In locations where it is difficult to configure and manage tapes because of operational issues, Plug and Play (PnP) storage devices (for example, FireWire, USB, SATA storage devices, and so on) can be used for storage instead of tapes. Once the PnP disks are configured, they are treated like tapes in a stand-alone drive.
Disk devices that do not retain the operating system drive letter when they are disconnected or unloaded can be configured as PnP disk libraries (for example, USB flash drives, and so on).
Notes
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Support for devices like USB, FireWire, and SATA storage devices is not dependent on any specific vendor make or model. These devices are considered supported as long as the host operating system detects the devices as disk targets. Therefore, these device types are not listed within the Tape Storage Compatibility Matrix.
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PnP libraries are supported on physical MediaAgent computers running Windows. PnP libraries cannot be supported on MediaAgents installed in a virtual machine (VM), as the hypervisor software does not share USB ports with VMs.
Create a PnP Library
Use the following procedure to create a PnP library using the command-line interface.
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Download the create_pnp_library.xml file and save it on the computer where the command is run.
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Open the XML file.
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Change the XML parameters.
Attribute
Description
mediaAgentName
The name of the MediaAgent.
libraryName
The value must be the name or serial number of a configured tape library.
libSerialNumber
The value must be PnP in order to create a PnP library.
Example: Use this example XML file to create a PnP library with PnP serial number "00000001" in a library with name "Library1" and MediaAgent name "MA1".
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Run the following command from the <software installation directory>\Base folder.
qoperation execute -af <downloaded location>\create_pnp_library.xml
Click here to see sample output.