Preparing volumes for sequential-access storage pools

For most purposes, in a sequential-access storage pool, the server can use dynamically acquired scratch volumes, volumes that you define, or a combination of both.

About this task

For sequential-access storage pools with a FILE or SERVER device type, no labeling or other preparation of volumes is necessary. For sequential-access storage pools associated with device types other than a FILE or SERVER, you must prepare volumes for use.

When the server accesses a sequential-access volume, it checks the volume name in the header to ensure that the correct volume is being accessed. To prepare a volume:

Procedure

Label the volume. Table 1 shows the types of volumes that require labels. You must label those types of volumes before the server can use them.
Tip: When you use the LABEL LIBVOLUME command with drives in an automated library, you can label and check in the volumes with one command.
For storage pools in automated libraries, use the CHECKIN LIBVOLUME command to check the volume into the library.
If you have not allowed scratch volumes in the storage pool, you must identify the volume, by name, when you define it.
If you allowed scratch volumes in the storage pool by specifying a value greater than zero for the MAXSCRATCH parameter, you can let the server use scratch volumes, identify volumes by name, or do both.