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MO Autochanger Expert Tool (cstm Online Help)

The Expert Tool allows you to view various information logs and perform certain tests on a SCSI MO autochanger.

Command-line functions available:

Autochanger Expert Tool Main Help Topics:

Introduction

This tool provides two main functions for evaluating an MO (Magneto Optical) autochanger. First, it provides a way to view various information logs such as autochanger usage (power on hours, number of moves, number of flips, number of translates, number of drive loads, etc.), error logs, cartridge and autochanger inventory, and autochanger status. Second, it provides a set of tests to run to test the functionality and/or performance of the autochanger. These tests include Moves, Exchanges, Diagnostic tests, and so on.

Please refer to the Functions and Tests section for a detailed description of all the information logs and tests available with this tool.

If you experience problems while viewing the logs or running any of the tests, consult the What do you if it doesn't work help topic for recommended actions.

Functions and Tests

This section provides an overview and a detailed descriptions of all the information logs and tests available with this tool.

Exiting the Expert Tool

To exit the Autochanger Expert tool, perform the following steps:

  1. Click "File" on the menu bar.
  2. Click the "Exit" button that appears. The tool will ask if you want to exit. Clicking on "OK" will exit the tool; clicking on "Cancel" will return you back to the expert tool menu.

Viewing Move Odometer Logs

This allows you to view the Move Odometer logs which contains the power on hours, Moves, Flips, Translates, Mailslot Rotations, and Drive Loads.

To view this information, perform the following steps:

  1. Click "Logs" on the menu bar.
  2. Click the "Move Odometers" button what will appear below the menu bar. The program will retrieve the information and display a window containing the information. Converting the raw file to text may take a few seconds.
  3. When finished viewing the information, click "Done" on the bottom of the window and the tool will return to the main manu.

Viewing Error Event Logs

This allows you to view the internal Error Event Logs that are generated by the autochanger. There are three types of error events that are are recorded:

  1. Hard Errors: these are errors that leave the unit in a state where no more I/Os are possible and usually require manual invervention to correct.
  2. Soft Errors: these are errors that leave the unit in a state where I/Os are possible, but software intervention is required to correct the situation.
  3. Recovered Errors: these are errors that have been automatically corrected by the autochanger and are logged for information purposes only.

To view these error logs, perform the following steps:

  1. Click "Logs" on the menu bar.
  2. Click the "Error Event Log" button what will appear below the menu bar. The program will retrieve the information and display a window containing the information. Converting the raw file to text may take a few seconds.
  3. When finished viewing the information, click "Done" on the bottom of the window and the tool will return to the main manu.

Clearing the Logs

This allows you to clear the hard and soft error logs.

CAUTION: Once the logs have been cleared, the information is permanently lost. The program will prompt you before clearing the logs to make sure that is what you really want to do.

To clear the logs, perform the following steps:

  1. Click "Logs" on the menu bar.
  2. Click the "Clear Logs" button that appears. The tool will ask if you really want to clear the logs. Clicking on "OK" will clear the logs and return you back to the expert tool menu; clicking on "Cancel" will just return you back to the expert tool menu.

Viewing General Status Information

This allows you to view general status information (such as vendor and product ID, revision number, number of slots, number of drives, etc.) about the autochanger. This information is updated from the expert tool and logged into the information log.

To update this log, perform the following steps:

  1. Click "Info" on the menu bar.
  2. Click the "General Information" button that appears. The program will retrieve the information and display a new window containing the information. Converting the raw file to text may take a few seconds.
  3. When finished viewing the information, click "Done" on the bottom of the window and the tool will return to the main manu.

Viewing Cartridge Inventory

This allows you to view an inventory of the devices in the autochanger and a list where all the cartridge is stored.

To view this inventory, perform the following steps:

  1. Click "Info" on the menu bar.
  2. Click the "Cartridge Inventory" button that appears. The program will retrieve the information and display a new window containing the information. Converting the raw file to text may take a few seconds.
  3. When finished viewing the information, click "Done" on the bottom of the window and the tool will return to the main manu.

Performing Diagnostic Tests

This utility allows you to perform various diagnostic tests on the autochanger. A dialog box is provided to let you choose what test you want to perform. Tests that have certain requirements before they can be executed (such as a cartridge must be present or drives must be empty) will display a message describing the condition prior to executing the test (which, in all probability, will fail).

To run any of these tests, perform the following steps:

  1. Click "Tests" on the menu bar.
  2. Click the "Diagnostic Tests" button that appears. The program will bring up a dialog box listing all the diagnostic tests available, the number of test loops to run, and whether or not to abort on error.
  3. Click the desired test to run, modify the number of test loops, and check whether or not you want abort on error. When finished entering all the changes on the dialog box, click "OK" to run the test. Click "Cancel" if you don't want to run any test.
  4. When the test has finished, the program will display the results indicating if the test passed or failed.

Moving a Cartridge

This utility allows you to move a cartridge from one location (called the "Source") to another location (called the "First Destination") in the autochanger. A dialog box is provided to let you select the source location (containing a cartridge) and a destination location (that is empty). There must be at least one cartridge and at least one empty location in the autochanger or the utility will abort with an error message and return back to the expert tool menu. The cartrige can be easily restored to its original location using the "Undo Last Move" command; please refer to Undoing the Last Move or Exchange for more information.

To run this test, perform the following steps:

  1. Click "Utility" on the menu bar.
  2. Click the "Move Cartridge" button that appears. The program will bring up a dialog box containing a list of the available source locations, a list of the available destination locations, and a checkbox to choose whether or not to flip the cartridge prior to loading it into its destination location.
  3. Click the desired source and destination locations and whether or not to flip the cartridge. When finished entering all the changes on the dialog box, click "OK" to run the test. Click "Cancel" if you don't want to run the test.
  4. When the test has finished, the program will display the results indicating if the test passed or failed.

Exchanging Cartridges

This utility allows you to exchange cartridges in the autochanger. This utility moves a cartridge from one location (called the "Source") to another location (called the "First Destination"). It also moves the cartridge in the "First Destination" location to yet another location (called the "Second Destination"). The first destination location must contain a cartridge while the second destination location must be empty. There must be at least 2 cartridges and at least one empty location in the autochanger or the utility will abort with an error message and return back to the expert tool menu. The cartriges can be easily restored to their original locations using the "Undo Last Move" command; please refer to Undoing the Last Move or Exchange for more information.

To run this test, perform the following steps:

  1. Click "Utility" on the menu bar.
  2. Click the "Exchange Cartridge" button that appears. The program will bring up a dialog box containing a list of the available source locations, a list of the available first destination locations, a list of available second destination locations, and two checkboxes to choose whether or not to flip the cartridge(s) prior to loading them into their destination locations.
  3. Click the desired source and destination locations and whether or not to flip the cartridge(s). When finished entering all the changes on the dialog box, click "OK" to run the test. Click "Cancel" if you don't want to run the test.
  4. When the test has finished, the program will display the results indicating if the test passed or failed.

Inverting (or Flipping) a Cartridge

This utility allows you to invert (or flip) a cartridge in a drive, storage slot, or mailslot location. The cartridge can be easily restored to its original position using the "Undo Last Move" command; please refer to Undoing the Last Move or Exchange for more information.

To run this test, perform the following steps:

  1. Click "Utility" on the menu bar.
  2. Click the "Invert Cartridge" button that appears. The program will bring up a dialog box containing a list of the available invert locations and a list of picker options.
  3. Click the desired invert location and picker option. When finished entering all the changes on the dialog box, click "OK" to run the test. Click "Cancel" if you don't want to run the test.
  4. When the test has finished, the program will display the results indicating if the test passed or failed.

Undoing the Last Move or Exchange

This utility allows you to undo the last Move, Exchange, or Cartridge Invert command that was performed, restoring the cartridges back to their original locations and/or positions. Only the most recent Move or Exchange can be undone; previous moves are always replaced with the most current one.

To run the Undo Last Move command, perform the following steps:

  1. Click "Utility" on the menu bar.
  2. Click the "Undo Last Move" button that appears. The tool will attempt to undo the last Move, Exchange, or Invert that was performed. If no record of a previous Move, Exchange, or Invert exists, it will display an error message.

Performing Initialize Element Status

This utility allows you to tell the autochanger to perform an Initialize Element Status command which checks all elements for optical disks and for relevant status. It should be performed if the autochanger gets into an unknown state.

CAUTION: This command may take a few minutes to complete. The program will prompt you before executing this command to make sure that is what you really want to do.

To run the Initialize Element Status command, perform the following steps:

  1. Click "Utility" on the menu bar.
  2. Click the "Init Element Status" button that appears. The tool will ask if you really want to run this command. Clicking on "OK" will run the command and return you back to the expert tool menu when finished; clicking on "Cancel" will just return you back to the expert tool menu.

Setting Online Drive Repair Status

This utility allows you to set the Online Drive Repair status of a drive. This feature is only supported on HP SureStore 80fx, 160fx, 200fx, 330fx, 600fx and all "st" model jukeboxes; it will not work on any other jukebox model and the function will be grayed out in this case.

To set the Online Drive Repair status, perform the following steps:

  1. Click "Utility" on the menu bar.
  2. Click the "Set Drive Status" button that appears. The program will bring up a dialog box with a list of available states for each drive. It will also display the current Online State of each drive.
  3. Click the desired status setting for a particular drive. When finished entering all the changes to the dialog box, click "OK" to change the drive states. Click "Cancel" if you don't want to change the drive states.
  4. When the test has finished, the program will display the results indicating if the utility was successful or not.

Emptying the Picker

This utility allows you to empty a cartridge from the picker that might have been left behind by an application or error condition. The program will attempt to put the cartridge back to its original slot. If not, it will put the cartridge in any available storage slot.

To empty the picker, perform the following steps:

  1. Click "Utility" on the menu bar.
  2. Click the "Empty Picker" button that appears. The tool will go ahead and try to put the cartridge back to its original location. If the original location is unknown, it will put the cartridge in an available storage slot.
  3. When finished, the program will display the status of the operation.

Emptying Drives

This utility allows you to remove the cartridge from all the drives and put it back to the last location it came from. If the last location was a drive or if the storage slot currently has cartridge in it, the program will find an available empty slot and put the cartridge there. If there are not enough empty slots, the program will display an error message indicating not enough empty slots and not attempt to empty any more drives.

To empty the drives, perform the following steps:

  1. Click "Utility" on the menu bar.
  2. Click the "Empty Drives" button that appears. The tool will ask if you really want to empty the drives. Clicking on "OK" will cause the tool to begin emptying the drives; clicking on "Cancel" will just return you back to the expert tool menu.
  3. If the tool is instructed to empty the drives, it will go ahead and remove the cartridge from the drives and put it back to its previous storage location or any available slot if that's not possible. If there are not enough empty slots to complete the task, it will display an error message and then return to the main menu.
  4. When finished, the program will display the status of the operation.

Prevent/Allow Media Removal

This utility allows you to send the appropiate SCSI commands to prevent and/or allow cartridge removal from the autochanger through the mailslot. Some applications tell the autochanger to disable cartridge removal in order to prevent interference from the operator. However, it is sometimes necessary to remove a cartridge while debugging a problem and this can only be done by overriding the autochanger settings that prevent cartridge removal.

To prevent or allow cartridge removal, perform the following steps:

  1. Click "Utility" on the menu bar.
  2. Click the "Prevent Allow Media" button that appears. The program will bring up a dialog box allowing you to select between preventing and allowing cartridge removal through the mailslot.
  3. Click the desired information in the dialog box. When finished entering all the changes to the dialog box, click "OK" to run the test. Click "Cancel" if you don't want to change anything.
  4. When the test has finished, the program will display the results indicating if the utility was successful or not.

Reserving and Releasing the Autochanger

This utility allows you to reserve and/or release the autochanger and/or any of its drives. Reserving allows only one initiator access to a SCSI device and releasing removes this exclusive access. Some applications reserve the autochanger to disable cartridge removal in order to prevent interference with the operator. However, sometimes it is necessary to remove the cartridge while debugging a problem and this can only be done by overriding the autochanger settings that prevent cartridge removal.

To reserve or release the SCSI port to the autochanger, perform the following steps:

  1. Click "Utility" on the menu bar.
  2. Click the "Reserve Release" button that appears. The program will bring up a dialog box allowing you to select between reserving and releasing the autochanger. When selecting the reserve option, you can also choose between reserving the entire unit or a range of element addresses. You can also assign a unique ID number to identify each element reservation made. The same ID number must be used later on to release the elements.
  3. Click the desired information in the dialog box. When finished entering all the changes to the dialog box, click "OK" to run the test. Click "Cancel" if you don't want to run the test.
  4. When the test has finished, the program will display the results indicating if the utility was successful or not.

SCSI Script Utility

This utility allows the user to execute a series of SCSI commands contained in a script file. These SCSI script files can be used to perform additional tests and/or utilities not contained in this tool. This help menu does not yet provide a description of how to write script files; for now, the will be furnished by HP as needed.

To run the SCSI Script Utility, perform the following steps:

  1. Click "Utility" on the menu bar.
  2. Click the "SCSI Script" button that appears. The program will bring up a dialog box allowing you to select a script file from a set of files in a particular directory. Normally, script files have an ".scr" extension. You can also change the directory and the extension filter to search for script files in this same dialog box.
  3. Click the desired script file in the dialog box. When finished, click "OK" to run the test. Click "Cancel" if you don't want to run the test.
  4. When the test has finished, the program will display the results indicating if the utility was successful or not.

Save/Restore Cartridge Locations

This utility has not been implemented; when (and if) it is implemented, it would function approximatelly as follows:

This utility allows you to save the current cartridge locations and then restore the cartridges back to their original state after all the tests, moves, exchanges and so on that have been performed with this tool. If the "Save" function is selected, the program will determine the current location of each cartridge and save this state in a file. If the "Restore" function is selected, the program will use the file created by the "Save" operation and issue the appropriate move commands to put the cartridges back to the locations saved on the file. If serial numbers are available (5.2 GByte capacity cartridges or later), the program will use these numbers to restore the cartridges. If serial numbers are not available (2.6 GByte capacity cartridges and earlier), it will keep track of moves made while the tool is running and try to restore it back based on this move table. Since this latter method is less reliable than serial numbers, there is a chance it might not fully restore cartridges to their original locations. In either case, if the expert tool is exited before the "Restore" command is executed, the original cartridge locations will be lost.

To save or restore cartridge locations, perform the following steps:

  1. Click "Utility" on the menu bar.
  2. Click the "Save Restore" button that appears. The program will bring up a dialog box allowing you to select between saving and restoring cartridge locations.
  3. Click the desired information in the dialog box. When finished entering all the changes to the dialog box, click "OK" to run the test. Click "Cancel" if you don't want to run the test.
  4. When the test has finished, the program will display the results indicating if the utility was successful or not.

Display Format

This tool feature allows you to select what format you want information displayed for each of the functions for this tool. There are two formats available:

  1. Hexadecimal: this format will display the CDBs of the SCSI commands executed and the raw hex data sent or retrieved from the target. This applies to both information viewing functions and test utilities.
  2. Interpreted: this format displays information in an interpreted fashion; comments are used to describe the information, numerical data is converted to full decimal value, and data is generally laid out in a readable format. This format only applies to information viewing functions.

The hexadecimal format is useful for examining the data that is sent back and forth across the SCSI channel since the interpreted format throws a lot of the data away while parsing it. It also provides a means to check the software interpretation used by the interpreted format.

To select which format to use, perform the following steps:

  1. Click "Options" on the menu bar.
  2. Click the "Display Format" button that appears below the menu bar.
  3. Click one of the first three option buttons that appear below the "Display Format" button.
  4. The fourth button (Hex Dump Size) is used to change the raw data buffer size used in the Hexadecimal display mode. Clicking on it will bring up a dialog box that allows the user to change the limit on how many bytes of buffer data is saved and displayed for the Hexadecimal display.

What do you do if it doesn't work

If the tool is experiencing problems it should explain the problems in messages that are displayed in dialog boxes and in the window of the tool. Extensive messages are also logged into the Test Activity Log. Please make sure that you read these messages carefully - they are normally the best source of information about the problem and what to do about it.

Following are some general checkpoints when the tool doesn't work:

Glossary

Test Activity Log
This is a log file maintained by STM that contains messages about the progress and problems encountered by the tool as it executes. To view the log file select the "View Activity Log" menu item belonging to this device from the STM main window.
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URL: http://docs.hp.com/hpux/onlinedocs/diag/stm/help/expert/scsi_mo_acc.htm
Last updated: Mon Apr 29 18:17:49 PDT 2002