Use tape libraries

This topic provides usage and management information for tape libraries.

You can use tape libraries to manage large amounts of data, either as part of a backup, archival and recovery system, or as part of typical IT operations. Media management software, such as BRMS, automates many tape library functions. However, operating the tape library still requires that you manage both how the tape library resources are utilized and how it uses resources on the system. Moreover, maintaining cartridges is an integral part of tape library automation.

• Tape library use without a media management application
  While a media management application greatly simplifies and extends a tape library's capabilities, you can perform many tape functions in an iSeries™ environment with commands included in i5/OS™.
• Reassign cartridges when the system name changes
  If you change your system name, you must move the cartridges from the categories that were owned by the old system name to categories that are owned by the new system name. If you do not do this, the cartridges will not appear in the inventory for the new system name.
• Set up a tape library as a stand-alone device
  Occasionally, it might be necessary to use the tape resources in a tape library without the benefit of the automation. An example of this is when you perform an alternate IPL. Another example is when the tape library automation is disabled.
• Set up a tape library as an alternate IPL device
  Use the devices in a tape library for alternate initial program load (IPL) when they are attached to an I/O processor (IOP) and I/O adapter (IOA) in a position that supports an alternate IPL. To be used for alternate IPL, the devices must be set to the correct address.
• Control tape library resources using tape library attributes
  Depending on your business environment you might want to control the use of tape resources to allow important jobs to finish quickly. i5/OS™ provides several features for this.
• Make cartridges available to the tape library inventory
  Before you can use the tape library, it must have media loaded and made available.
• Eject cartridges from the tape library inventory
  When you eject a cartridge, you remove it from the tape library inventory.
• Use the mounted category to load groups of tapes into a tape device
  The mounted category allows a group of tapes to automatically be loaded into a tape device.
• Share cartridges
  You can share the cartridges in a tape library between multiple platforms and iSeries™ servers.
• End of volume
  To be a fully automated solution without a tape management system, each volume that is needed must be specified on the command in the VOL parameter.
• Avoid deadlocked files during save and restore operations with tape libraries
  Tape automation uses special files located in the QUSRSYS library. If these files do not exist on the system, i5/OS™ supports a limited set of automation functions.
• Optimize tape library performance
  Optimize the performance of your tape library by using work management and load balancing techniques. You can also attempt to improve the performance by using different connection configurations.
• View the capabilities of a tape library
  You can use iSeries™ navigator to view the capabilities for each tape library.