Predictika · Data storage
An AI sales agent configures a Quantum Scalar tape library for a customer: the platform (Scalar i3, i6 or i6000), the number of slots, drives and modules, the LTO generation and media, security and availability options, the import/export station, and the native capacity it states. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the figures in the public Scalar Tape Libraries datasheet and returns a verdict, every reason and the figures it computed.
This validator models a Scalar tape library configuration of one platform at a time, based on the public Quantum Scalar Tape Libraries datasheet, not just the scenarios shown below.
Any Scalar library configuration that touches these rules is in scope — not only the scenarios pictured here. Not covered: prices (the datasheet gives none, so this page shows no price build-up), the Scalar i7 RAPTOR, drive interface and cabling choices, software licenses beyond the features named here, and ActiveScale, StorNext and other Quantum products.
7 scenarios in 3 groups · each group runs from the agent’s first attempt to the outcome · click one to switch
Illustrative agent statement. The validator receives the structured request below.
Proposing agent: AI sales agent (scripted)
Before sending, the agent must call Recorded run
What this means
Our assessment of what a typical rules-based CPQ (product rules, price rules and validation rules, as in Salesforce CPQ) does with the same cases. It is a judgment about effort and reliability, not a claim that nothing can be built.
| What the validator caught | Typical rules-based CPQ | Predictika |
|---|---|---|
| Slot ranges and licensing steps that differ by platform | Only with workarounds Each platform has its own minimum, maximum and step, and a quote has to be checked against the one for the platform chosen. A rules-based CPQ needs a table or one rule per platform. | The platform, the slots and the step are compared together on every call. |
| Features that exist on some platforms only | Only with care Ransom Block, the iSCSI bridge, EDLM, data path failover and dual robots each have a different list of platforms, so the rules multiply as options are added. | Each option is checked against the platform in the same request, in any order. |
| Drive generation, media and drive height | Only with care Which generation can read which media, and which height each platform takes, depend on earlier choices. | Drive height, LTO generation and media are compared together on every call. |
| Capacity the quote states | Only with care The stated figure comes from slots times the cartridge capacity of the chosen media, so a rule has to recompute it and compare. | The stated capacity is a field in the request, compared with the computed one on every call. |
| Every problem returned in one answer | Only with workarounds Rules tend to fire as the quote is saved or a step is completed, so a person often fixes one error and meets the next. | All findings come back together, whatever order the choices arrived in. |
Every rule is checked on every call, in any order the choices arrive; one problem never hides another. Blocking findings stop the quote; approval findings need a person to sign off; everything else is computed.
| 1 | 24 slots is below the platform minimum of 25. |
| 2 | 25 slots is below the platform minimum of 50. |
| 3 | 50 slots is below the platform minimum of 100. |
| 4 | 825 slots is above the platform maximum of 800. |
| 5 | 410 slots does not fit the Capacity-on-Demand licensing step of 25 slots for this platform. |
| 6 | 5,050 slots does not fit the Capacity-on-Demand licensing step of 100 slots for this platform. |
| 7 | The datasheet says larger Scalar i6,000 configurations than 14,100 slots are available with qualification; a person should confirm with a Quantum representative. |
| 8 | 25 drives is outside the range of 1 to 24 for this platform. |
| 9 | 0 drives is outside the range of 1 to 24 for this platform. |
| 10 | 193 drives is outside the range of 1 to 192 for this platform. |
| 11 | 17 modules is outside the range of 1 to 16 for this platform. |
| 12 | 9 modules is outside the range of 1 to 8 for this platform. |
| 13 | 21 modules is outside the range of 1 to 20 for this platform. |
| 14 | The datasheet lists no LTO-10 capacity for the Scalar i3. |
| 15 | The Scalar i3 supports half-height LTO drives only, and the Scalar i6 and i6,000 support full-height LTO drives only. |
| 16 | LTO-10 drives do not read or write LTO-9 or earlier generation media. |
| 17 | LTO-9 drives do not read or write LTO-8 Type M (M8) media. |
| 18 | Active/active dual robots are available on the Scalar i6,000 only. |
| 19 | Ransom Block is available on the Scalar i3 and i6 only. |
| 20 | Extended Data Life Management (EDLM) is not available on the Scalar i3. |
The recorded result of the validator for each scenario on this page: the request the AI agent sent, the verdict, and every finding, in the order they appear above.
The agent's request. Please quote a Scalar i3 tape library with 500 slots of LTO-10 (40 TB cartridges) media, 12 full-height drives and 10 modules, for a customer that needs 15,000 TB of native capacity. The import/export station has 25 slots. The options are: Extended Data Life Management (EDLM) and data path failover. The quote states 20,000 TB of native capacity. It is ready to send.
Verdict: Blocked.
The agent's request. Please quote a Scalar i6 tape library with 500 slots of LTO-10 (40 TB cartridges) media, 12 full-height drives and 6 modules, for a customer that needs 15,000 TB of native capacity. The import/export station has 25 slots. The options are: Extended Data Life Management (EDLM) and data path failover. The quote states 20,000 TB of native capacity. It is ready to send.
Verdict: Allowed.
The agent's request. Please quote a Scalar i6 tape library with 600 slots of LTO-9 (18 TB cartridges) media, 16 half-height drives and 6 modules, for a customer that needs 9,000 TB of native capacity. The import/export station has 30 slots. The options are: Extended Data Life Management (EDLM), Ransom Block and LTO-8 Type M media in the library. The quote states 10,800 TB of native capacity. It is ready to send.
Verdict: Blocked.
The agent's request. Please quote a Scalar i6 tape library with 600 slots of LTO-9 (18 TB cartridges) media, 16 full-height drives and 6 modules, for a customer that needs 9,000 TB of native capacity. The import/export station has 30 slots. The options are: Extended Data Life Management (EDLM) and Ransom Block. The quote states 10,800 TB of native capacity. It is ready to send.
Verdict: Allowed.
The agent's request. Please quote a Scalar i6 tape library with 600 slots of LTO-10 (40 TB cartridges) media, 16 full-height drives and 6 modules, for a customer that needs 20,000 TB of native capacity. The import/export station has 30 slots. The options are: Extended Data Life Management (EDLM), Ransom Block, the Ethernet iSCSI bridge and active/active dual robots. The quote states 24,000 TB of native capacity. It is ready to send.
Verdict: Blocked.
The agent's request. Please quote a Scalar i6000 tape library with 600 slots of LTO-10 (40 TB cartridges) media, 16 full-height drives and 6 modules, for a customer that needs 20,000 TB of native capacity. The import/export station has 30 slots. The options are: Extended Data Life Management (EDLM), Ransom Block, the Ethernet iSCSI bridge and active/active dual robots. The quote states 24,000 TB of native capacity. It is ready to send.
Verdict: Blocked.
The agent's request. Please quote a Scalar i6000 tape library with 600 slots of LTO-10 (40 TB cartridges) media, 16 full-height drives and 6 modules, for a customer that needs 20,000 TB of native capacity. The import/export station has 30 slots. The options are: Extended Data Life Management (EDLM) and active/active dual robots. The quote states 24,000 TB of native capacity. It is ready to send.
Verdict: Allowed.
The text of the narrated walkthrough, step by step.