When a job step is restarted from a checkpoint, the restart routine repositions tape volumes containing data sets that were open at the time the checkpoint was taken. The restart routine also restores the applicable DCBs to the conditions that existed when the checkpoint was taken.

The restart routine can handle tapes with IBM standard labels, or no labels.

All VSE/ESA® tapes having either a leading tape mark or embedded checkpoint records can be handled by checkpoint/restart, except for VSE/ESA 7-track tapes written in translate mode that contain embedded checkpoint records.