Lizette, Yes, with that in mind you are correct. Of course, the whole business with DASD files is that there IS a backup on TAPE. So, if you have "special" files that you also want protected and move them to TAPE as the primary media, does that mean that the backup requirement is gone? If it isn't, then you go back to having a backup of the TAPE file; which means having a duplicate copy of the file on the same media. Will that be too expensive, no. After all, originally you had the primary on DASD and a TAPE as a backup. And DASD is more expensive than tape, even if it is Virtual Tape. So now, you would have a primary on TAPE and a backup on TAPE. Still, cheaper than the original DASD/TAPE combination. So, if you have "special" files that you want protected for longer periods of time you simply make backups of them (CA Copycat, Rocket TAPESAVER, whatever). For example, you could have an automated system that copies all these "special" files to a physical high-capacity cartridge the day before they are scratched - and keep the physical cartridge on the shelf for 60-days. That would mean having an additional 60 high-capacity cartridges (one used each day and kept for 60 days before being re-used). The biggest expense would be the copy operation itself. Russell
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On 07/31/13, Lizette Koehler<stars...@mindspring.com> wrote: According to Kees, he cannot hold on to lots of tapes just in case. So unless there was a known smaller number of files on tapes that are typically required to be extend, I am not sure this will work. It was stated by Kees Keeping all 'scratched' tapes non-mountable for 100 days, will cost me too much tape and storage. It is rare, as rare as you need datasets in their 'retain days only backup' grace period of definite disappearance. It is a last resort, after you have 'saved the project' with this option, you can start reconsidering retention periods. So it sounds like there is no way to know when such a tape needs to be recovered. Lizette ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
