Data Protector Express User's Guide (TC330-96002, October 2010)

NOTE:
It can take a long time to inventory the tape media in a tape library, which is why Data Protector Express
usually perform s a "light inventory" rather than running a n identify job on all the slots i n a loader. See the
"Invento ry Process" section below for more information.
Additional media slot configuration is accessed via the Element Status dialog for that slot, which is
accessed by a right click on the desired slot. For example, you c an use this to disable s lots (using the
‘Reserve’ option) and identify a cleaning cartridge.
Import/Expor t Slots Some library devices provide special impor t/export mail slots an operator uses to
enter or eject m edia to or from the device without removing the whole media repository or magazine.
Depending on the device, more than one import/export slot can be provided. In case of a single
mail slot, media are inserted one by one, while in case of multiple mail slots, a par ticular number of
slots can be used in one enter/eject operation.
Barcodes and MIC (memory in cartridge)
If the tape library supports barcode and/or MIC (memor y in cartridge), the details are added to the Data
Protector Express catalog. The barcode information is hidden by default; to display this detail, right-click
anywhere in the column title row to see available column headings and click on Media barcode to make
the b arcode information visible in the slots view.
Barcode and MIC (memory in cartridge) technologies are used to reduce the time spent organizing
and managing m edia in a library or an autoloader. In these devices, each medium is identified with
a unique barcode or, where MIC is used, a chip is embedded in the tape cartridge which holds a
unique identifier (as well as other information).
Barcodes and MIC enable Data Protector Express to significantly reduce media recognition, labeling and
cleaning tape detection times.
• Scanning the barcode or MIC of the media is faster than reading the medium header, because
Data Protector Express does not need to actually load the media into a tape.
• A barcode or MIC is a unique identifier for media in the Data Protector Express catalog. You
shouldnothaveduplicatebarcodesinyourenvironment.
Barcode Filters
The barcode filter allows users to control access to media by barcode. The user can specify ranges,
wildcards, or explicit barcodes that either include or exclude media for use by the product. This property
only applies to libraries. Stand alone devices are not restricted in any way by it.
The filter rules may be set for the whole domain and will be applied automatically to all tasks. Or,
they may be set and applied at job level. Any filter rules applied at job level overwrite the default
domain settings.
For more information on setting barcode filters, see Barcode Filter.
Initialization Process
The traditional loader inventory m echanism is ac complishe d by running an identify job on all the slots
in a library. This complete inventory ca n take a very long time, so Data Protector Express uses a "light
inventory" process, which is known as an initialization process. This initialization process consists of ...
• Checking that the loader is ready for use. If the magazine door is open, this step will fail, and
initialization will fail as a result.
• Quer ying the number of physical storage, impor t/export and device elements that the library
contains. (These elements will be displayed in the Tape Library view.)
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Working with Tape Libraries