HP StoreEver MSL2024, MSL4048, MSL8048, and MSL8096 Tape Libraries User and Service Guide (AK378-96059, December 2012)

Table Of Contents
Interface specifications and requirements for Fibre Channel drives
The Fibre Channel tape drive can be connected directly to the server with a host bus adapter (HBA)
or through a storage area network (SAN).
Table 7 FC drive interface speeds
Supported speedsLTO generation
1 Gb, 2 Gb, 4 GbLTO-4
2 Gb, 4 Gb, 8 GbLTO-5, LTO-6
If you plan to connect the library directly to the server, you will need a 2 Gb, 4 Gb, or 8 Gb Fibre
Channel HBA. A 4 Gb HBA is recommended for LTO-4 tape drives. An 8 Gb HBA is recommended
for LTO-5 and LTO-6 tape drives for optimal performance. To verify that your HBA is supported on
your server and qualified for the library, check the EBS compatibility matrix at www.hp.com/go/
ebs.
In a SAN installation, all switches between the host and the library must be of the appropriate
type. For example, a 2 Gb switch in the path may result in performance degradation when backing
up highly compressible data to a 4 Gb tape drive. Configure zoning so only the backup servers
may access the library.
You must provide a Fibre Channel cable for each tape drive. The maximum cable length (in meters)
is based on the tape drive and external cable type, as shown:
8 Gb4 Gb2 GbCable typeDrive
Not supported0.5 – 150 m0.5 - 300 mOM2All
0.5 – 50 m0.5 – 150 m0.5 – 300 mOM3, OM4LTO-5 HH*
0.5 – 150 m0.5 – 380 m0.5 – 500 mOM3, OM4All except LTO-5 HH
* The LTO-5 Ultrium 3000 half-height drive is shown as LTO-5 HH.
Interface specifications and requirements for SAS drives
The server must have an HP or third party SAS host bus adapter with an external connector.
Table 8 SAS drive interface speeds
Supported speedsLTO generation
1.5 Gb, 3 GbLTO-4
1.5 Gb, 3 Gb, 6 GbLTO-5, LTO-6
The device uses multiple LUNs to communicate with the library. Most SAS RAID controllers do not
support multiple LUNs. To find a SAS HBA that is supported on your server and qualified with the
library, see the EBS compatibility matrix at www.hp.com/go/ebs.
Most SAS HBA ports provide four SAS channels. Each tape drive uses one channel. The SAS fanout
cable recommended for this product will connect up to four SAS tape drives to a single SAS HBA
port.
16 Features and overview