Release Note для Spectra Logic spectra t120

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Partitions
December 2008
Spectra T950 Library
43
Data Partitions
Data partitions divide the library logically, so that the partitioned library 
looks to the enterprise environment like one or more physical libraries—
one library per configured data partition. The library is partitioned using 
Shared Library Services
 (SLS) virtualization technology that simplifies 
storage consolidation through the creation of virtual libraries, each with its 
own drives and media. 
When partitions are enabled, no external software or hardware tools are 
required to manage mixed media within the library. Instead, the library 
can be configured into separate partitions for each type of media. Each 
partition has exclusive access to the drives and chambers assigned to it. In 
addition, each partition can control the transporter to move media within 
the partition. The library requires, at a minimum, one partition.
In some environments, partitioning the library into multiple virtual 
libraries is crucial to data center efficiency and growth. For example, 
multiple partitions are extremely useful in the following situations:
ƒ If groups within your company use different backup software 
packages, each software package requires its own dedicated library. 
Instead of maintaining multiple physical libraries—one per backup 
package—the data center can use a single Spectra Logic library with 
multiple partitions, in which each partition appears to the software as a 
dedicated library.
ƒ If your company use multiple databases, partitioning the library 
preserves the backup processes associated with each type of database. 
For example, if each department in the company must keep their data 
segregated, partitioning the library supplies this segregation, as well as 
the subsequent integrity of the data set. Each partition can only access 
the drives and cartridge locations assigned to it. Data from other 
partitions cannot become intermixed with the data stored on the media 
in the partition’s inventory.
ƒ If your company uses multiple protocols, such as Fibre Channel and 
Gigabit Ethernet, then each protocol is assigned to its own partition 
within the same physical library.
ƒ If your data center uses multiple types of media, such as LTO and RXT 
media packs, then each media type must have its own partition, each 
with its own drives.
Some of the advantages to running the library as a single partition include:
ƒ Increased drive availability due to the fact that all drives are available to 
all backup processes. For example, if a library has six drives and one 
partition, data can be shared across all drives, speeding data backup. If 
the same library is split into two partitions, some drives may be left idle 
in one partition, while the others are used for a backup process running 
in another partition. 
ƒ No extra costs incurred by software licensing, server requirements, or 
cabling complexities.