HP A3716A DDS-3 Autoloader User's Manual - 3716-96001

Using Your Autoloader
Ejecting the Magazine and Cartridges
3-7
Depending on whether the host computer instructed the autoloader to load a
cartridge or you pressed the Load Cartridge button, the autoloader goes into
one of two modes of operation: random mode, where movement of cartridges
is controlled by the backup software, or stacker mode, where cartridges are
loaded in numerical order from the magazine. For more information, see
Autoloader Modes of Operation on page 3-8.
Caution To avoid tape jams, always remove the magazine before transporting the
autoloader.
Ejecting the Magazine and Cartridges
q To eject a magazine, press the Eject button.
The autoloader ejects the magazine. However, if one of
the cartridges is still in the drive mechanism when you
press the Eject button, the autoloader performs the
following sequence of actions first:
a The drive rewinds the tape and updates the tape log (unless the cartridge is
write-protected). It then unloads the cartridge.
b The changer replaces the cartridge in the magazine.
c The magazine is ejected.
Note It is possible for the host computer to disable the Eject button by sending a
PREVENT MEDIA REMOVAL command via SCSI. This will remain in force until
either the host sends an ALLOW MEDIA REMOVAL command or the autoloader
is reset or power-cycled.
Forcing Ejection
Caution You can lose data if you force ejection. The tape may also end up invalidly
formatted because an EOD (End of Data) mark may not have been written.
Only force ejection as a last resort to recover a cartridge.
If you press the Eject button when the autoloader is busy, it may be a long time
before the autoloader will respond to the request because it will finish the task
it is performing first. This ensures that the task is terminated in a controlled
manner, and no data is lost.
However, if you need to unload a cartridge urgently, even at the risk of losing
data, you must force ejection.