Replacing Meridian Mail Tape Drive on Opt.81C

[mindamartine]

Tape drive died (won't back up to any tapes)and I have a spare (exact part numbers-NT6P05AA and same Archive P/N).
Meridian Mail EC-MMP40 platform/ RLS 12.11.3e
I have replaced hard drives before but never a tape drive. I have been trying to find the "official" process for replacing it, but, no luck.
My plan is to courtesy down hard drive and then shut down power to mail and then tier. Slide out old tape drive (just like any card) and then slide the new one in and power everything back up. Does this sound right? Am I missing anything?
Thanks so much in advance for your help!

Minda

 

[Firebird Scrambler]

Although I've never done a hard disk replacement on the larger cubes, My thoughts would be to disable the AML link first in LD 48.
Power down the Mail cube and replace the hard disk as you have suggested making sure that any pin strapping on the replacement disk is the same etc.
Put in the mail installation tape before you power up so that the mail system sees the installation tape and loads it up to the main Mail menu options.

Assuming that your backup tape was a full backup, then find the option to do a full reload, which could require you to get some refreshments whilst you wait as this process can take a couple of hours. Once finished, remove the installation tape and I think it's best to leave the tape drive empty when you power it up again. Hopefully, your mail will start working again. You might need to enalble the AML link in LD 48 after you have started to power up the Mail cube.

All the best

Firebird Scrambler
Meridian 1 / Succession and BCM / Norstar Programmer in the UK

http://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbromley

If it's working, then leave it alone!.

 

[mindamartine]

Firebird,
The backup tape drive is not working and I am replacing it. The hard drive is fine and Mail is working, I just can't back up to any tapes.

 

[Firebird Scrambler]

Sorry, in that case it should be fine to disable the AML link and power down the Mail cube. Swap out the Tape drive and poer it back up again.

All the best

Firebird Scrambler
Meridian 1 / Succession and BCM / Norstar Programmer in the UK

http://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbromley

If it's working, then leave it alone!.