Forgot to mention. DBS just generates JCL, it is not a backup product itself. You tell it what DASD backup program you need: ADRDSSU or FDR. It supports both. TapeCopy supports dynamic updating of both CA-1 and DFSMSrmm tape catalogs. Maybe others, I don't remember.
On Tue, Jun 3, 2014 at 2:38 PM, John McKown <[email protected]> wrote: > Are you talking about reading an existing tape, or writing to a new tape? > When reading, you can read any series of data sets on the tape in any order > you want. It is more "efficient" to read them in ascending order because it > reduces the tape needed to "seek" to the next data set (tape being serial > in nature). If you are writing to a tape, you must write in ascending > sequence, not skipping any numbers. You cannot write file 1, then file 7, > then file 2 because tape is sequential. > > I don't know of any manuals which explicitly says the above. It is just > logic based on knowing that tape is a sequential media. And, in my case, > having some knowledge of the CCWs available on most tape devices. > > === > > Responding to a subsequent question, you will need to manually adjust the > tape sequence number in order to "add a new file to the end". For our > backups, we use software from Rocket Software called DBS. Basically we just > tell it the type of tape cartrige we have and the volumes which need to be > backed up, along with some other stuff, and it generates our JCL for us. It > was originally written by Open Tech software, who were acquired by Rocket > fairly recently. > *http://www.rocketsoftware.com/products/rocket-dasd-backup-supervisor > <http://www.rocketsoftware.com/products/rocket-dasd-backup-supervisor>* > We also use the same software at the DR site because DBS keeps a "data > base", which we keep on a specific volume. Using this "data base" and > giving the software the addresses and volsers of the DR DASD to which to > restore, DBS generates all the restore JCL. The only volume we restore "by > hand" is the volume containing the "data base", which also contains the DBS > software libraries. A "SETPROG APF,ADD,DSN=...,VOL=..." on the DR floor > system and were golden. Once this process starts up, we basically play > solitaire on the PCs. It is so easy that we only have a single sysprog > start up the restores. He works alone for the first 5 or 6 hours of the DR > test, doing restores. While doing the restores, DBS is smart enough to > generate JCL which restores the volume in the order in which they exist on > the tape. So there is not a lot of unneeded tape mounting and positioning. > It is a _nice_ package! If you get it, look at their "Tape Copy" too. We > use it to back up virtual 3420 tapes onto physical 3592J tapes. And then > use those tapes to populate the VTS at DR with the 3420 tape data. TapeCopy > is smart enough to dynamically adjust the TMC and catalog at the DR site as > it does this. Again, a very good product which originated with Open Tech. > > > > > > On Tue, Jun 3, 2014 at 1:57 PM, Pfister, Nathan < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> I have a question about tape labels. On my DD for a tape, when I code >> the Label, I understand that the one parameter is the location/sequence on >> the tape...my question is do these have to be sequential? I.e. 1, 2, 3, 4, >> 5. Can I instead use 1, 2, 3, 4, 20 and still have it be recognized? >> Also, if there is an answer to this available in the manual could someone >> kindly point me to the right section of the right manual? >> >> Thanks; >> >> Nathan Pfister >> Senior Systems Programmer >> WSSC Water >> [email protected] >> >> >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >> For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, >> send email to [email protected] with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN >> > > > > -- > There is nothing more pleasant than traveling and meeting new people! > Genghis Khan > > Maranatha! <>< > John McKown > -- There is nothing more pleasant than traveling and meeting new people! Genghis Khan Maranatha! <>< John McKown ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [email protected] with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
