Automated tape libraries

An automated tape library is a hardware device that automates the retrieval, storage, and control of tape cartridges (physical or virtual). Refer to z/OS DFSMS OAM Planning, Installation, and Storage Administration Guide for Tape Libraries, SC23-6867 for information on the automated, virtual, and manual tape libraries supported through system-managed tape and DFSMSrmm.

DFSMSrmm can automatically replenish the scratch volumes in an automated tape library when the supply of volumes becomes low. See Replenishing scratch volumes in a system-managed library for information about how DFSMSrmm reclaims volumes that are eligible for returning to scratch.

DFSMSrmm provides a cartridge entry installation exit that you can use to help partition volumes in one or more system-managed tape libraries across multiple systems. Use the installation exit for support for sharing between z/OS and other systems and also for partitioning between z/OS systems and SMS complexes. When using the cartridge entry installation exit, consider these factors.

DFSMSrmm supports partitioning when you use the DFSMSrmm parmlib options to identify volumes that you want to partition. Volumes can be identified based on volume naming conventions and as individual volumes defined to DFSMSrmm on z/OS.
You can use the DFSMSrmm partitioning support, defined using the PRTITION commands in parmlib, to partition between multiple z/OS systems, regardless of whether each z/OS partition has a separate DFSMSrmm control data set.
When you want to share the DFSMSrmm control data set across multiple z/OS partitions, you must use the PRTITION commands in parmlib and ensure that the CBRUXENT exit shipped with DFSMSrmm is used to control the partitioning.