Can it be done, yes. What type of connectivity do you have to the
autoloader? SCSI HVD, LVD or Fiber? You will need to put a switch in
line between the servers and the autoloader. You will have to vary off
the tape on the iSeries before switching the drive. You cannot write
from multiple servers at the same time. If your connection is fiber and
you have a fiber switch, you may be able to automate the process of
varying on the drive, waiting for the varied on status, backup, vary
off, signaling the PC servers that the drive is available...
Good luck and used LTO-2 drive are cheap so I would look into that
route.
Chris Bipes
Director of Information Services
CrossCheck, Inc.
-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[
mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Smith, Mike
Sent: Friday, June 15, 2007 7:25 AM
To: midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Sharing tape drive
My boss came to be with this idea today. I don't know if it is
possible, so I thought I would throw it out.
We have an 3581 Autoloader tape drive. We also have some old tape
drives for backups on our windows servers. He is concerned about these
older windows tape drives dying. So he had the thought of being able to
share the tape drive between the Iseries and the windows servers. Does
anyone know if this is possible? Pros-Cons of doing this if it is
possible. I've been searching this morning, but haven't found anything.
Is there is a link someone can point me to?
midrange.com
