Tandberg autoloaders are almost exclusively shipped with HP tape drives. As such, the best utility for testing the operation of an autoloaders tape drive is the HP StorageWorks Library and Tape Tools (L&TT).

The L&TT utility is available from the HP website. The tool may be updated by HP at any time, so it is advisable to download the latest version each time you need to use it. Updates to the HP website and L&TT utility are beyond RM's control, but the following information is correct at the time of authoring this article.

To obtain the L&TT utility:

1. Click the following link: HP Tape Tool.
2. In the new window click the link corresponding to the operating system used on the media server to which the autoloader is attached.
3. Locate the description "HP Library and Tape Tools (American, International)" click the Download button.
4. Save the exe file to your media server.
5. Double-click the exe file to install the tool, accepting any default settings.

1. Before using the L&TT utility, you must disable any services which may also attempt to access the autoloader and/or tape drive. For most customers, this will involve stopping the Backup Exec services on the media server.
2. Once the services are stopped, open the L&TT utility.
3. Accept the default settings and click Continue, the utility will now detect and identify your hardware.

L&TT initial hardware scan

Your autoloader and library are now detected.

Autoloader and drive info

If you select the drive and click the Test button, a number of standard diagnostic tests become available as shown below. These tests are useful in identifying the hardware issues. They can also be used to test the tape drive and the backup media's capabilities, independent of any backup software. E.g. You can use the Data compression test to confirm the capacity of a tape.

List of available tests

Clicking the Support button and then the View Support Ticket button generates a detailed report on the status of your autoloader and tape drive. The Save Support Ticket option allows you to save the information to a local file which can then be emailed to Tandberg support if requested.

Support options

Please see the image below for a sample Support Ticket report.

A sample support ticket - providing details on the hardware in use and it's status