About Tape Drive Parameters

Tape drives have unique parameters that can be configured. This topic provides information on each parameter. For instructions on how to modify parameters, see Setting Tape Drive Parameters.

SCSI Parameters

You can modify the SCSI ID for a SCSI tape drive. Each device on a SCSI bus, including the host bus adapter (HBA), needs to have a unique SCSI ID. Changing the SCSI ID is necessary when there is a duplicate ID on a single bus. Typically, the HBA SCSI ID is set to 7. For example, if two tape drives are connected together on the same bus, each tape drive must have a different SCSI ID and it must be different from the HBA's SCSI ID.

A SCSI ID is limited to a value between 0–15. By default, the library assigns the following SCSI IDs to SCSI tape drives installed in the following modules:

SAS Parameters

Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) tape drives do not appear on the Setup Drive IDs screen because you do not need to configure SAS tape drive parameters. A SAS tape drive’s SAS address is automatically and uniquely generated based on a unique World Wide Node Name (WWNN) that the drive receives when it is configured.

Fibre Channel Parameters

You can modify the topology connection mode, interface speed and loop ID settings for Fibre Channel tape drives.

Loop topologies require loop IDs. Loop IDs can be set to a value between 0–125. A unique loop ID is selected by default for all Fibre Channel tape drives installed in the library. For example, the tape drive installed in the top drive bay of a 5U Library Control Module is assigned a default loop ID of 61. The tape drive installed in the 5U Library Control Module's bottom drive bay is assigned a default loop ID of 63.

NOTE: If you change a default loop ID, make sure each Fibre Channel tape drive with a topology setting of Auto (LN), Loop (L), or Auto (NL) has a unique loop ID.

The topology connection mode can be set to one of the following:

The interface speed can be set to one of the following:

If the topology and interface speed settings that you select are not supported, the next appropriate settings are applied. The requested settings are displayed on the Modify - Drive screen in the Requested column and the negotiated settings are displayed in the Actual column.

See also: