FDR backup tapes contain PS datasets.
That's because all the tape datasets are sequential.
However some of them, including FDR and IBM did have unusual blocksizes.
Larger than 32760. For the years it was physically supported by tape
drives, but not supported by regular access method. Then LBI (Large
Block Interface) changed rules - there is still a way to use EXCP for
big blocksize or use LBI.
However Bill Ogden's point is about some flag which is not introduced,
unfortunately.
Such flag could be really good indicator for the users: "don't touch it
without RTFM, this dataset need special rules".
We still have POU or PSU DSORGs, but it is for unmovable datasets only.
IMHO general flag for *any* special needs could be good idea.
Just a flag, nothing else.
OK, there are further improvements possible:
RC=4 or RC=8 (depending on some other switch) for input datasets with
the flag.
PARM=IGNRFLG for IEBGENER, IEBCOPY, IDCAMS, etc. when you know what you
are doing.
IDCAMS ALTER entry FLAG/NOFLAG...
--
Radoslaw Skorupka
Lodz, Poland
W dniu 26.12.2025 o 18:09, rpinion865 pisze:
Not DASD datasets, but FDR backup and migration tapes cannot be copied with
IEBGENER (they appear to be PS tape datasets). The BMC manuals explicitly say
that.
"Confidentially doc, I am the wabbit."
Bugs Bunny
Sent from Proton Mail for Android.
-------- Original Message --------
On Friday, 12/26/25 at 10:36 [email protected] <[email protected]>
wrote:
Special - examples: DFSMShsm journal, RACF db, SMF SYS1.MANx, IODF, etc.
Each of them *looks like* PS or VSAM, but there are additional rules and
constraints which have to be followed.
In my opinion, for what little it might be worth, it is unfortunate that there is not a
standard term or notation for such "special" datasets in the general z/OS
documentation. Among other things, these are datasets where the normal z/OS utilities
might have unwanted results, etc, etc. Some of these have been around almost since the
beginning (OS/360 days) and the numbers have grown (unfortunately).
They can result in unexpected stumbles for newer systems programmers (or
"administrators" in the more modern terminology).
Bill Ogden
----------------------------------------------------------------------
For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions,
send email to [email protected] with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
