Doing a Full System Save or Native Save Commands to Tape Library Device

Resolving The Problem

Full system saves can be done to stand-alone tape devices by running GO SAVE, Option 21 for the entire system save. A media management system, such as Backup Recovery and Media Services (BRMS), is recommended for saving to a media library device. Refer to the Automated Tape Library Planning and Management guide, SC41-5309-02, Chapter 4 - Using Tape Automation without a Media Management Application on how to run save commands without a BRMS-type of application.

It is possible to use a tape media library with native save/restore commands.

Note: The Tape Media Library cannot be used for a complete system restore like GO RESTORE 21 because some of the objects required for using the tape library are not yet on the system. Therefore, a GO RESTORE 21 must be run from a stand-alone tape unit and not a Tape Media Library.

To use a cartridge in a tape library, the status of the cartridge must be in a usable category. *INSERT or *EJECT are not usable categories. When a volume is first loaded into a tape media library, the category of the cartridge will be *INSERT. Before it can be used for any tape operation (DSPTAP , RSTxxx, SAVxxx, CHKTAP) the ADDTAPCTG command (or WRKMLBSTS, Option 9, Option 1) must be run to change to it to a usable category. (For additional information, refer to Using CATEGORIES below.)

When using a DSPTAP, RSTxxx, SAVxxx, or CHKTAP command, the cartridge ID must be specified on the VOL parameter or a category must be set on the tape media library. If not, message CPF415A is issued. If the save or restore operation will use more than one volume, specify all volumes required on the command.

Using CATEGORIES

All systems have a default list of categories. A user can create additional categories if required (using the CRTTAPCGY command). The default categories are:

*CNV
*EJECT
*INSERT
*IPL
*NL
*NOSHARE
*SHARE400
*SYSGEN

When a volume is first loaded into a tape library, a category must be assigned to the cartridge before it can be used. Once cartridges have a category assigned, a SETTAPCGY OPTION(*MOUNTED) can be run. Then, when any of the DSPTAP, RSTxxx, SAVxxx, CHKTAP commands are used, the VOL parameter can be left at *MOUNTED. To determine if a category is mounted on a tape library, run the DSPTAPSTS command.

When a cartridge is ejected or removed from the tape media library and is added back into the tape media library, the cartridge must be added back into a usable category.

To remove the tape category from a tape media library, the SETTAPCGY OPTION(*DEMOUNTED) command must be run.

Below is an example of how to perform a full system save to a tape library device such as 3584 or 3494.

The following steps are required (in this example, MLB3584 is the tape library device):

Step 1: Insert the media into the media library device. The media will then have a status of Inserted:

Work with Tape Cartridges                                                     Library Device:   MLB3584                                                                             Type options, press Enter.                           1=Add   2=Change   4=Remove   5=Display   6=Print                                                                                                              Cartridge   Volume      Media                 Opt  ID          ID          Type        Status          000014      *UNKNOWN    L1          Inserted        000015      *UNKNOWN    L1          Inserted        000016      *UNKNOWN    L1          Inserted        000017      *UNKNOWN    L1          Inserted        000019      *UNKNOWN    L1          Inserted

Notes:
1. If you do not want to use one of the default categories supplied with the system, create additional categories using the CRTTAPCGY command. For instance, command CRTTAPCGY CGY(SAVE21) would create a SAVE21 category.
2. CHGTAPCTG command (or WRKTAPCTG Option 2 = Change) can be used to change the category associated with specific volumes.

Step 2: Use ADDTAPCTG to add volumes into the desired tape category. Ensure you add sufficient media into the tape category (amount of volumes needed for a complete system save) before starting the backup because you cannot add additional media after the save is started:

Add Tape Cartridge (ADDTAPCTG)                                                       Type choices, press Enter.                                                                                   Library device . . . . . . . . . > MLB3584 Cartridge ID . . . . . . . . . . > 000014                                  > 000015                                  > 000016                                  > 000017                + for more values > 000019 Category:                                               Category name  . . . . . . . .   *NOSHARE   Category system  . . . . . . .   *CURRENT Check volume identifier  . . . .   *YES

After this completes, the volumes will have a status of Available:

Work with Tape Cartridges                                                     Library Device:   MLB3584                                                                             Type options, press Enter.                           1=Add   2=Change   4=Remove   5=Display   6=Print                                                                                                              Cartridge   Volume      Media                 Opt  ID          ID          Type        Status          000014      000014      L1          Available      000015      000015      L1          Available      000016      000016      L1          Available      000017      000017      L1          Available      000019      000019      L1          Mounted

Step 3: Issue the SETTAPCGY command as follows:

Library device . . . . . . . . .   MLB3584           Option . . . . . . . . . . . . .   *MOUNTED           Category:                                       Category name  . . . . . . . .   *NOSHARE     Category system  . . . . . . .   *CURRENT   Cartridge order  . . . . . . . .   *NEXTAVAIL       Target category:                               Category name  . . . . . . . .   *CGY         Category system  . . . . . . .   *CURRENT   Mount identifier . . . . . . . .   *NONE

Note the difference between *SEQ and *NEXTAVAIL for Cartridge order:

*SEQ	The cartridges are mounted in the order they were added or changed to the category specified. The operation ends if the next cartridge in the sequential order is not available.
*NEXTAVAL	The cartridges are mounted in a sequential order, but if a cartridge in the order is not available, the next available cartridge is used.

Step 4: Do full system save using GO SAVE, Option 21 to tape library device MLB3584.

Step 5: Remove the tape category from a tape media library using command SETTAPCGY OPTION(*DEMOUNTED).

References

Automated Tape Library Planning and Management Version 4, SC41-5309-02

Technote document N1014595, Using Tape Media Library without BRMS

Tape library use without a media management application topic: http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/iseries/v7r1m0/index.jsp?topic=%2Frzam4%2Frzam4usewoapp.htm