A Fibre Channel Configuration that attaches multiple communicating ports in a loop. Two or more ports can interconnect, but only two ports can communicate simultaneously.
Arbitration
The submission of a request to gain access to an arbitrated loop by a device, so that it can transmit data in the loop.
Availability
A RAS attribute that refers to the accessibility of a system resource in a timely manner; for example, the measurement of a system’s uptime.
A machine readable printed array of varied rectangular bars and spaces that can be scanned and read for object identification.
Barcode number
A humanly readable volume serial number on a removable media or cartridge.
Bus
A transmission channel through which electrical signals are carried from one device to another device.
A serial bus network of microcontrollers that connects devices, sensors and actuators in a system or sub-system for real-time control applications. There is no addressing scheme used in controller area networks, as in the sense of conventional addressing in networks (such as Ethernet). Rather, messages are broadcast to all the nodes in the network using an identifier unique to the network.
Cartridge
A container that is a protective housing for storage media, such as cartridges for tapes or optical disks.
Channel zoning
A method of subdividing a storage area network into disjoint zones on a per-channel basis in order to enhance security and qualify access.
Cleaning slot
The physical home where a cleaning cartridge resides.
Cleaning tape / cleaning cartridge
A tape used to clean recording heads and reading heads on a tape drive.
CLI (Command Line Interface)
A method of interfacing with a file system in which the user types commands, using a specific command syntax, from a command line.
CM (Control Module)
The first module of the library. It consists of an operator panel touch screen, library control blade (LCB), storage, tape drives, power supplies, and an I/E station.
COD (Capacity on Demand)
A feature that allows users to have a large physical library, but only be licensed to use a subset of its total capacity. Users pay only for what they are currently using. License upgrades enable more capacity without causing a system interruption.
Compact flash
A card on the LCB that stores information about a library’s contents and configuration.
Connectivity
The method by which hardware devices or software communicate with other hardware or software.
Control path
The connection between a partition and host application. The control path connection is made through a designated tape drive. Only one tape drive can be selected as the control path per partition.
Controller
The PCB or system that translates computer data and commands into a form suitable for use by the storage disks.
CRU (Customer Replaceable Unit)
The smallest hardware component that can be replaced at a customer installation by a customer.
A value or setting that is selected by the hardware or software unless specified otherwise by the user.
DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)
A protocol for assigning dynamic IP addresses to devices on a network. DHCP supports a mix of static and dynamic IP addresses.
Directory
A file that contains a list of other files. Directory is short for directory file.
Drivers
Software programs that enable a computer to communicate with hard drives, CD ROM drives, printers, and other peripherals. Drivers are stored on a hard disk and loaded into memory at boot up.
An address used by a library to locate and track library component. The address is specified in programming logic rather than on the physical location of a component within a library. When a logical library is used, the logical element ID masks the physical element ID.
Element ID - Physical
An address used by a library to locate and track library component. The address is based on the physical location of a component within a library. Applications expect to see resources at specific IDs.
Ethernet
A type of local area network designed to transport data at rates up to 10 million bits per second. Other software, such as TCP/IP runs on top of Ethernet to provide high-level networking services to applications.
Event
A condition that matches a numbered, predefined set of circumstances.
Event log
A list of all predefined events logged by library and software management tools.
Expansion Module
An optional module of the library. It provides additional storage, tape drive capacity, power, I/O blades, and I/E stations. The module lacks an operator panel touch screen and LCB.
Fabric Port. A port on a fabric switch to which N_Ports may be directly connected. The F_Port is not capable of communicating with FC-AL protocol.
FC-AL (Fibre channel arbitrated loop)
See Arbitrated loop.
FC-AL device
A device that employs Fibre Channel-Arbitrated Loop and consists of one or more NL_Ports.
FC (Fibre Channel)
A high speed data transfer architecture. Using optical fibre to connect devices, Fibre Channel communications are serial communications that occur at full duplex and achieve data transfer rates of 200 MBps.
FC host
The main processing server on a SAN that receives data and initiates communication with other devices.
Fiber
A thin filament of glass. An optical waveguide consisting of a core and a cladding which is capable of carrying information in the form of light. Fiber is also a general term used to cover all physical media types supported by Fibre Channel, such as optical fiber, twisted pair, and coaxial cable.
Fiducial
In a library storage context, fiducial refers to the reliable identification of media, including both location and media type information.
Firewall
A set of security tools designed to separate an internal network from the public Internet in order to keep unauthorized users out of a restricted network. Firewalls are the primary line of security defense for businesses.
FL_Port
Fabric Port. A port on a fabric switch to which N_Ports may be directly connected. The F_Port is not capable of communicating with FC-AL protocol.
FRU (Field Replaceable Unit)
The smallest component that can be replaced at a customer installation by a certified field service representative.
FUP (Firmware Upgrade) Tape
A tape that can be used as an alternative to upgrading firmware with SCSI or host.
Gb E or GigE (Gigabit Ethernet)
A transport protocol used for transmitting data across traditional LANs. Gb E is an enhanced version of the Ethernet protocol that has been used for many years as the underlying transport technology in IP networks.
GUI (Graphical User Interface)
A graphics-based user interface that incorporates windows, icons, menus, and a pointing device (also called a WIMP interface). A graphical user interface provides a visual view of a system.
A drive that contains increased storage capacity of bits and/or tracks per square inch.
Home position
Accessor axes positioned at 0 vertical and 0 horizontal that serve as the point of reference for the position of other library components. Home position is used as a basis for calibration.
Host
In general, a host is a computer or program that contains data and provides services to other computers or devices. In Fibre Channel terms, a host is a computer that initiates contact with storage devices.
Hot swappable
The ability to replace a defective component while the system continues to function normally.
HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol)
The communication rules by which a Web browser (client) and a server delivering Web pages exchange information.
The movement of data or hardware in and out of processing and storage systems.
I/E station
A door on the front of the library that contains tape magazines, into which cartridges to be imported are placed manually or cartridges to be exported are placed by the picker.
I/E station slot
A bin that contains a single piece of media in the I/E station.
I/O blade
A hardware component responsible for the data interface between hosts and storage devices.
Interoperability
The capability of two or more hardware devices or two or more software routines to work together.
IP (Internet Protocol)
A protocol that specifies the formats of packets and addresses. Addresses are formulated as dotted quads, for example, 255.255.255.255.
The heart of the UNIX operating system. The kernel is the part of the operating system that allocates resources and controls processes. The design strategy has been to keep the kernel as small as possible and to put the rest of the UNIX functionality into separately compiled and executed programs.
Loop Port. It only has the capability to communicate over FC-AL hubs and through FL_Ports.
LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol)
An industry-standard protocol, established by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), that allows users to query and update information in a directory service.
LED (Light Emitting Diode)
The mode of data transmission for multimode cables with short wave optical transceivers. Single-mode cables, by comparison, use high powered, long wave lasers.
Library
A large-scale tape device with robotics that can house multiple tape drives and a significant amount of tape cartridges.
Library Control Module
See Control Module.
License Key
An absolute value that can only increase a licensed feature. A license key can be applied to the library to enable unlicensed slots.
Loop
With this Fibre Channel connection option, the port operates with attached loop-capable devices. If a point-to-point device is attached, the appliance is not able to communicate with it.
Loop ID
A unique 7-bit value from 0 to 126 that represents the 127 valid AL_PAs (physical addresses) on a loop.
LTO (Linear Tape Open)
A family of magnetic tape media that are “open” in the sense of not being owned by a single proprietor. LTO comes in two formats, Accelis and Ultrium. Accelis is the fast access implementation, while Ultrium is the high capacity implementation.
LUN (Logical Unit Number)
A unique identifier used on a SCSI bus to distinguish between devices that share the same bus. SCSI is a parallel interface that allows up to eight devices (target IDs) to be connected along a single cable. Each of these eight devices has access to 16 unique address spaces (LUNs). A specified intersection of target ID and target LUN can be construed as the assigned LUN.
A container for removable media storage used in tape libraries.
Media
A material that stores data, such as tapes in cartridges or optical disks.
Media ID
The optional one or two character media type identifier that is appended to a barcode number. For example, the media ID for LTO-4 is \"L4\". Depending on the media barcode format that is configured for the partition, the media ID is reported to the host before the barcode number, after the barcode number, or not at all.
Media type
A format/size of media, for example, LTO.
Medium
See Media.
MIB (Management Information Base)
A database of objects that can be monitored by a network management system.
Mixed media
The ability of a library to simultaneously support multiple types of storage media.
Node Port. It only has the capability to communicate through an F-Port. It is a port on a computer, disk drive, and so on, through which the device does its Fibre Channel communication as a direct fabric-attached port for use with the point-to-point or fabric topology. It is identified by a world wide name.
NL_Port
Node Loop Port. It has the capability to communicate over both FC-AL hubs and through F_Ports.
NTP (Network Time Protocol)
An internet protocol for synchronizing system clocks to an accurate reference clock, such as the cesium fountain atomic clock at the National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST).
A status for a component that indicates it is inactive and unavailable for use.
Online
A status for a component that indicates it is active and available for use.
OS (Operating System)
A control program for a computer that allocates computer resources, schedules tasks, and provides the user with a way to access the resources.
An abstraction of an underlying physical library that may present a different personality, capacity, or both to a host. It is a representation of real physical elements, combined to create a grouping that is different from the physical library. Also a logical portion of the physical library that is viewed by the host as if it is a complete library. Partitions present the appearance of multiple, separate libraries for purposes of file management, access by multiple users, or dedication to one or more host application.
Pathname
A list of directories separated by slashes (/) and ending with the name of a directory or nondirectory file. A pathname is used to trace a path through the file structure to locate or identify a file.
Picker
The robotic hand that handles cartridges.
Point to Point
A Fibre Channel topology that consists of a dedicated connection between two devices: a sending device and a receiving device.
An industry standard communication and computer equipment rack cabinet.
RAS (Reliability, Availability, and Serviceability)
An infrastructure to support serviceability in order to identify, diagnose, and fix problems within the system. This approach is designed to address the ability of Service Personnel (and/or administrator users) to diagnose and resolve problems identified within the system. Additionally, configuration is addressed to support detection of hardware configuration compatibility issues and persistence across FRUs.
RAS ticket
A ticket that alerts service personnel and customers of an issue with the library. RAS tickets identify which library components are most likely causing the issue. When possible, a RAS ticket provides instructions for resolving the issue.
Reliability
A RAS attribute that is designed to prevent failure of a storage solution. See also RAS.
An ANSI standard that defines the generic requirements and overall framework in which other SCSI standards are defined. New generations of this standard are identified by a numeric suffix; for example the second generation standard is SAM2.
SAN (Storage Area Network)
A dedicated network that connects storage devices and servers in a pool, providing consolidated storage and storage management. Storage interconnects between many initiators and target devices. The SAN allows for sharing resources (target devices) among multiple servers (initiators).
SAS (Serial Attached SCSI)
A SCSI interface standard that provides for attaching HBAs and RAID controllers to both SAS and SATA disk and tape drives, as well as other SAS devices.
SCSI (Small Computer System Interface)
A set of standards for a high-speed, parallel interface that connects processing devices to peripheral devices, such as storage subsystems. The acronym is pronounced \"scuzzy.\"
SCSI ID (Small Computer Systems Interface Address)
An address on a SCSI BUS. Typically there are 16 addresses on a single channel SCSI BUS.
Server
A powerful, centralized computer (or program) designed to provide information to clients (smaller computers or programs) upon request.
Serviceability
A RAS attribute that refers to a component that is designed to accurately diagnose and report failures, as well as minimize downtime in a storage solution. See also RAS.
Setup Wizard
A tool for initially configuring the library. It appears the first time the user starts the library. However, it can be used to modify configurable items anytime after the initial configuration.
Sled
See UDS.
SMI-S (Storage Management Initiative Specification)
An industry standard SMI-S application programming interface (API) that facilitates the management of multi-vendor devices in a storage area networks (SANs) environment.
Snapshot
A rapid, point-in-time image of a volume created initially on the same disk as the original by duplicating metadata rather than copying the full data set. Snapshots are often used to protect against data corruption (viruses, etc.) or to create test or pre-production environments. Snapshots are also often used as a first step for creating non-disruptive point-in-time backups, and for copying datasets to a second disk to create a full duplicate copy of the volume. Snapshots are created on disk, and in the same format as the original data. Snapshots are also referred to as point-in-time copies and as shadow copies.
SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol)
The protocol governing network management and the monitoring of network devices and their functions. Similar in function to SAM, except SNMP governs LAN, whereas SAM governs SAN.
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer)
A protocol that provides encrypted communications on the Internet. SSL is layered beneath application protocols such as HTTP, SMTP, Telnet, FTP, Gopher, and NNTP and is layered above the connection protocol TCP/IP.
Storage device
An appliance containing data that can be accessed, added to, changed, or deleted by the user. The storage media types include tapes and optical disks. A storage device can be a single disk drive, or constitute thousands of tapes in a large tape library.
Storage slot
The physical home where a data cartridge resides.
Subsystem status
A feature that provides predictive alerts, warning of any loss of connectivity or device failure using local or remote alerts. Subsystem status allows administrators to correct faults before they affect backup or other data transfer operations.
A device that spins disks and tapes while it reads and writes data in storage.
TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol)
The communications protocol used by the Internet. It runs on top of Ethernet to provide high-level networking services to applications.
Topology
The logical and/or physical arrangement of stations on a network.
Trap
An SNMP alert that is sent when predefined conditions are met. For example, an error trap tests for an error condition and provides a recovery routine.
The hardware that houses Fibre Channel and SCSI tape drives in a module.
User ID
A alphanumeric value that the password database associates with a login name.
A common type of data storage medium, in which data can be read and reread, but not altered, after it has been recorded.
WWNN (World Wide Node Name)
A unique number assigned by a recognized naming authority. The WWNN is integral to Fibre Channel operations.
WWPN (World Wide Port Name)
The WWPN is a 64-bit, hard-coded address for each port on an FC-connected device. It is used to identify available SAN devices at end points.
The horizontal position of the library’s robotic arm.
The vertical position of the library’s robotic arm.