When we moved the backup of our VTAPE library (VSSI version, the original VTAPE) to a new drive over Ficon, the backup time went from over 5 to 2-3 hours and from many output tapes to one.
I guess the answer to the question of when is a good time to convert is whenever you can justify doing so. The deciding factors for us were not performance, though. The main reasons were (a) the need for encrypting drives, and (b) the desire to get the antiques out of the machine room. The latter is actually inherited from the z/OS world, one with which we must share tapes. Regards, Richard Schuh > -----Original Message----- > From: The IBM z/VM Operating System > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Feller, Paul > Sent: Monday, June 01, 2009 12:42 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: Z/VM and 3590 tape speed > > > I don't know about z/VM (don't have tape drives on z/VM), > but under z/OS I have several 3590 class tapes drives defined > to use the same Ficon channel through the use of a Ficon director. > > Paul Feller > AIT Mainframe Technical Support > > -----Original Message----- > From: The IBM z/VM Operating System > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Hughes, Jim > Sent: Monday, June 01, 2009 1:55 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: Z/VM and 3590 tape speed > > I am looking at table 3 on page 10 of the 3590 Introduction > and Planning Guide. > > It mentions two things of interest: > Device Data Rate(native) and Data Transfer Rate(maximum > instantaneous). > > Device Data Rate for the E11 is 14 MB/Sec. > Data Transfer Rate depends on the channel. > > I guess what I am reading says the tape will move around at > 14 meg/sec no matter how fast I get the data to the device. > FICON for tapes is a waste of time. > > When would FICON for tapes be a good idea? > >
