Hal I have to agree. The data written to the ATL on FICON channels will be CKD structure which is encapsulated into SCSI FBA at some point between the FICON interface and disk buffer. It's all SCSI after that.
To read the data on the mainframe tapes from Fibre Channel the ATL vendor would likely have to provide an API that understands the proprietary encapsulation process in order to read the SCSI blocks, strip of the wrappers and reassemble the CKD blocks. Once the block is assembled it would have to be passed to another procedure to process the block based on its format (FB, VB, VBS. Etc), and convert each field to ASCII and appropriate numeric formats. The short answer is I think they are screwed unless they export the tapes to another compatible ATL and read them with FICON. Ron > -----Original Message----- > From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of > Hal Merritt > Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2011 1:14 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [IBM-MAIN] Accessing MF Data From Distributed Systems > > Short answer: most likely no. > > You might could 'access' the data, but would have little hope of making any > sense of it. I'd take a look at a contingency contract with a service > provider. > > And test the service, of course. > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of > Dazzo, Matt > Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2011 2:08 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Accessing MF Data From Distributed Systems > > Luckily this required info is not for our shop, another MF is biting the dust > here in the north east. The powers that be are concerned about accessing data > that resides in a VTS/ATL device once the plug is pulled on the MF, should > there be a need to. Is there any software/hardware product that provides the > capability to access data in that device from a distributed platform, most > likely HP or Linux. That's all the info I have for now. > > Anybody been there, done that? > > Thanks Matt > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to > [email protected] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives > at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html > NOTICE: This electronic mail message and any files transmitted with it are > intended > exclusively for the individual or entity to which it is addressed. The > message, > together with any attachment, may contain confidential and/or privileged > information. > Any unauthorized review, use, printing, saving, copying, disclosure or > distribution > is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please > immediately advise the sender by reply email and delete all copies. > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, > send email to [email protected] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO > Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [email protected] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
