Dynamic device allocation

Dynamic device allocation enables you to allocate tape devices as they are needed.

You can allocate your tape devices in any of the following ways:

All tape devices needed for the save operation are allocated in the beginning.
Only one tape device is allocated at the beginning of a save operation. The maximum number of devices are allocated when data is ready to be written.
The number of devices specified for the minimum parallel device resources field is allocated at the beginning of a save operation. Additional devices are allocated when data is ready to be written.

Note: Use the Create Media Definition API to specify your preferred value.

Dynamic tape allocation restrictions

Initially all of the save operations will continue to allocate at least one device. Any operation that does not use a media definition will allocate its device at the beginning of the operation.
Devices will not be dynamically deallocated.
The dynamically allocated devices will be limited to these points in time
- After a save-while-active checkpoint.
- When the initial library data is ready to be written to an available device.