But I do like that Enzo is thinking out-of-the-box.
On 4/10/2023 1:48 PM, Pommier, Rex wrote:
Enzo,
Knowing nothing about the internal workings of the TS77xx boxes I should
probably keep my mouth shut but I don't think this is a good idea. Where does
the TS keep metadata on the virtual volumes? Is there a db2 or other database
holding pointers to the virtual volumes? Will internal links between the
virtual libraries and the physical files (that now don't exist) be broken and
cause the entire cluster to drop with internal corruption errors?
I would think the safest approach would be to go to the source (i.e. IBM) and
get their approach for cleaning this up.
My $.01.
Rex
-----Original Message-----
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List <[email protected]> On Behalf Of
Enzo D'Amato
Sent: Monday, April 10, 2023 3:04 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: TS7700 abandoned volumes questions
I don't think this is the "IBM-approved" way of doing things, but the ts7700s
use standard FC drive shelves. Have you tried breaking the cluster links, powering down
the controller, and then manually mounting the FC shelves on a generic Linux box? If you
can do that, you should be able to search them for the actual emulated tape files and
erase them. If this works on one node, you can bring the other two down and purge them
before bringing the entire grid back up, and since the virtual tapes are not in memory on
any of the nodes, you should be good to go.
-Enzo Damato
________________________________________
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List <[email protected]> on behalf of Tom
Longfellow <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, April 9, 2023 9:37 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: TS7700 abandoned volumes questions
I have a TS7700 Grid of three cluster members. In the past volumes were
created for a z/OS system that no longer exists. We have hundreds of tapes in
scratch (0012) and private (001F) category. So now, the data is taking up
space in my newest grid member because of COPYRFSH activities.
What I would like to do is totally remove the existence of these volumes from
the Grid. Every standard method I have found via management GUIs fails
because these volumes have once left the 'INSERT' status at some time in the
past. Everything that implies it might work from Z host to 'EJECT' these
tapes require all the infrastructure of RMM, DEVSUP00 changes, and a Tape
Volume Catalog (TVC). I do not want to rebuild an entire z/OS LPAR so that it
will talk the special DEVSUP language to manipulate these tapes. Nor do I wish
to add hundreds of volumes to my tape management system and TVC) just to turn
around and delete them again.
I really need a way for this GRID to never mention these tapes in any way ever
again. One of the prime directives of the TS7700 seems to be 'never delete
data until you have no other choice'. For example a 'scratch' tape is still
there even after the hold period expires and is still known after storage
RECLAIM has happened. Those 'zombie' reclaimed volumes are preserved in
perpetuity as you migrate from TS7700 to TS7700. I am trying to Stop the
Madness. The 'Default' of 'We shall delete no data before its time' needs to
be broken. A full mind wipe for these volumes is in order.
I know this defeats the 'feature' of miraculous unexpected recoveries of data
that has served its purpose and been honorably discharged but reality does have
to play a role here. If I say keep it for 8 days, I do not want it storing
data forever and deleted by its own arcane incomprehensible rules. If it is
available for miracle unexpected recoveries, there may be some security
auditors interested what that equipment is up to.
Anybody know a fast and efficient way to accomplish this?
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