Choose one of the following topics to find out more about the Expert Tool:
The SCSI Library Expert Tool is designed to help the user isolate problems in a SCSI Library. Functions include a describe utility, viewing of device logs, viewing the status of the library elements, running diagnostic test and performing certain medium changer SCSI commands to verify functionality.
This tool provides seven Menus of commands, File, Logs, Info, Tests, Utility, Options and Help.
The File Menu allows the user to exit the tool.
The Logs Menu allows the user to view formatted or raw hex dumps of the library device logs.
The Info Menu allows the user to view status of the internal device elements (storage, data transfer (drive), medium transport (picker) and import/export (mailslot)), the device capabilities and element address assignment mode sense pages and inquiry information.
The Tests Menu allows the user to perform various diagnostic and functionality tests. The tests are not applicable to all library devices.
The Utility Menu allows the user to manipulate the library using the following SCSI commands. Rezero, Position to Element, Move Medium, Exchange Medium, Initialise Element Status and Drive Status.
The Options Menu allows the user to set options controlling how the device data will be formatted, raw hex, interpreted or both. The options are not applicable to all menu choices.
The Help Menu provides access to this help information.
See the help topic Expert Tool Menus for specific information concerning each Menu or use the File, Logs, Info, Tests, Utility, Options or Help hyperlinks in these above paragraphs.
The Main Window for the Expert Tool offers seven menus:
Choose one of the above topics to find out more about these Menus.
The File Menu allows the user to save or print the main window and exit the tool.
The File Menu has three commands:
Choose a topic to find out more about the command.
Use the Save As command to save the contents of the Tool's main window to a file. (Only the most recent 200 lines can be saved.)
Use the Print command to print the contents of the Tool's main window. (Only the most recent 200 lines can be printed.)
The Exit command is used to leave the expert tool.
The Logs Menu allows the user to view formatted logs on the device. The logs will be formatted based on the Display format option set with the Interpreted, Hexadecimal or Both commands in the Options Menu Menu.
The Logs Menu has six selections:
Choose one of the above topics to find out more about these commands.
The Error Log command is used to view the formatted Error log.
Use the Interpreted, Hexadecimal or Both command in the Options Menu Menu to set how the data will be formatted.
The Error log page is not available to all devices but on applicable devices will display up to 10 error log entries. Each entry gives details on hard errors which have been recorded and which can be used to determine the state of the device.
While the formatted error log is displayed, the user will have the option of saving and/or printing the formatted error log.
The Recovery Log command is used to view the formatted Recovery log.
Use the Interpreted, Hexadecimal or Both command in the Options Menu Menu to set how the data will be formatted.
The recovery log page is not available to all devices but on applicable devices will display up to 10 error log entries. Each entry gives details on soft errors and related information on error recovery method and success.
As the formatted recovery log is displayed, the user will have the option of saving and/or printing the formatted recovery log.
The Drive Log command is used to view the formatted Drive log.
Use the Interpreted, Hexadecimal or Both command in the Options Menu Menu to set how the data will be formatted.
The Drive log page is not available to all devices but on applicable devices will display drive information on each of the embedded drives within the library device. Each entry gives details on the individual drives such as bus address, load count and source element address.
As the formatted drive log is displayed, the user will have the option of saving and/or printing the formatted drive log.
The Odometer Log command is used to view the formatted Odometer log.
Use the Interpreted, Hexadecimal or Both command in the Options Menu Menu to set how the data will be formatted.
The Odometer log page is not available to all devices but on applicable devices will display all of the various odometer values stored in the library device.
As the formatted odometer log is displayed, the user will have the option of saving and/or printing the formatted odometer log.
The Runtime Log command is used to view the formatted Runtime log.
Use the Interpreted, Hexadecimal or Both command in the Options Menu Menu to set how the data will be formatted.
The Runtime log page is not available to all devices but on applicable devices will display upto 10 error log entries. Each entry gives details on error recovery activity. An entry is added to the runtime log when a move fails or when any type of error recovery is required.
As the formatted runtime log is displayed, the user will have the option of saving and/or printing the formatted runtime log.
The Trace Log command is used to view the formatted Trace log.
Use the Interpreted, Hexadecimal or Both command in the Options Menu Menu to set how the data will be formatted.
The Trace log page is not available to all devices but on applicable devices will display up to n events. Where n is the maximum number of entries available from the library device. This data is only available as hexadecimal and selecting Interpreted or both from the options menu will have no effect.
As the formatted trace log is displayed, the user will have the option of saving and/or printing the formatted trace log.
The Error Events command is used to view the formatted Last n Error Events log.
Use the Interpreted, Hexadecimal or Both command in the Options Menu Menu to set how the data will be formatted.
The Last n Error Events log page is not available to all devices but on applicable devices will display upto n events. Where n is the maximum number of entries available from the library device.
As the formatted Error Events log is displayed, the user will have the option of saving and/or printing the formatted Error Events log.
The Info Menu allows the user to view status of the internal device elements (storage, data transfer (drive), medium transport (picker) and import/export (mailslot)), the device capabilities and element address assignment mode sense pages and inquiry information.
The Info Menu has three selections:
Choose one of the above topics to find out more about these commands.
The Describe command is used to view library inquiry information.
Use the Interpreted, Hexadecimal or Both command in the Options Menu Menu to set how the data will be formatted.
The describe information includes Vendor ID, Product ID, Product revision and Peripheral device type.
The Read element Status command is used to view the status of individual elements within the library device. There are four element types:
Storage, Data Transfer, Medium Transport, Import/Export.
Use the Interpreted, Hexadecimal or Both command in the Options Menu Menu to set how the data will be formatted.
The Mode sense command is used to view the Device Capabilities and Element Address Assignment mode sense pages.
Use the Interpreted, Hexadecimal or Both command in the Options Menu Menu to set how the data will be formatted.
The Tests Menu allows the user to perform media and hardware tests.
The Tests Menu has eight selections:
Choose one of the above topics to find out more about these commands.
The Self Test command is used to perform the builtin device selftest. The selftest may affect the logical position of any loaded cartridges within the library and should be used with caution.
The user will be requested to confirm the start of the selftest before the test is actually initiated.
The Test Unit Ready command is used to perform a SCSI Test Unit Ready command on the library device.
The success or failure is noted in the main expert tool window.
The Wellness test is not applicable to all library devices but for those that support this test a series of functionality tests are run to determine the status of the device under test. This test requires that the data transfer elements (drives) and import/export elements (mailslot(s)) are empty and that there is at least one cartridge loaded in a storage element. This test will affect the position of cartridges within the library and should be used with caution. It is the responsibility of the expert tool user to return the device to its initial state if required as the expert tool does not keep track of cartridge movements.
The user will be requested to confirm the start of this test before it is actually initiated.
The result of the test is displayed in the expert tool main window. This test may take in excess of 5 minutes to complete.
The Exercise Mech test is a subset of the Wellness test and should also be used with caution. This test requires that the data transfer elements (drives) and import/export elements (mailslot(s)) are empty and that there is at least one cartridge loaded in a storage element. This test will affect the position of cartridges within the library and should be used with caution. It is the responsibility of the expert tool user to return the device to its initial state if required as the expert tool does not keep track of cartridge movements.
The user will be requested to confirm the start of this test before it is actually initiated.
The result of the test is displayed in the expert tool main window. This test may take in excess of 5 minutes to complete.
The Empty Drives test will empty any cartridges loaded in the embedded drives and returns them to their storage slots. It is the responsibility of the expert tool user to return the device to its initial state if required as the expert tool does not keep track of cartridge movements.
The user will be requested to confirm the start of this test before it is actually initiated.
The result of the test is displayed in the expert tool main window. This test may take in excess of 2 minutes to complete.
The Fill Picker test will take the first available cartridge from the storage slots and place it in the medium transport element (Picker). It is the responsibility of the expert tool user to return the device to its initial state if required as the expert tool does not keep track of cartridge movements.
The user will be requested to confirm the start of this test before it is actually initiated.
The result of the test is displayed in the expert tool main window.
The Empty Picker test will place the cartridge (if any) that is currently in the medium transport element (Picker) into its original storage slot location If that location is not known it will be placed in the first available storage slot. It is the responsibility of the expert tool user to return the device to its initial state if required as the expert tool does not keep track of cartridge movements. The result of the test is displayed in the expert tool main window.
The user will be requested to confirm the start of this test before it is actually initiated.
The Vertical Encoder test moves the transport mechanism up and down the full length of the rail. No cartridges are required.
The user will be requested to confirm the start of this test before it is actually initiated.
The result of the test is displayed in the expert tool main window.
The Random Moves I command performs random moves of media cartridges between the cells in the library.
This is a destructive test in that it will not restore the media cartridges back to their original locations. The user will be requested to confirm the start of this test before it is actually initiated.
The result of the test is displayed in the expert tool main window.
The Random Moves II command performs random moves of media cartridges between the cells and the drives in the library.
This is a destructive test in that it will not restore the media cartridges back to their original locations. The user will be requested to confirm the start of this test before it is actually initiated.
The result of the test is displayed in the expert tool main window.
The Utility Menu allows the user to view data on the disk.
The Utility Menu has five selections:
Choose the from above topics to find out more about these commands.
The Rezero command is used to recalibrate the mechanical system and sets the library to a specific predefined state.
This command may cause a change in the current position of cartridges within the library and should be used with caution.
It is the responsibility of the expert tool user to return the device to its initial state if required as the expert tool does not keep track of cartridge movements.
The user will be requested to confirm the start of this command before it is actually initiated.
The command may take several minutes to complete.
The Position to Element command is used to position the medium transport element (Picker) in front of a specifed element location. The user is prompted for an element type and location which is then used to execute the command. The status of the command is displayed in the expert tool main window.
The Move Medium command is used to move a selected cartridge from one element position to another.
The user is cautioned on the effects of this command and if they choose to continue they are prompted to select a source element and destination element. When the selection is made the command is executed and the result is displayed in the expert tool main window.
It is the responsibility of the expert tool user to return the device to its initial state if required as the expert tool does not keep track of cartridge movements.
The Exchange Medium command is used to move a selected cartridge from a source element to the first specified destination element and the cartridge that previously occupied the first destination is moved to the second specified destination element.
The user is cautioned on the effects of this command and if they choose to continue they are prompted to select a source element and both destination elements. When the selection is made the command is executed and the result is displayed in the expert tool main window.
It is the responsibility of the expert tool user to return the device to its initial state if required as the expert tool does not keep track of cartridge movements.
The Initialise Element Status Command is used to inventory all of the elements within the library. The command may take several minutes to complete and the result is displayed in the expert tool main window.
The status of the elements after the command has been completed may be viewed using the Read element Status menu options.
The Set Drive Status command is used to view and set the status of the Data Transfer Elements within the library. Executing the Drive Status command will give you a list of Data Transfer Elements and their current status. You can choose to cancel the operation at this point and the command will not affect the current status of the elements. Or you can choose a drive with a valid current status from the list and proceed to set the status for that drive.
The Drive Status command will list up to 12 Data Transfer elements. However, the particular device under test may have less than 12 Data Transfer elements. A "Drive is not valid" status indicates that the drive does not exist on the device.
The Recalibrate command is used to recalibrate all target data.
The Options Menu allows the user to specify how the sense logs should be formatted for display.
The Options Menu has one pull down menu Display Format-->. This pull down menu had three selections.
Choose one of the above topics to find out more about these commands.
The Interpreted command is used to specify that various logs and information commands should be displayed in interpreted format.
The Hexadecimal command is used to specify that the logs and information commands should be displayed in hex.
The Both command is used to specify that the information should be displayed in hex and interpreted format where permitted, see help on individual command options for more details.
The Help Menu has two commands:
Choose one of the above topics to find out more about these commands.
The General Help command starts this help interaction.
The Version command displays the version and copyright information for the firmware update tool.