You can use ISMF to examine and manage the characteristics of your data stored on DASD volumes. Eight line operators are available to perform the following media maintenance tasks:

• Inspect a subset of a volume for magnetic surface defects. ISMF also provides options to help you remedy the problem.
• Examine a drive and your data to determine if errors exist. This function helps you distinguish between errors caused by drive problems and errors caused by media problems.
• Initialize a DASD volume for use in an MVS system.
• Change the volume label of a DASD volume. You can specify a new volume serial number or a new owner ID.
• Generate a job stream that is used to change a volume from a nonindexed format VTOC(OSVTOC) to an indexed format VTOC(IXVTOC) or vice versa.
• Reset a device that has been write inhibited, reset an indefinite status condition, or clear a fence status of a path, a device, or both.
• Generate a job stream that is used to perform the procedures necessary for installation, head-disk assembly (HDA) replacement, and physical movement of IBM® DASD.
• Perform the track validation functions of medial initialization with the problem determination and data verification functions of the ANALYZE command, and also the INSPECT functions if required.