Swapping LTO drive in Cache-A archive appliance

[Dean Baker]

Hello,
Has anyone successfully swapped a LTO tape drive in a Cache-A appliance? Our HP Ultrium 3000 drive has died and before I go ahead and purchase a refurbished one I thought I should find out if this is doable.
Thanks

[Tom Goldberg]

Hi Dean,

You should have no problem swapping out the tape drive. We used an HP LTO-5 OEM tape mechanism model AQ280A, equivalent to their Ultrium 3000 Half Height SAS Internal Tape Drive.

The only problems you might encounter would be from not ensuring that all connectors and boards are reseated properly. You should also carefully retain and reapply the kapton tape securing the SAS connector to the drive.

Good luck,
Tom

Tom Goldberg
TGCS
30201 Rainbow Hill Rd.
Evergreen, CO 80439
mailto:[email protected]

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[Dean Baker]

Hi Tom,

This is great news as I initially asked ProMAX support if this was possible and their response was “…each LTO drive serial number must be licensed per unit and must be relicensed if a drive was to be swapped. Unfortunately since Cache-A units were end of life, we are not able to relicense the units.”

I thought this was a bit of BS so glad to know it can be done.

I really appreciate your prompt reply and continued input in this forum.

Regards
Dean

[Tom Goldberg]

It is possible that ProMax changed the licensing code in later versions, but in Cache-A’s day (up to v3.4.x) the tape drive serial number was not used for that.

Good luck.

Tom Goldberg
TGCS
30201 Rainbow Hill Rd.
Evergreen, CO 80439
mailto:[email protected]

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[Dean Baker]

Hi Tom,

We have Version 3.4.4 so I have just purchased a drive and we’ll see how we go!

Cheers

[Dean Baker]

It worked!! Thanks Tom!