BRMS Spooled File Restore is Slow via WRKSPLFBRM

Resolving The Problem

When spooled files are restored using WRKSPLFBRM, BRMS utilizes the QSRRSTO API to restore the spooled files. The API is called one time per spooled file. If the next spooled file being restored is from a previous sequence or the same sequence on the tape as the spooled file that was just restored, the tape must be completely rewound and then seek to the beginning of the needed sequence. This is a very time-consuming process, especially if the spooled files are far from the beginning of the tape.

Beginning at V5R4M0, native save/restore support was added to save and restore spooled files when the output queue object is saved or restored. This support was integrated into BRMS commands and control groups using control group attribute 'Save spooled file data' or command keyword 'Spooled file data'. Specifying *ALL indicates that all available spooled file data and attributes are saved with saved output queues. When saving spooled files with the OUTQ, they will not show up under WRKSPLFBRM unless retain object detail *YES or *MBR is specified for the backup item saving output queues.

If the spooled files were saved as part of the OUTQ, a native save command was used to save the OUTQ including its spooled file contents. These spooled files can be restored when the OUTQ is restored. This is accomplished by specifying '*NEW' on the 'Restore spooled file data' parameter of 'Restore Command Defaults' screen or the 'Spooled file data' parameter of RSTxxxBRM commands. When spooled files are restored in this manner, all of the spooled files from the OUTQ are restored at the same time. The tape is not rewound between spooled files and the restore is much faster. The limitation with this type of restore is that you cannot choose specific spooled files. The entire OUTQ is restored along with all its spooled files. The OUTQ can be restored to a different library so the existing OUTQ is not overwritten with the restored version. Then specific spooled files can be moved as desired.

Spooled files can also be saved with a BRMS *SPL list seen from WRKLBRM. When spooled files are saved using a *SPL list, BRMS uses the QSRSAVO API to save the spooled files. The QSRRSTO API must be used to restore the spooled files.

The QSRRSTO API can be used manually to restore multiple spooled files from the same sequence number on the same tape at the same time without rewinding between each one based on Library/Output queue, Spooled file name, Job name, User name, Job number, User specified data, Job system name, Form type, Starting create date and time, and Ending create date and time. More information on the QSRRSTO API can be found in the IBM i and System i Information Center at the following link: Restore Object List (QSRRSTO) API

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