l700 maintenance instructions

The StorageTek L700

How to maintain it, including the differences in the L180.

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The L700, an overview.

• This presentation is going to show you how to replace the parts and drives in an L700 library.

• There are two components that are likely to be replaced most, the Drives and the Hand Assembly.

• We will look at them first but will go through the replacement procedures for all parts

• The Drives that can be installed are DLT 7000, DLT 8000,SDLT, LTO 1, LTO2, 9840,9940 and T10000• The drives can be SCSI HVD or LVD, Fiber or in the case of the 9840 they can also be ECSON which increases

the flexibility for the customer.

• The L700 can operate on SCSI HVD, LVD with and additional adapter card installed or 2Gb fiber also with the addition of a fiber channel adapter card.

• The L700 can hold up to 20 drives maximum (DLT SDLT or LTO) and a max of 12 9840, 9940, T10000.

• The L1400 can double the Tape capacity by the addition of a Pass through Port.• The L180 can hold a maximum of 6 drives.

• TOOLS REQUIRED• Torx Drivers T10,T15,T20 & T25• Small flat blade screw driver

L700 Drive Bay

• This picture shows an L700 with a single drive tower which can hold a maximum of 10 drives if they are DLT,SDLT,LTO.

• This picture actually shows two DLT drives in position. The interface could be SCSI, Fiber or ESCON

• One has the SCSI cable removed in anticipation of withdrawing the drive.

• The lower drive still has the SCSI cable plugged in underneath the drive tray.

• In order to remove the drive we must ensure the drive is offline to the system. Then switch Off the drive. Then by unscrewing the Black knurled knob which is just below to the left of the power switch.

• You can then carefully withdraw the drive whilst making sure that the scsi cables are clear of the drive you are removing.

• This picture only shows two drives for clarity

Removing drive from tray

• Now you have the drive and tray removed from the L700 and on the bench.

• To remove the drive you must first take out the five screws holding the power supply cover on.

• With the cover removed disconnect the cables from the drive.

• Then turn the drive tray over and remove the four screws securing the drive to the tray. You will need a T10 TORX for this.

• Fit the replacement drive using the reverse procedure.

• NOTE - LTO drives fit on a very similar tray so the procedure is the same.

• Reinsert the drive into the library connect SCSI cable and power up drive.

L700 Drive replacement

• Once you have replaced the drive and have it powered up, you then need to check the drive address on the operator panel.

• The L700 and L180 has a tendency to default the drive address to 0 when a drive is removed. Especially if you have had the L700 powered down.

• Go to the Operator Display and select the Main Menu. From there select Configuration, when you are in the Configuration menu select Drive Config.

L700 Drive replacement

• Once you have selected the drive that you have replaced. Observe the Drive ID, this is the drive address seen by the customer.

• As I said before it does at times default to zero.• With the scroll buttons change the ID to the one the

customer requires. • Having done this you then need to save that

information. This is done by pressing the select button. The save may take about 45 seconds.

• You can now hand the drive back to the customer and ask him to put the drive on line and if possible get the customer to run a job using that drive.

• Close the side door of the library upon completion.

The L700 robotics

The L700 robotics are generally fairly simple to maintain.

The most likely problem is going to be the hand assembly and therefore we will look at removal and replacement of this first. This come off in one piece.

First we need to gain access to the library. The left door is secured by two locks, both must be used. Failing to secure the bottom lock can cause targeting errors on the door.

Open the door will put the library OFF LINE, therefore clear it with the operators before doing so.

Before you remove the power from the L700 make sure that no jobs are running on the tape drives because removing the power also affects the drives.

Depending upon the number of drives installed you may find there are two power supplies installed.

Both of these need to be OFF.

You are now in a position to remove the HAND Assembly. This is held in place by four T15 TORX screws. The hand also locates on two pegs.

Some Z columns have holes in them which allow you to put a pin through the column to support the balance weight and allows you to work on the hand at waist height.

The L700 robotics

This picture shows the two locating pegs and the two screws on the top of the Hand

Further to these two screws there are two others at the back lower edge of the Hand.

Note: before completely removing the Hand Assy you must disconnect the two ribbon cables shown here.

Now we can continue to remove the hand by removing the two screws at the back lower edges of the hand.

The L700 robotics

• With these four screw removed and the ribbon cables disconnected, you can now lift the hand assembly off of its carriage. BEWARE not all Z columns have the holes drilled through them.

• If this is the case then you must raise the whole assembly to the top of the Z column and lift the Hand off from there. The balance weight will now be at the bottom.

• When replacing the hand make sure that the ribbon cables lock in securely.

• Note pin in place supporting balance weight.

REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF COMPONENTS IN THE L700

REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF THE THETA AND Z MOTOR.

THE Z MOTOR

1. If your Z column has a pin through it to support the balance weight, insert the pin so the balance weight is supported.

2. Removed the hand assembly and place in a safe place.

3. Remove the two ribbon cables from the PRX card to the hand Assy and allow them to hang down.

4. Unplug the Tacho cable and the power cable for the Z motor.

5. Disconnect the two white ribbon cables from the PRX card which go into the drum.

6. Now remove the PRX card which is held in place with 6 x T15 screws.

7. Placed the PRX card in a safe place.

8. Remove the belt tensioner, take care not to lose the springs and retain the two shoulder screws for reinstallation

9. You will now have enough slack in the belt to lift it clear of the Z motor.


You can now remove the four screws that secure the Z motor. Putting your TORX driver through the holes exposed when the PRX card was removed.

I recommend that your TORX driver is magnetic so as to assist in the safe removal and replacement of these four screws.

Observe how the Z belt lays over the edge of the tower. This diagram shows the tensioner in place but, it is only loosely fitted in order to not lose any parts.

The replacement procedure is the reverse of this routine but ensure that the power and Tacho cable are routed the correct side of the motor so they plug into the PRX card correctly. You will observe that these cable are tie wrapped around the motor. DO NOT REMOVE THE TIE WRAP.

Please observe how the cables are routed to the PRX card. Both cables pass between the two sockets for the Hand assembly ribbon cables

Reinstall the Z belts and refit the tensioner,

Reconnect the ribbon cables for the Hand Assembly.

Refit the Hand Assembly, check no tools are left inside the library secure the door and power up.

The library should the calibrate its self and carry out a cell audit.


• THE THETA MOTOR• The Theta motor and bracket come off as one complete unit.• The motor bracket has a built in belt tensioner.• Before attempting removal of the theta motor you need to

release the belt tension. This is carried out by slackening off the two screws identified here. Use a T25 TORX

• DO NOT REMOVE THESE SCREWS.• Compress the spring tension and then retighten these screws,

this will give enough slack in the belt to assist removal of the belt.

• Free the belt from the pulley and allow to drop free.

• Next you must remove the cartridge array immediately below the motor.

• Press in the latch which holds the array in place an lift it upwards to remove it.

• Lift the array off and place in a safe place. This gives you room to take out the Theta motor.

• Identify the three screws which secure the bracket to the library roof . There are tow in the front near the tension screws and one in the center at the rear.

• Disconnect the Tacho and po5wer cable cut the tie wrap that keeps the cables close to the roof. Then remove the three screws with you T25 TORX driver.


• When you fit the new THETA Motor check that the Belt tension springs are compressed while you are installing it. This make the belt placement much easier.

• Loop the belt over the pulley and then secure the THETA motor into position. Do not tension the belt yet.

• Before setting tension on the belt, check that you do not have a twist in the belt and also ensure that the belt is laying flat around the drum on the top of the column. Observe how the belt comes from either side of the flange around the drum.

• Now you can slacken back the two tension screws on the theta motor bracket and let the springs take up the desired belt tension. Then tighten these screws again.

• Finally rotate the Z column by hand to ensure everything runs smoothly.


• REMOVAL OF A POWER SUPPLY• Depending upon the number of drives installed in

your library, you may find that you have two power supplies. If your library has only a maximum of 10 drives then only one power supply is necessary.

• The Power supplies are fitted below the Controller board. This picture shows one fitted power supply but two Power distribution boxes with the power switch. There is a short flexible cable between the PDU and the Power supply.

• To remove the power supply you must first remove the fans located between the power supply and the controller board (MPC card)

• There are four screws holding the Power supply in place. Two are behind the fan enclosure and the other two are located at the bottom of the power supply. When the screws are remover the power supply pulls out and releases from the socket behind it.


REMOVAL OF THE CONTROLLER CARD(MPC/MPCL) • The controller in the L700 is known as the MPC card

where the one in the L700e is an MPCL. These cards although they appear the same are NOT interchangeable.

• To gain access to the MPC card you must remove the six cover screws as shown here.

• The MPC card comes out complete with the case it is mounted in. There are four T20 screw which hold the case in place. They are shown here.

• Disconnect the cables that are attached to the MPC card and pull them clear of the case.

• Before removing the MPC card first remove the Fan assembly below by releasing the two T15 screws and pull the fans out.


• THE Controller continued.• This picture shows the expansion card which is

required if you have 10 to 20 drives installed. • The two ribbon cables in the picture are the sense

cable connections from the drives. If you have only 10 drives The expansion card and the left hand ribbon cable will not be there.

• Disconnect all the cables indicated cutting the tie wraps where necessary and pull them free from the case

• If the controller is SCSI connected then the scsi cable must be removed from the outside of the case.

• You are now in a position to loosen the four T20 screws indicated in the previous picture.

• Now carefully remove the MPC card complete with case from the library

• NOTE you should have already have removed the fan assembly as previously instructed.

• This picture shows the connector for the second power supply. There is an identical connector behind the primary power supply.


• L700 using a fiber interface.• The L700 can be connected to the Host via

a Fiber interface as well as SCSI. To achieve this a “piggy back” module MPU which is fitted onto the MPC card as shown here.

• This module can contain two fiber cards and they can be either 1Gb or 2Gb.

• These cards are installed into the end of the MPC card as shown. This example is in an L180 library, but it is the same as in an L700.

• The picture shows the Fiber card partially withdrawn for clarity.

• Above this card is a spare slot for a second card if required.

• This presentation is directed at the L700 library, but the procedures are the same for the L180 library and the FRU parts are the same with the exception of the Op panel and also the Z Flex which is shorter.

L700/L180 differences

• The L180 differences.• As I mentioned before with the exception of the Z

Flex and the Operator panel all other FRU parts are identical.

• The Layout is different. At the rear of the L180 you will find a drawer on the left side which pulls out once the screws are removed.

• You will find the Power supply/s the fan assembly and the MPC card exactly as you see them in the L700.

• In this picture you can see the edge of the MPC card with a Fiber card installed.

• To the right of it are the SCSI connections, differential and single ended just as is in the L700.

• There is also provision for the two incoming power supplies.

• This concludes the maintenance instructions which should enable you to maintain the L700 or the L180 and easily find your way around them.

l700 maintenance instructions

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