If you have an existing removable media library with no record of tape usage, define basic volume information to DFSMSrmm. Set the DFSMSrmm running mode to record-only mode. DFSMSrmm monitors all tape volume mounts and automatically records and updates information about your defined tape volumes when they are used. DFSMSrmm cannot automatically record optical disk information.

1. Define all required tape volumes to DFSMSrmm as private volumes using the RMM ADDVOLUME subcommand. This example shows the minimum information you should add:

   RMM ADDVOLUME volser STATUS(USER) EXPDT(yyyy/ddd)

   DFSMSrmm uses the parmlib RETPD default if you do not use EXPDT or RETPD to define an expiration date for the volumes. Specifying the EXPDT or RETPD operand allows you to define a time period long enough to gather information about the volumes under DFSMSrmm. Use the information to determine if the volume should be released. Use EXPDT(99365) if you are unsure how long volumes should be retained. Later, after running DFSMSrmm, defining DFSMSrmm vital record specifications, you should use the information to determine if the volume should be released.

   If you do not specify the RETENTIONMETHOD operand, then DFSMSrmm uses the parmlib RETENTIONMETHOD default. When you are adding a volume that is managed by the EXPDT retention method and you do not specify the RETAINBY operand, then DFSMSrmm uses the parmlib default for the RETAINBY value.

   Specifying STATUS(USER) ensures that DFSMSrmm does not change the expiration date when the first file on the volume is rewritten.

2. Set the DFSMSrmm running mode to record-only mode. DFSMSrmm records information about the volumes as they are used but does not validate or reject volumes.
3. When you believe that DFSMSrmm has recorded enough information, set the DFSMSrmm running mode to warning mode. When DFSMSrmm is running in warning mode, DFSMSrmm validates tape volumes. If DFSMSrmm discovers errors, it issues error messages but does not reject tape usage.
4. After DFSMSrmm has been running for a while, check volume usage to determine if some of the volumes you added can be released.