SL8500 Electronics and Cartridge Handling Mechanisms

PTR/INT StorageTek SL8500 Modular Library System Install and Maint 1 - 1
Welcome to the SL8500 Electronics and Cartridge Handling Mechanisms Course. This
course provides high-level information about the SL8500 library such as an overview of the
system block diagram, Electronics Control Module, or (ECM), Pass-thru PTP, CAP, Elevator
and HandBot operations. It is primarily intended for global Technical Support Center and
Field Support Engineers. While other audiences may take this course, it is part of the Tape
Library Advocate Accreditation.
Let’s begin by examining the topics covered in this course.
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Please take a moment to review the objectives shown on screen.

This is a block diagram of an SL8500 modular library system.
Throughout this course, this product is variedly called:

• SL8500 modular library system
• SL8500 library
• SL8500, and
• Library
All of these terms mean the same unless stated otherwise.

Using the Block Diagram and moving from right to left, the Customer Interface Module
(CIM) is the first module in the library. This module contains:
•648 data cartridges
•198 slots for diagnostics and cleaning cartridges
•24 end slots (which is eight 3-slot arrays) for targeting and drop-off cells
•One LED display and keypad
•An optional touch screen Operator Control Panel
•Two “Load Sharing” DC Power Supplies
•One service safety door for maintenance activities (which is also an optional feature)
•One standard “Cartridge Access Port” (CAP), and
•Two elevator assemblies that can transfer up to four cartridges from one
rail to another.

Moving from right to left, the next module in the library is the Storage Expansion Module
(SEM). The SL8500 library can accommodate up to five of these modules. Each SEM adds
1,728 customer usable data cartridge slots.

The Robotics Interface Module (RIM) is the next module and contains:
•800 data cartridge slots

•Pass-thru Ports (PTPs) (4 or 8 assemblies)
•Drive bay, robotic access to drives, and an
•ERS switch

The Drive and Electronics Module (DEM) is the last module in the library and contains the:
• AC power distribution units

• Electronics Control Module (ECM)
• Load Sharing DC Power Supplies
• Accessory Racks (1 to 4)
• Slots for 1 to 64 tape drives
• Internal ethernet switch, and a
• Smoke detector

The next section covers high-level information about the ECM.

Each library contains an ECM in the DEM. The ECM includes the cards shown in this table.
Some of these cards are also contained in the SL3000 Tape library. These cards are
covered in the next course of this accreditation.

The Redundant Electronics (RE) feature, contains two sets of logic cards for redundancy
and high availability.

The HBC/HBCR card is the library controller, responsible for coordinating all component
operations in the library.
This card provides the interface between the:
•Host interface and the library
•Library-to-library LANs
•Rail signal interfaces for the HandBots, and
•Environmental monitoring of circuits throughout the library
The HBC/HBCR card operates at a voltage of +3.3 volts of direct current. Although one
HBC/HBCR card can control the operations of a library, with the RE feature, an additional
HBC/HBCR card is available for redundancy.

The HBC/HBCR card also acts as an interface with the:
•Internal ethernet switch
•TCP/IP host interface
•HBS cards for robotic control
•Environmental monitoring circuits, and the
•Smoke detector

A CompactPCI (cPCI) system is a connection method where all boards are connected via a
passive PCI backplane, in other words, a computer bus. The HBM card is the backplane
and/or motherboard for the ECM.
The HBM backplane provides the cPCI bus for Library controller card, the HBC/HBCR,
through the HBX card and for the Tape-drive controller card, the HBT, through the HBY
card.

If the HBC controller card needs to be replaced, having the information available on the
HBK card prevents the need for a reconfiguration to restore the information to the control
card.
The HBK card is located behind a plate in the upper-left portion of the ECM card cage. The
HBK card contains flash memory that stores the library configuration, upgrade control
features for the library, passwords and world-wide name.
If this card is replaced, reactivate passwords and reconfigure the library.
The HBK card also holds both the recently activated firmware version and the previous
firmware version in flash memory.

The Redundant Electronics, (RE) feature consists of:
•A second pair of HBC/HBCR and HBT controller cards
•Two ECM cPCI power supplies
•One ECM fan
•One PUE Ethernet switch and supporting cables, and
•Four HBS modules
Not all libraries in the complex need to be equipped with the Redundant Electronics
feature.
The RE feature has minimum system requirements. The latest requirements are found in the
documentation.

This section provides information about the robotic “HandBots” in the library.

To begin, the robotic systems in the SL8500 are called StreamLine HandBot High-
Performance Robotics, or HandBots.
Each SL8500 has four separate robotic rail assemblies called the StreamLine RaceTrack
architecture. Think of the architecture of the SL8500 as four separate Library Storage
Modules (LSMs). Each rail and associated HandBot, or HandBots in the case of dual
robotics, together are considered an LSM. These four separate and unique LSMs work in
parallel in a single library. The rail assemblies provide power and communication signals to
their own individual robotic systems.
The HandBots are a shared resource of the library under control of the HBC/HBCR card.
Each HandBot can service up to 16 tape drives and all of the tape cartridges for that rail.
Two elevators span the four rail assemblies in each library. These elevators perform an
internal pass-thru port operation that enables any tape cartridge to have access to any tape
drive in the library and or library complex and enables joining adjacent rails to create larger

partitions.
The rail assemblies provide 48 volt DC power and a communication path to controller
cards (HBC and HBS) through power-line communication (PLC).

There are two HandBot configurations. One has four HandBots (one per rail), and the other
consists of eight HandBots (two per rail). This is an optional feature known as dual
HandBots. The SL8500 library can have either one or two HandBots per rail.
Keep in mind, the HandBots don't live any particular module, they traverse the entire rail
including the DEM, RIM, SEMs and CIM.
Each SL8500 has four separate robotic rail assemblies. Rail assemblies―also known as
Library Storage Modules―are numbered from top to bottom. Rail numbers are 1 to 4 while
corresponding LSM numbers are 0 to 3.

The major components of the robotic system include those shown on screen. Please take a
moment to review the list.
The HandBots themselves contain the following components and operational characteristics:
• A Z mechanism for vertical motion of the hand
• Wrist mechanism (using a motor, belt, and pulley) that swings the hand 180 degrees for
lateral motion
• A laser bar-code line scanner both for position calibration and for reading of volume identifier
(VOLID) labels
• A proximity sensor for the detection of empty slots and unlabeled cartridges (this is
calibrated on the slot under the bar code label on each 3-slot array)
• A belt-driven gripper mechanism (gripping is done on the sides of the cartridge)
• An HBB controller card, and
• Metallic brush wipers that contact two exposed metal strips on each rail assembly.

The robotic system in an SL8500 library consists of four or eight HandBots that work in
parallel to achieve an increase in throughput—or cartridge exchange rates—by allowing
each robot to operate independently, servicing multiple mount requests can occur at the
same time to improve performance.
To optimize system performance, the HandBots automatically implement the Fast Load
capability. This means when a HandBot successfully inserts a tape cartridge into a drive, it
is immediately available for the next request and does not wait until the drive reports that
the cartridge has been loaded.
In non-fast load mode, the SL8500 library control electronics wait to return the response to
the mount request until it detects that the tape drive has successfully loaded the cartridge
tape.

This block diagram shows the components of the HandBot. This diagram is shown for
information purposes only.
If any component fails, the HandBot is replaced as a unit.

This table lists the addresses and locations for the HandBots. This is helpful information when
looking at SLC screens and/or troubleshooting.

If entering the library there are some necessary precautions.
1. Push or pull the HandBot out of harm’s way one at a time starting with the lowest rail.
2. Use the upper part of the HandBot assembly (such as the Z-tube or other metallic part)
to prevent applying torque or twisting.
3. Do not force the HandBot in any direction if movement is restricted.
4. Do not grab the flex cable or any wires to move the HandBots.
5. When leaving the library, make sure there are no foreign objects or tools left inside and
that all tape cartridge are fully inserted in the slots.

With the 8-HandBot feature, two HandBots can service a single rail section in the library,
thereby providing redundancy.
If one HandBot fails, it takes itself offline and moves either to the right or left maintenance
area.
The other HandBot then accepts responsibility for operations on that rail. HandBot
operations can then continue until the defective one is replaced.

The next section provides information about the PTPs and Elevators.

As mentioned earlier, the SL8500 library has two types of pass-thru mechanisms:
• Horizontal: which is a PTP feature that moves cartridges between libraries, and
• Vertical: which is an elevator that moves cartridges between rails.
Connecting libraries together with PTPs creates an SL8500 Library Complex.
Elevators are essentially pass through ports within the library to pass cartridges vertically
from one LSM to another, that is from rail to rail.
The PTP feature allows the connection of libraries to create a Library Complex. Currently,
the SL8500 library can support up to 10 libraries in a complex. There are several complexes
with10 libraries in production that have been tested.

Specifically defined, a PTP mechanism is an electro-mechanical device that allows one
LSM to pass a cartridge to another LSM in the same complex. Power for the PTPs comes from
the same 48 volt DC power bus as the rails.
For example: If a host issues a mount request, and if all of the tape drives are busy in that
library, the pass-thru port can pass the cartridge to another library where an idle tape drive
can satisfy the mount request.
•All SL8500 libraries come equipped and ready for the addition of the PTP frame and feature. No
additional walls are needed.
•Both the N+1 and 2N power configurations currently support PTP hardware. No additional power
supplies are needed.

The SL8500 pass-thru port feature consists of a separate frame that is installed between
the DEM and the RIM of one library and the same modules of an adjacent library. Each PTP
frame has four separate mechanisms that can pass up to two cartridges—per LSM—
between the libraries. There are eight PTP locations in an SL8500 library, two per rail (or
LSM). These locations are on the curved portions of the RIM near the tape drives.
Remember that each rail is equivalent to an LSM; therefore, each library has a minimum of
four PTPs (in one frame assembly) when connected to a single SL8500. If one library is
connected between two libraries, it has eight PTPs (two frame assemblies.)
The following are highlights (in review) of the PTP feature:

•The SL8500 pass-thru port feature is a separate frame that installs between the DEM/RIM of one
library and the same modules of an adjacent library.
•Each PTP frame is physically one unit, but it contains four individual PTP mechanisms.
•The PTP locations are at columns plus 6 and minus 6.
•These locations are the in the curved portions of the RIM near the tape drives.

•All SL8500 libraries are equipped for the addition of the PTP frame.
•Each PTP frame has four separate mechanisms that pass a maximum of two cartridges for
each LSM.

•Connecting libraries with pass-thru ports creates an SL8500 library complex.
•There are up to eight PTP locations in a library, two per rail, if a library is to the right and left of
the reference library.
•Both ACSLS and HSC support pass-thru ports.
•Existing libraries can remain operational while attaching the PTP frame to them during installation
of an adjacent library.
•If service is required, the PTP mechanism slides out of the frame from the rear of the library.
•The “home” library (on the right when viewed from the front) provides power and communications
to the PTP mechanism.

PTP addressing follows the same notation as other SL8500 components as outlined here.
• Library elevators—an internal PTP—are considered to be on Panel number zero.

• External PTPs, which are those between libraries, are considered to be on Panel number
1.

Some important terms and definitions apply to SL8500 PTP operations.
The Home library refers to the library that provides power, signal, and control lines to the
PTP mechanisms. This is the library on the right as viewed from the front. “Away Library” is
the library that is always located on the left side of a “Home Library”, as viewed from the
front. The “Source” is the home slot location containing the cartridge that will be passed
through to an adjacent library.
And finally the “destination” is the drive or slot location in the adjacent library where the
cartridge will be mounted or stored.

The service feature allows the SL8500 to continue operation. If service is required, the PTP
mechanism slides out of the frame from the rear of the library.
Because there are four pass-thru ports in each library, the cartridges can be re-routed using
the elevator to another rail and a different PTP to complete the operation.
The PTP mechanism is a self-contained device that uses +48 volt DC motors to position
and move a two-slot array in a Y-shaped track.
A mechanical switch and sensors on each side of the track determine the location of the
array (either home or away). The components of the PTP are noted on screen.

This photograph shows a library complex with six SL8500 libraries connected with pass-thru
ports. Planning ahead for the addition of libraries is extremely important.
The library complex can “grow” in either direction—left or right. But the preferred method of
adding libraries to an existing library is to add the new library to the left when viewed from
the front. This method does not require an address reconfiguration.
The library complex can grow in the other direction—to the right. But this requires a
disruption to the system to renumber the LSMs and reconfigure the management software.

This figure shows an example of three libraries connected with PTPs.
•Number one is the rack power distribution unit (PDU)

•Two is the AC transfer switch (redundant configuration)
•Three the Ethernet switch
•Number four, the Ethernet switch cables and connections to Port 1A
•Number five is Port 1A: Library-to-library ILC connection and
•Six is the Port 2B: the Primary host connection and finally,
•Number seven is the HBC card.
The HBC card provides the interface connection for communication to the:
•Hosts and library management software through Port 2B, and
•Communications between the additional libraries in the complex through Port 1A

The connection scheme is such that:
1. Port 2B of Library 1 provides the primary interface with the host Ethernet connections
for all libraries.
2. And Port 1A of Library 1 goes to an Ethernet switch in Rack 2. This Ethernet switch
provides the “private network” for all other libraries in the complex.

To implement the pass-thru port feature, one accessory rack is required and customers can
and do use two racks for power redundancy. An Inter-Library Communications kit or (ILC) is
also required.
Each kit supports up to five libraries that connect to form a complex. If the customer has
more than five libraries, another ILC kit is needed.

The SL8500 library features two elevators that provide vertical pass-thru operations
between library storage modules in the same library.
• Each of the four LSMs shares the resources of the two elevators.
• There is one elevator on the left and one elevator on the right located in the front of
the library between the front access doors and the service safety door.
Remember elevators provide vertical pass-thru operations between adjacent LSMs.
It is important to note that because the SL8500 has four LSMs, administrators must specify the
elevators as PTPs to each of the adjacent LSMs in the same library.

Two standard elevator assemblies:
•Service both sides of the U-shaped library

•Vertically transport up to four cartridges at a time across rail boundaries
•Are used to move cartridges from one rail to another, and
•Work with the CAP during import and export operations
Moving cartridges vertically from one rail to another is the equivalent of a pass-through
operation because rails are equivalent to independent LSMs. Elevators can also be used as
a staging or holding area for cartridges that are involved in an import or export operation.
•A 48 volt DC HBV card provides power for both the elevator and turntable assemblies.
•The HBZ card controls operations of elevator assemblies.
•The library can run on only one HBZ module; however, a second HBZ is needed if there is
a second CAP (CAP B).

This section provides an introduction to single and dual CAPs in a library.

The right front door of the library contains either one standard CAP assembly (CAP A) and a
cover screen or two CAP assemblies (CAP A and B), depending on the customer’s
configuration.
The standard CAP, controller and elevator are designated by the number 1, while the
optional second elevator, CAP, and HBZ controller on the right are collectively designated
as number 2, which is used for the second CAP operation. When using the optional HBZ, it
controls the right elevator, CAP B, while the standard HBZ card controls the left elevator,
CAP A.

The left HBZ controls two elevators, CAP A, and the service safety door while the second,
or right HBZ, controls CAP B and takes over control of the right elevator operation.

The HBZ controls the CAP, both elevators, and the Service Safety Door as well as
communicates with the HBC. It also handles all switch and motor control functions.

The device address of each CAP is identified as shown here. The numbers to the right of
the equal sign represent the possible numbers. The library address in a complex is any
number from 1 through 10 while the rail would be numbered 2 through 4. The columns can
only be the numbers listed and the rows are represented by 1 through 13.
For example, if loading a row of cartridges into CAP B, Rail 2, Column 23, row 6 of Library 4
in a complex, the device address of the row would be: 4,2,23,1,6.

In dual CAP mode, the second HBZ controls CAP B and the right side elevator. If the
second CAP reboots it results in the reboot of the second HBZ module.

Websites sometimes change. Therefore, for the most up-to-date list of references, check
the Tape Library Advocate Accreditation Resources Document found from the link shown on
screen. It is also included in the employee development plan for the Tape Library Advocate
Accreditation.
48
This concludes our course.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about the SL8500 Modular Library System.

SL8500 Electronics and Cartridge Handling Mechanisms

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PTR/INT StorageTek SL8500 Modular Library System Install and Maint 1 - 1

Let’s begin by examining the topics covered in this course.

PTR/INT StorageTek SL8500 Modular Library System Install and Maint 1 - 3

Throughout this course, this product is variedly called:

All of these terms mean the same unless stated otherwise.

PTR/INT StorageTek SL8500 Modular Library System Install and Maint 6 - 4

PTR/INT StorageTek SL8500 Modular Library System Install and Maint 6 - 5

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•800 data cartridge slots

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• AC power distribution units

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If this card is replaced, reactivate passwords and reconfigure the library.

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If any component fails, the HandBot is replaced as a unit.

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Connecting libraries together with PTPs creates an SL8500 Library Complex.

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The following are highlights (in review) of the PTP feature:

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• Library elevators—an internal PTP—are considered to be on Panel number zero.

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•Number one is the rack power distribution unit (PDU)

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Remember elevators provide vertical pass-thru operations between adjacent LSMs.

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•Service both sides of the U-shaped library

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