Alan, shared tapes may have a problem under VM. I know they do when running in an LPAR (see the disclaimer on the IBM under "restrictions" at http://www10.software.ibm.com/developerworks/opensource/linux390/index.shtml
). The assign/unassign function is not implemented the same way in Linux as in other OS. - For MVS, the drive assign latch is set from vary online to vary offline. - For VM, the drive assign latch is set from attach to detach (for tapes single tapes) - In LPAR mode, for SLES7 - the assign latch is not set at all so several lpars can send commands to the tape at the same time! - In LPAR mode, for SLES8 - the assign latch is only set during the time from OPEN to CLOSE of the file. After the file is closed by one LPAR, it can be stolen by another LPAR. So I would guess that assign ... muiltiuser would have the same problems as an LPAR. The latch should be set from the INSMOD to the DELMOD, but it is NOT, hence the strong recommendations for 2.2.16, and both streams of 2.4 NOT to use shared tapes. The CP attach multiuser sounds like it relies on the hardware assign/unassign and you could find yourself with two EC's using the tape at the same time under Linux. We have verified that, in LPAR mode, the assign happening as I described. Correct me if I am wrong if VM assign ... multipath uses a different mechanism. Regards, Jim Linux S/390-zSeries Support, SEEL, IBM Silicon Valley Labs t/l 543-4021, 408-463-4021, [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** Grace Happens ***
