Tape drive replacement procedure

Problem(Abstract)
After replacing a drive, you may receive the message "ANR8963E - Unable to find path to match the serial number defined for drive drive_name in library library_name ."

Cause
Since IBM Tivoli Storage Manager version 5.2.0.0, the server checks drive serial numbers when initializing them at startup. If the serial number for a drive has changed because a drive was replaced, it will return message ANR8963E and will put the path offline.

Resolving the problem
To correct the drive definition a few steps will be required.
First, depending on the library model, the library may need to be recycled if the drive is hot-swap and was replaced while the library was powered on. Some libraries keep the serial number of the drives in memory and that information is only refreshed during the power on cycle of the library.

Second, the device will need to be properly configured in the OS. In Windows, the old tape drive will be automatically removed and the new one added with plug-n-play. However, it is important to check in Device Manager to ensure the new tape drive is assigned the proper driver.

In AIX, the old drive should be removed. For IBM drives, the command will be:
rmdev -l rmt# -d
For drives managed by Tivoli Storage Manager, both the mt# and rmt# devices will need to be deleted:
rmdev -l mt# -d
rmdev -l rmt# -d

The run config manager (cfgmgr) to detect the new device. For drives managed by Tivoli Storage Manager, the new drive will also need to be defined as a Tivoli Storage Manager Device in SMIT.

Third, the path definition will need to be updated in the server using the following administrative command:

UPDate PATH source_name destination_name SRCType=SERVer AUTODetect=Yes DESTType=DRive LIBRary=library_name ONLine=Yes

As documented in the help for the UPDATE PATH command, AUTODETECT=YES specifies that the serial number will be automatically updated to reflect the same serial number that the drive reports to IBM Tivoli Storage Manager.
Depending on the capabilities of the device, the AUTODETECT parameter may not be supported. In such a case, you will need to follow the following procedure:

Start by getting the current configuration by using the output of the following commands:
Q DRIVE FORMAT=DETAIL
Q LIBRARY FORMAT=DETAIL
Q PATH FORMAT=DETAIL

Delete the path for that drive. If the library is shared or you are using storage agents, delete the path for that same drive for the library clients and the storage agents as well.
Delete the drive.
Define the drive again. If you use the options SERIAL and ELEMENT, use the value
AUTODETECT so that the server can retrieve the serial number and element number from the device when the path is online.

Finally, define the path again. If the library is shared or if storage agents are used, you also need to define the paths for the library clients and the storage agents to that drive.