Qualstar Q40 User manual

1
Q40™ Tape Library
Installation and Operations Manual
Document No. 511026 Rev. 07-01-19

Q40 Tape Library Installation and Operations Manual
511026 Rev. 07-01-19 2
Copyright
© Copyright 2018, QUALSTAR. All rights reserved. This document and the information contained herein
are the property of QUALSTAR. No part of this document may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed,
stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language or computer language in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, magnetic, optical, manual, or otherwise, without the express written
permission of QUALSTAR.
Trademark Notices
QUALSTAR makes no representation or guarantees with respect to the contents of this document and
specifically disclaims any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose.
Further, QUALSTAR reserves the right to revise this publication without obligation of QUALSTAR to notify
any person or organization of such revision or changes.
Q40™is a Trademark of Qualstar Corporation
Revision History
Date
Issue
Revision
Author
Description of changes
2018-08-01
Initial release
01
Kevin Yi
Contacting Qualstar
Sales
Qualstar Corporation
1267 Flynn Road
Camarillo, CA 93012
Tel: [phone]
877-886-2758 (Toll Free)
Technical Support
Email: [e-mail]
Tel: [phone]
For non-urgent questions, please use the form on our website at:
http://www.qualstar.com/service-requests/
2019-07-01 07-01-19 Kevin Yi Address updated

511026 Rev. 07-01-19 3
Product warranty caution
The Q40 Tape Library contains no user-serviceable components. Only an authorized service center
should carry out any servicing or repairs. The warranty for the tape library shall not apply to failures of
any unit when:
•Any of the tape library components is repaired or modified by anyone other than Qualstar’s
personnel or approved agent. Note: Certain components of the Q40 Tape Library, are identified
in this manual as ‘field replaceable’. These include the power supply, tape drives, library
controller and magazines. User replacement of such complete components with corresponding
parts supplied by Qualstar does not affect warranty, provided the user strictly adheres to the
instructions herein.
•The tape library is physically abused, or used in a manner that is inconsistent with the operating
instructions or product specification defined by Qualstar.
•The tape library fails because of accident, misuse, abuse, neglect, mishandling, misapplication,
alteration, faulty installation, modification, or service by anyone other than the factory service
center or its approved agent.
•The tape library is repaired by anyone, including an approved agent, in a manner that is contrary
to the maintenance or installation instructions supplied by Qualstar.
•The manufacturer's serial number tag is removed.
•The tape library is damaged because of improper packaging on return.
In case of unauthorized repairs or modifications, your warranty becomes immediately void.

Q40 Tape Library Installation and Operations Manual
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Table of Contents
1Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 8
1.1 General Warnings .........................................................................................................................8
1.2 General Product Warnings:...........................................................................................................8
2Product Overview.............................................................................................................11
2.1 Supported Library Configurations – Rackmount Installation.......................................................11
2.2 Supported Tape Drives ...............................................................................................................14
2.3 Front Panel..................................................................................................................................15
2.4 Rear Panel ..................................................................................................................................16
2.5 LTO-6/7/8 HH SAS Dual Port......................................................................................................17
2.6 LTO-6/7/8 HH FC Single Port .....................................................................................................17
2.7 LTO-6/7/8 HH FC Dual Port........................................................................................................17
2.8 Power Supply Rear Panel LEDs.................................................................................................18
2.9 Element Numbering ....................................................................................................................18
3Installing the Library ........................................................................................................19
3.1 Planning Installation....................................................................................................................19
3.2 Location Requirements ...............................................................................................................19
3.3 SAS Configuration Requirements...............................................................................................20
3.4 Fibre Channel Configuration Requirements................................................................................21
3.5 Planning Module and Rack Layout .............................................................................................22
3.6 Internal IP Range Selection ........................................................................................................22
3.7 Host Preparation .........................................................................................................................23
3.8 Installation Precautions...............................................................................................................23
3.9 Unpacking Base Module and Expansion Modules......................................................................24
3.10 Identifying Library Module Components .....................................................................................27
3.11 Preparing Top and Bottom Modules ...........................................................................................27
3.12 Installing Modules in a Rack .......................................................................................................30
3.13 Aligning and Connecting Modules ..............................................................................................32
3.14 Installing Tape Drives..................................................................................................................33
3.15 Connecting Fibre Channel Cables..............................................................................................33
3.16 Connecting SAS Cables..............................................................................................................33
3.17 Powering On the Library .............................................................................................................34
3.18 Using the Configuration Wizard ..................................................................................................34
3.19 Verifying the Host Connection.....................................................................................................34

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3.20 Labeling Tape Cartridges............................................................................................................35
3.21 Write Protecting Tape Cartridges................................................................................................36
3.22 Tape Cartridges ..........................................................................................................................37
3.23 Read and Write Compatibility......................................................................................................38
3.24 Loading Tape Cartridges.............................................................................................................39
3.25 Using the Mailslot........................................................................................................................40
3.26 Bulk Loading Magazines.............................................................................................................40
4Initial Setup of the Library................................................................................................42
4.1 Using the OCP ............................................................................................................................42
4.2 Using the RMI..............................................................................................................................42
4.3 Logging into the Library...............................................................................................................43
4.4 Using the Initial Configuration Wizard on the OCP.....................................................................44
5Operating the Library using the Operator Panel............................................................45
5.1 Login............................................................................................................................................46
5.2 Magazine Buttons .......................................................................................................................47
5.3 Operation.....................................................................................................................................48
5.4 Configuration...............................................................................................................................50
5.5 Maintenance................................................................................................................................62
5.6 Status ..........................................................................................................................................70
6Operating the library using the RMI ................................................................................74
6.1 Using the Library Main Screen with the RMI...............................................................................74
6.2 Configuring the Library with the RMI...........................................................................................76
6.3 Configuring the Library Network Settings ...................................................................................79
6.4 Enabling or Disabling Mailslots...................................................................................................85
6.5 Configuring Library Partitions......................................................................................................85
6.6 Configuring Web Management Options......................................................................................92
6.7 Maintaining the Library on the RMI.............................................................................................95
6.8 Viewing Log Files........................................................................................................................99
6.9 Saving Log Files........................................................................................................................100
6.10 Managing System Firmware .....................................................................................................100
6.11 Managing Drive Firmware.........................................................................................................101
6.12 Downloading Drive Logs...........................................................................................................101
6.13 Downloading Library Log and Trace Files ................................................................................102
6.14 Rebooting the Library................................................................................................................102
6.15 Rebooting Drives.......................................................................................................................102

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6.16 Controlling the UID LEDs..........................................................................................................103
6.17 Moving the Robotic Assembly to the Base Module...................................................................103
6.18 Operating the Library with the RMI ...........................................................................................104
6.19 Viewing Status Information on the RMI.....................................................................................108
7Upgrading and Servicing the Library............................................................................119
7.1 Possible Tools Needed .............................................................................................................119
7.2 Identifying a Failed Component ................................................................................................119
7.3 Installing or Replacing a Tape Drive.........................................................................................119
7.4 Adding an Expansion Module ...................................................................................................121
7.5 Removing the Library................................................................................................................123
7.6 Replacing a Power Supply........................................................................................................124
7.7 Replacing a Controller Board....................................................................................................125
7.8 Installing or Replacing a Drive Power Board ............................................................................127
7.9 Replacing a Module (Base or Expansion).................................................................................129
7.10 Replacing the Robotic Assembly and Spooling Mechanism.....................................................133
7.11 Replacing the Front Bezel or OCP............................................................................................138
8Library Troubleshooting ................................................................................................140
8.1 Fibre Channel Connection Problems........................................................................................140
8.2 Detection Problems after Installing a SAS Drive.......................................................................140
8.3 Operation Problems..................................................................................................................142
8.4 Performance Problems .............................................................................................................145
8.5 Finding Event Information.........................................................................................................147
8.6 Unlocking the Magazine............................................................................................................147
8.7 Unloading a Stuck Tape............................................................................................................149
8.8 Returning the Robotic Assembly to the Base Module ..............................................................149
8.9 Running Library Tests...............................................................................................................151
9Acronyms and Abbreviations........................................................................................152
10 Event Codes................................................................................................................153
11 Technical Specifications............................................................................................171
12 Regulatory Information..............................................................................................176

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Q40 Tape Library Installation and Operations Manual
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1 Introduction
Document Purpose
This manual provides information about installing, operating, troubleshooting and servicing a Qualstar
Q40 Tape Library. It is intended for system administrators and general users who need physical and
functional knowledge of the Q40 Tape Library.
The main components are
Base library: 800-0016-9
Expansion module: 800-0017-7
This document uses the reference Q40 to refer to the Q40 Tape Library.
1.1 General Warnings
Document Conventions:
WARNING
Indicates that failure to follow directions could result in bodily harm or
death.
CAUTION
Indicates that failure to follow directions could result in damage to
equipment or data.
!
IMPORTANT
Provides clarifying information or specific instructions.
NOTE
Provides additional information.
TIP
Provides helpful hints and shortcuts.
1.2 General Product Warnings:
DANGER
High voltage
Risk of electric shock
•Do not remove covers (top, bottom or rear). No user-
serviceable parts are inside.
•Refer servicing to qualified service personnel.

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MECHANICAL
HAZARD
Danger
•Risk of hand pinching, can trap hands, fingers and cause
serious injury. Keep hands clear during operation.
WARNING
Product Weight
Risk of personal injury
Before lifting a library:
•Observe local health and safety requirements and guidelines
for manual material handling.
•Remove all tapes to reduce the weight.
•Remove all tape drives to reduce the weight.
•Obtain adequate assistance to lift and stabilize the library
during installation or removal.
Risk of damage to devices
When placing a library into or removing the library from a rack:
•Extend the rack’s levelling jacks to the floor.
•Ensure that the full weight of the rack rests on the levelling
jacks.
•Install stabilizing feet on the rack.
•Extend only one rack component at a time.
CAUTION
Static Sensitive
Risk of damage to devices
•A discharge of static electricity damages static-sensitive
devices or micro circuitry.
•Proper packaging and grounding techniques are necessary
precautions to prevent damage.
NOTE
•Ventilation – Place the product in a location that does not interfere
with proper ventilation.
•Heat – Place the product in a location away from heat sources.
•Power sources – Connect the product to a power source only of the
type directed in the operating instructions or as marked on the
product.
•Power cord protection – Place the AC line cord so that it is not
possible to be walked on or pinched by items placed upon or
against it.
•Object and liquid entry – Insure that objects do not fall onto and that
liquids are not spilled into the product’s enclosure.

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WARNING
Only trained personnel should operate this equipment. Read all
documentation and procedures before installation or operation. This
product is intended for installation and operation in a computer rack with
the front and rear doors closed and secured. Only personnel with
technical and product safety training should be provided access to the
library. Such personnel are referred to as users throughout this
document. Do not insert any tools or any part of your body into openings
of an operating system.

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2 Product Overview
The Qualstar Q40 is a 3U highly scalable library system. The Q40 is expandable, allowing a user to grow
their tape storage capacity as their data requirements increase.
All Q40 installations begin with the 3U Base Module, with capacity for 32 tape cartridges and 3 half-height
LTO tape drives.
Each Expansion Module provides an additional 40 tape cartridges and supports an additional 3 half-
height LTO tape drives.
Up to 6 Expansion Modules can be added to a Base Module, bringing the total library capacity to 272
tape cartridges and 21 half-height LTO tape drives.
2.1 Supported Library Configurations – Rackmount Installation
All Q40 Libraries start with a Base Module. Up to 6 Expansion Modules can be added as needed to
support customer requirements. The architecture has been designed to support a maximum of 3
Expansion Modules above and 3 Expansion Modules below. The Base Module must be mounted with 9U
of empty space above and 9U of empty space below to ensure a full stack can be installed. Table 1
shows the supported configurations for libraries ranging from one to seven total modules.
The Base Module is depicted by the following image with the Operator Control Panel shown in yellow:
Each Expansion Module is represented by the following image with a large clear viewing window in the
center.
Table 1: Supported Library Configurations
Module Quantity Supported Library Configurations
1 Module Library
Base Module

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Module Quantity Supported Library Configurations
2 Module Library
Base Module
1 Expansion Module
3 Module Library
Base Module
2 Expansion Modules
4 Module Library
Base Module
3 Expansion Modules

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Module Quantity Supported Library Configurations
5 Module Library
Base Module
4 Expansion Modules
6 Module Library
Base Module
5 Expansion Modules
7 Module Library
Base Module
6 Expansion
Modules

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2.2 Supported Tape Drives
The Q40 was developed to integrate industry-standard LTO Ultrium tape drives. Mixed drive generations
and mixed interfaces are supported within a single library and within a single module.
Listed below in Table 2 are the tape drives that have been tested and implemented in the Q40.
Table 2: Supported Tape Drives
LTO Drives
LTO-6 Half-Height FC Single Port
LTO-6 Half-Height FC Dual Port
LTO-6 Half-Height SAS Dual Port
LTO-7 Half-Height FC Single Port
LTO-7 Half-Height FC Dual Port
LTO-7 Half-Height SAS Dual Port
LTO-8 Half-Height FC Single Port
LTO-8 Half-Height FC Dual Port
LTO-8 Half-Height SAS Dual Port

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2.3 Front Panel
1
Left Magazine Emergency Release
Access Hole
2
Left Magazine Access Handle
3
Power Button
Base Module Only
4
Unit Identification LED, Blue
Base Module Only
5
Ready LED, Green
Base Module Only
6
Clean LED, Amber
Base Module Only
7
Attention LED, Amber
Base Module Only
8
Error LED, Amber
Base Module Only
9
USB Port
Base Module Only
10
Operator Control Panel (OCP) Display
Base Module Only
11
Back/Return Button
Base Module Only
12
Navigation Button - Left
Base Module Only
13
Navigation Button – Up
Base Module Only
14
Navigation Button – Down
Base Module Only
15
Navigation Button – Right
Base Module Only
16
Enter Button
Base Module Only
17
Mailslot/Right Magazine Access Handle
18
Right Magazine Emergency Release
Access Hole

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2.4 Rear Panel
1
Power Supply 1
Standard on Base Module
Optional on Expansion Module
2
Power Supply 2
Optional on Base Module
Optional on Expansion Module
3
Half-Height Tape Drive Bays
4
Upper Expansion Module
Connection Port
5
USB Port
Optional on Base Module Only
6
Ethernet Port A
Base Module Only
7
Ethernet Port B
Optional on Base Module Only
8
Module Alignment Mechanism
9
Lower Expansion Module
Connection Port
10
Unit Identifier LED, Blue
11
Controller Error LED, Yellow
12
Controller Health Status LED, Green
13
Product Serial Number Tag Location

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2.5 LTO-6/7/8 HH SAS Dual Port
1
SAS Port A
2
SAS Port B
3
Tape Drive Power LED, Green
2.6 LTO-6/7/8 HH FC Single Port
1
FC Port A
2
Tape Drive Power LED, Green
2.7 LTO-6/7/8 HH FC Dual Port
1
FC Port A
2
FC Port B
3
Tape Drive Power LED, Green

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2.8 Power Supply Rear Panel LEDs
1
White
AC power connected, but Module Powered Off
2
Green
Module Powered On
2.9 Element Numbering
The library will generally display logical element numbering of modules, storage slots and tape drives
starting with number one from the bottom up.

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3 Installing the Library
3.1 Planning Installation
•Choose a location for the library. See “Location Requirements”.
•Plan the SAS or Fibre Channel configuration and obtain the necessary cables. See “SAS
Configuration Requirements” or “Fibre Channel Configuration Requirements”.
•Plan the rack layout. See “Planning the Module and Rack Layout”.
•Internal IP Range Selection
3.2 Location Requirements
NOTE
•
The library was designed for rack installation.
•Rack installations must use the provided rack rails.
•Select a location with access to the host server.
•Choose a location that meets the criteria in the table below.
Table 3: Location Requirements
Criteria Definition
Rack Requirements Standard 19-inch rack (minimum depth of 1 meter) with an appropriate # of U’s
(Rack Units) of clearance for the planned module quantity
Rack Space
Requirements 3U for the Base Module and 3U for each Expansion Module
Room Temperature 10-35º C (50-95º F)
Power Source
AC Power Voltage: 100-240 VAC
Line Frequency: 50-60 Hz
Library Located near AC Outlet(s)
The AC power cord is the library’s main AC disconnect device and must be easily
accessible at all times.
Air Quality
Place the library in an area with minimal sources of particulate contamination
Avoid areas near frequently used doors and walkways, stacks of supplies that
collect dust, printers, and smoke-filled rooms
Excessive dust and debris can damage tapes and tape drive
Humidity 20-80 percent RH non-condensing

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3.3 SAS Configuration Requirements
Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) is a computer bus technology mainly used to transfer data to and from
storage devices, including disk drives and tape drives. SAS is designed to transfer data at up to 6 Gbps.
SAS uses serial connections, with a direct connection between the host server and each of the storage
devices. This eliminates the need to configure SCSI busses and assign SCSI IDs, as is required for
parallel SCSI devices.
The host server must have a SAS Host Bus Adapter (HBA) with an external connector. The HBA uses
multiple Logical Unit Numbers (LUNs) to communicate with the library. Verify that your HBA supports
multiple LUNs. Please note, most RAID controllers do not have multiple LUNs support. Most SAS HBA
ports have four SAS channels. A tape drive uses one channel, so each HBA port can support up to four
tape drives. You can use a cable with one connector on each end, or a fan-out cable, which has one
connector on one end and up to four connectors on the opposite end. Supported speeds by drive
generation are shown in the table below.
Table 4: Supported SAS Speeds
LTO Generation Supported Speeds
LTO-6 1.5 Gbps, 3 Gbps, 6 Gbps
LTO-7 1.5 Gbps, 3 Gbps, 6 Gbps
LTO-8 1.5 Gbps, 3 Gbps, 6 Gbps
CAUTION
High quality SAS cables rated at the transfer rate of the SAS drives are
required. Always verify that the SAS cable you are using is rated for the
data transfer speed of the interface of your components. SAS cables
described as "equalized" may not support 6 Gb/s data rates and should
not be used with LTO-6 or later generation tape drives unless these
cables are verified for 6 Gb/s data rates.
CAUTION
The library has one or more mini-SAS connectors on each SAS tape
drive. Mini-SAS connectors are keyed. Do not force a SAS cable’s mini-
SAS connector into the tape drive as it might be keyed differently.
A SAS tape drive is identified by a unique identifier called a World Wide Name (WWN) or World Wide
Identifier (WWID). The library assigns the WWID to the drive bay. When a tape drive is replaced, the
WWID is re-assigned to the new tape drive.
The operating system tracks the WWID for the tape drive on each HBA channel. Each of the drive
connectors on the fan-out cable is associated with an HBA channel. Once a tape drive has been plugged
in, it should remain on the same channel to retain the association between the HBA channel and WWID.