Specifications

HSM Hierarchical storage management. A method for keeping infrequently used
data in secondary storage, then restoring it automatically when a user calls for
the data. The underlying premise behind HSM is that if the most frequently
used data is kept in the fastest (primary) storage, most of the time users
perceive the overall system performance as if all the data were in fast storage.
HSM software transparently "migrates" least frequently used data to more
economical media, then restores it automatically as needed. HSM systems
can provide users with performance and economy without sacrificing
application portability or storage system transparency.
IOPS Input/output operations per second, a measure of I/O performance usually
used to quote random I/O performance.
LCD Liquid crystal display.
Load The process in which a drive takes in an inserted cartridge and goes online.
Load port The operator-accessible component of the library that allows cartridges to be
import/export loaded and unloaded into/from the library.
Magazine A holder for tape cartridges used in robotic handling of media.
MCBF Mean cycles between failure. An activity-dependent measure of reliability for
a robotic cartridge handling system.
MSBF Mean swaps between failure. A measure of reliability for the robotic cartridge
handling system, this is the average expected number of full cartridge
exchanges (i.e., the cartridge is unloaded from the digital linear tape drive
and placed back into its storage slot, and a new cartridge is removed from its
storage slot and loaded into the tape drive) between failures of equipment.
MTBF Mean time between failure. The average expected time between failures of
equipment, usually measured in operating hours.
MTTR Mean time to repair.
Offline A drive is offline if a tape is currently unloaded or not in the drive. The host
has limited access, and cannot perform any commands that would cause tape
motion. The host can, however, load a tape if one is inserted and can execute
any diagnostic tests that do not require tape motion.
Online A drive is online when a tape is loaded. The host has access to all command
operations, including those that access the tape, set configurations and run
diagnostic tests.
PCI Peripheral component interconnect. PCI is an industry standard bus used in
servers, workstations, and PCs.
Pick Preparation for placing cartridge in another location.
Rear panel The rear cosmetic panel of the library that contains the AC power switch, AC
power receptacle and connectors for attaching external cabling to the library.
Robotics The library robotics consist of the following components: gripper
mechanism, vertical actuator, horizontal actuator, and extension actuator.
SBus An I/O (input/output) bus used with host systems or boards designed
according to SPARC
TM
processor architecture.
Just the Facts May 2003 39