> With VSE you have to use FICON ?? Doesn't VSE still support 9336 FBA disks? If so, then emulated devices under VM remove this restriction nicely.
> But, an adapter can only be Ficon or FCP. So to use FCP with > z/Linux, you need an FCP adapter (one or more at $25k each) > plus you need something for VSE (one or more FICON adapters > at $25k each). See above. If you run VSE under VM (the only sensible way to do it, anyway), then VM provides the device emulation for 9336s, and the whole problem goes away. > You spoke of TSM, another sore point in this topic (for us > smaller shops). TSM required scsi attached tape drives. The > IBM 3590 can be either scsi or FICON/Escon attached. In my > case I needed mainframe attached 3590s. So to use TSM, I > would have to have a separate set of 3590s that are scsi attached. > We are in the server consolidation mode. And having to buy > dedicated hardware to support the "other" side, instead of > being able to pool our existing tape hardware, isn't goodness. > > We were in the cost containment mode and buying another set > of dedicated tape drives for TSM wasn't in the upfront plans. > > It might be the best way to go and in a few years, we might > be there, but I would rather spend the funds for an IBM > Virtual Tape system instead of having another set of > dedicated tape drives. The problem at this point for tape access for Linux is handling mount/dismount, not actual tape I/O. The channel-attached tape driver works just fine. I had Adam write a tape handling gadget that handles the mount process. Download it, and life gets lots easier. > I've put out the word that I want the the backing up of > z/Linux in a normal mainframe world, solved. We use Dynam > for the VSE world. I've asked CA for a z/Linux interface to > Dynam. I've asked for a z/Linux interface for VMBACKUP (or > any other decent backup product on a file level side). The above tape mount gadget will work with Dynam/T just fine (with anything that provides a CMS-supported method to initiate a tape mount, in fact). Wrt to file level backup for Linux, Bacula does an exceptionally good job and can play nicely with VM:TAPE, etc. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For LINUX-390 subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: INFO LINUX-390 or visit http://www.marist.edu/htbin/wlvindex?LINUX-390
