Trying to use an LTO7 SAS drive from a TL2000 as an internal drive

Question

I'm hoping to repurpose the LTO7 Ultrium SAS Tape drive in my TL2000 library into an internal tape drive in a workstation. I removed it from the carrier, and have it connected into an LSI 4 port SAS card that has been set to IT mode(vs RAID mode).

It powers up, accepts a tape, but is not recognized the cards BIOS(apparently this is normal for tape drives and scanners). After a while the error code "E" shows up which oddly indicates "fiber port offline"...but the drive is SAS.

I have installed the necessary drivers in Server 2016, using the "non-exclusive_dpf" mode. but it is not recognized in Device Manager, or even when running the ITDT command line tape tool. The tool shows no devices connected.

I did notice that a 3rd cable (in addition to integrated data and power) was connecting the tape drive to the carrier...and concerned that this may be necessary for this particular drive? The Dell PN for the sled is M3HCC, and the IBM PN for the actual drive is 38L7456.

Does anyone(especially a Dell rep) have any insight on this? Can a drive that WAS in a M3HCC carrier assembly be used as an internal drive with a SAS PCI-E card with the right physical connection and windows drivers?

tapelibraryfixer · Answer

The Drive is in 'Library mode' the only way to disable it is through the drives serial port.

DELL-Sam L · Answer

Hello Sanman13,

As tapelibraryfixer stated the drive is in library mode & not standalone mode. On some drives, you can flip the dip switches on the drives to change the mode. On other drives, you will need to use the serial port to do this. The setting of the drive modes is normally done at the factory so not sure of the steps that are needed to change the mode.

Please let us know if you have any other questions.

Sanman13 · Answer

Thanks for the insight. I read on another post that dipswitch 5 could change this mode, after turning it on the drive would accept a tape , but still came up wiht the "E" error code and could not be seen in windows or in the IBM tape tool.

If serial port access is needed to get out of library mode, would the factory be able to do that if I sent it in?

DELL-Sam L · Answer

Hello Sanman13, I am not sure if IBM offers that or not. You would have to check with them to see if they do that service. Please let us know if you have any other questions.

alperazzoli · Answer

Hello Sanman13,

Sorry for bringing a year-old topic back to life. But I would like to know if you got to solve this?
We have the same issue where an IBM(Dell) LTO5 unit out of a tape library was obtained for installation into a server as a standalone unit. We keep getting error "E" on the single-character display. I am thinking there must be a way to configure this unit or maybe reflash it with a standalone drive firmware..?

Thanks

RichardMwtss · Answer

This is something that we do quite often.  Using the serial port and entering appropriate commands, you can turn a library drive into a standalone drive.  Also you can switch a standalone drive into a library drive.  There are a multitude of things that can be performed through the serial port and using certain commands.  i.e. you can turn a regular media tape into a cleaning tape, etc.

Sqaure-v · Answer

Hi, I am looking for this info for a long time. Where could i find the serial port pinout and commands? many thanks

GW2_Live · Answer

I have been pulling my hair out trying to find this information as well. Or if there is a cable I can buy to connect to the serial interface on my LTO6 drives from a TL4000.

I may end up buying a TL4000 or 2000 sans drives to use them, but i got rid of the sleds when i got them

CybidBudzioq · Answer

Did anyone can help to find discribed serial commands ? I`m trying to convert Qantum LTO 7 standalone drive to library drive. I`m switch DIP 5 to up position but library (TL2000) still showing error 'Drive logged out. Communication Error'. What can I do with this issue ?

satantango · Answer

Hi Folks, new here.

Trying as well to convert an ibm hh l6 from library to standalone. Have an autoloader available to communicate to the serial connection on the drive. Just don´t know how to do it.

I am surprised at the user saying they do this quite often and does not provide any help on how.

I read somewhere the feature we are after is called Automatic Drive Online. Just don`t know how to enable it.

Thanks in advance!

tapelibraryfixer · Answer

well it may be possible to do it but it doesnt mean its technically allowed.

normally the drive would be on the bench with a cable plugged into the drive and then you send a command to the drive, but its not something that the end user is meant to be able to do.

i only know becuase i work in a repair center but its not something thats common knowledge.

satantango · Answer

Ok then, it does not seem imposible.  The drive connected to a cable? Ok, what cable? Send a command to the drive? Ok, what command? Thats all I am after.

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Trying to use an LTO7 SAS drive from a TL2000 as an internal drive

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