phosphates areoften associated with agricultural processes, and numerous chemical agents can beproduced in manufacturing areas. If such industries are present near the data centerfacility, chemical filtration may be necessary. Potential impact from automobileemissions, dusts from local quarries or masonry fabrication facilities or sea mistsshould also be assessed if relevant.

Cleaning ActivityInappropriate cleaning practices can also degrade the environment. Many chemicalsused in normal or “office” cleaning applications can damage sensitive computerequipment. Potentially hazardous chemicals outlined in the "Cleaning Procedures andEquipment" section should be avoided. Out-gassing from these products or directcontact with hardware components can cause failure. Certain biocide treatments usedin building air handlers are also inappropriate for use in computer rooms eitherbecause they contain chemicals, that can degrade components, or because they are not

Contaminant Effects


designed to be used in the airstream of a re-circulating air system. The use of pushmops or inadequately filtered vacuums can also stimulate contamination.

It is essential that steps be taken to prevent air contaminants, such as metal particles,atmospheric dust, solvent vapors, corrosive gasses, soot, airborne fibers or salts fromentering or being generated within the computer room environment. In the absence ofhardware exposure limits, applicable human exposure limits from OSHA, NIOSH orthe ACGIH should be used.

Contaminant EffectsDestructive interactions between airborne particulate and electronic instrumentationcan occur in numerous ways. The means of interference depends on the time andlocation of the critical incident, the physical properties of the contaminant and theenvironment in which the component is placed.

Physical InterferenceHard particles with a tensile strength at least 10% greater than that of the componentmaterial can remove material from the surface of the component by grinding action orembedding. Soft particles will not damage the surface of the component, but cancollect in patches that can interfere with proper functioning. If these particles are tackythey can collect other particulate matter. Even very small particles can have an impactif they collect on a tacky surface, or agglomerate as the result of electrostatic chargebuild-up.

Corrosive FailureCorrosive failure or contact intermittence due to the intrinsic composition of theparticles or due to absorption of water vapor and gaseous contaminants by theparticles can also cause failures. The chemical composition of the contaminant can bevery important. Salts, for instance, can expand by absorbing water vapor from the air(nucleating). If a mineral salts deposit exists in a sensitive location and theenvironment is sufficiently moist, it can grow to a size where it can physically interferewith a mechanism or can cause damage by forming salt solutions.

ShortsConductive pathways can arise through the accumulation of particles on circuit boardsor other components. Many types of particulate are not inherently conductive, but canabsorb significant quantities of water in high-moisture environments. Problems causedby electrically conductive particles can range from intermittent malfunctioning toactual damage to components and operational failures.

Thermal FailurePremature clogging of filtered devices will cause a restriction in air flow that couldinduce internal overheating and head crashes. Heavy layers of accumulated dust onhardware components can also form an insulative layer that can lead to heat-relatedfailures.

Room ConditionsAll surfaces within the controlled zone of the data center should be maintained at ahigh level of cleanliness. All surfaces should be periodically cleaned by trained

Room Conditions


professionals on a regular basis, as outlined in the "Cleaning Procedures andEquipment" section. Particular attention should be paid to the areas beneath thehardware, and the access floor grid. Contaminants near the air intakes of the hardwarecan more easily be transferred to areas where they can do damage. Particulateaccumulations on the access floor grid can be forced airborne when floor tiles are liftedto gain access to the sub-floor.

The subfloor void in a downward-flow air conditioning system acts as the supply airplenum. This area is pressurized by the air conditioners, and the conditioned air isthen introduced into the hardware spaces through perforated floor panels. Thus, all airtraveling from the air conditioners to the hardware must first pass through thesubfloor void. Inappropriate conditions in the supply air plenum can have a dramaticeffect on conditions in the hardware areas.

The subfloor void in a data center is often viewed solely as a convenient place to runcables and pipes. It is important to remember that this is also a duct, and thatconditions below the false floor must be maintained at a high level of cleanliness.Contaminant sources can include degrading building materials, operator activity orinfiltration from outside the controlled zone. Often particulate deposits are formedwhere cables or other subfloor items form air dams that allow particulate to settle andaccumulate. When these items are moved, the particulate is re-introduced into thesupply airstream, where it can be carried directly to hardware.

Damaged or inappropriately protected building materials are often sources of subfloorcontamination. Unprotected concrete, masonry block, plaster or gypsum wall-boardwill deteriorate over time, shedding fine particulate into the air. Corrosion onpost-filtration air conditioner surfaces or subfloor items can also be a concern. Thesubfloor void must be thoroughly and appropriately decontaminated on a regularbasis to address these contaminants. Only vacuums equipped with High EfficiencyParticulate Air (HEPA) filtration should be used in any decontamination procedure.Inadequately filtered vacuums will not arrest fine particles, passing them through theunit at high speeds, and forcing them airborne.

Unsealed concrete, masonry or other similar materials are subject to continueddegradation. The sealants and hardeners normally used during construction are oftendesigned to protect the deck against heavy traffic, or to prepare the deck for theapplication of flooring materials, and are not meant for the interior surfaces of asupply air plenum. While regular decontaminations will help address looseparticulate, the surfaces will still be subject to deterioration over time, or as subflooractivity causes wear. Ideally all of the subfloor surfaces will be appropriately sealed atthe time of construction. If this is not the case, special precautions will be necessary toaddress the surfaces in an on-line room.

It is extremely important that only appropriate materials and methodology are used inthe encapsulation process. Inappropriate sealants or procedures can actually degradethe conditions they are meant to improve, impacting hardware operations andreliability. The following precautions should be taken when encapsulating the supplyair plenum in an on-line room:

■ Manually apply the encapsulant. Spray applications are totally inappropriate in anon-line data center. The spraying process forces the sealant airborne in the supplyairstream, and is more likely to encapsulate cables to the deck.

■ Use a pigmented encapsulant. The pigmentation makes the encapsulant visible inapplication, ensuring thorough coverage, and helps in identifying areas that aredamaged or exposed over time.

Exposure Points


■ It must have a high flexibility and low porosity to effectively cover the irregulartextures of the subject area, and to minimize moisture migration and waterdamage.

■ The encapsulant must not out-gas any harmful contaminants. Many encapsulantscommonly used in industry are highly ammoniated or contain other chemicalsthat can be harmful to hardware. It is very unlikely that this out-gassing couldcause immediate, catastrophic failure, but these chemicals will often contribute tocorrosion of contacts, heads or other components.

Effectively encapsulating a subfloor deck in an on-line computer room is a verysensitive and difficult task, but it can be conducted safely if appropriate proceduresand materials are used. Avoid using the ceiling void as an open supply or return forthe building air system. This area is typically very dirty and difficult to clean. Oftenthe structural surfaces are coated with fibrous fire-proofing, and the ceiling tiles andinsulation are also subject to shedding. Even before filtration, this is an unnecessaryexposure that can adversely affect environmental conditions in the room. It is alsoimportant that the ceiling void does not become pressurized, as this will force dirty airinto the computer room. Columns or cable chases with penetrations in both thesubfloor and ceiling void can lead to ceiling void pressurization.

Exposure PointsAll potential exposure points in the data center should be addressed to minimizepotential influences from outside the controlled zone. Positive pressurization of thecomputer rooms will help limit contaminant infiltration, but it is also important tominimize any breaches in the room perimeter. To ensure the environment ismaintained correctly, the following should be considered:

■ All doors should fit snugly in their frames.

■ Gaskets and sweeps can address any gaps.

■ Automatic doors should be avoided in areas where they can be accidentallytriggered. An alternate means of control would be to remotely locate a door triggerso that personnel pushing carts can open the doors easily. In highly sensitive areas,or where the data center is exposed to undesirable conditions, it may be advisableto design and install personnel traps. Double sets of doors with a buffer betweencan help limit direct exposure to outside conditions.

■ Seal all penetrations between the data center and adjacent areas.

■ Avoid sharing a computer room ceiling or subfloor plenum with loosely controlledadjacent areas.

FiltrationFiltration is an effective means of addressing airborne particulate in a controlledenvironment. It is important that all air handlers serving the data center areadequately filtered to ensure appropriate conditions are maintained within the room.In-room process cooling is the recommended method of controlling the roomenvironment. The in-room process coolers re-circulate room air. Air from the hardwareareas is passed through the units where it is filtered and cooled, and then introducedinto the subfloor plenum. The plenum is pressurized, and the conditioned air is forcedinto the room, through perforated tiles, which then travels back to the air conditionerfor reconditioning. The airflow patterns and design associated with a typical computerroom air handler have a much higher rate of air change than typical comfort coolingair conditioners so air is filtered much more often than in an office environment.

Positive Pressurization and Ventilation


Proper filtration can capture a great deal of particulates. The filters installed in thein-room, re-circulating air conditioners should have a minimum efficiency of 40%(Atmospheric Dust-Spot Efficiency, ASHRAE Standard 52.1). Low-grade pre-filtersshould be installed to help prolong the life of the more expensive primary filters.

Any air being introduced into the computer room controlled zone, for ventilation orpositive pressurization, should first pass through high efficiency filtration. Ideally, airfrom sources outside the building should be filtered using High Efficiency ParticulateAir (HEPA) filtration rated at 99.97% efficiency (DOP Efficiency MILSTD-282) orgreater. The expensive high efficiency filters should be protected by multiple layers ofpre-filters that are changed on a more frequent basis. Low-grade pre-filters, 20%ASHRAE atmospheric dust-spot efficiency, should be the primary line of defense. Thenext filter bank should consist of pleated or bag type filters with efficiencies between60% and 80% ASHRAE atmospheric dust-spot efficiency.

ASHRAE 52-76 Dust spot efficiency % 3.0 micr

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