Tivoli Header

Administrator's Guide


Preparing Removable Media

When TSM accesses a removable media volume, it checks the volume name in the label header to ensure that the correct volume is accessed. To prepare a volume for use, do the following:

  1. Label the volume. Any tape or optical volumes must be labeled before the server can use them. See Labeling Removable Media Volumes.
  2. For automated libraries, check the volume into the library. See Checking New Volumes into a Library.
    Tip:
    When you use the LABEL LIBVOLUME command with drives in an automated library, you can label and check in the volumes with one command.
  3. If the storage pool cannot contain scratch volumes (MAXSCRATCH=0), identify the volume to TSM by name so that it can be accessed later. For details, see Defining Storage Pool Volumes.

    If the storage pool can contain scratch volumes (MAXSCRATCH is set to a non-zero value), skip this step.

Labeling Removable Media Volumes

You can use the LABEL LIBVOLUME command from the server console or an administrative client to check in and label volumes in one operation. When you use the command, you can provide parameters that specify:

To use the LABEL LIBVOLUME command, there must be a drive that is not in use by another TSM process. This includes volumes that are mounted but idle. If necessary, use the DISMOUNT VOLUME command to dismount the idle volume to make that drive available.

By default, the LABEL LIBVOLUME command does not overwrite an existing label. However, if you want to overwrite an existing label, you can specify OVERWRITE=YES parameter.

Attention: By overwriting a volume label, you destroy all of the data that resides on the volume. Use caution when overwriting volume labels to avoid destroying important data.

When you use the LABEL LIBVOLUME command, you can identify the volumes to be labeled in one of the following ways:

For automated libraries, you are prompted to insert the volume in the entry/exit slot of the library. If no I/O convenience station is available, insert the volume in an empty slot. For manual libraries, you are prompted to load the volume directly into a drive.

Labeling Volumes In a Manual Drive

Suppose that you want to label a few new volumes by using a manual tape drive that is defined as /dev/mt5. The drive is attached at SCSI address 5. Enter the following command:

label libvolume tsmlibname volname
Note:
The LABEL LIBVOLUME command selects the next free drive. If you have more than one free drive, this may not be /dev/mt5.

If the server is not available, use the following command:

> dsmlabel -drive=/dev/mt5

The DSMLABEL utility, which is an offline utility for labeling sequential access volumes for TSM, must read the dsmserv.opt file to pick up the language option. Therefore, you must issue the DSMLABEL command from the /usr/tivoli/tsm/server/bin/ directory, or you must set the DSMSERV_DIR and DSMSERV_CONFIG environment variables.

Labeling Volumes in a SCSI or ACSLS Library

You can label volumes one at a time or let TSM search the library for volumes.

Labeling Volumes One at a Time

If you choose to label volumes one at a time, do the following:

  1. Insert volumes into the library when prompted to do so. The library mounts each inserted volume into a drive.
  2. For a SCSI library, enter a volume name when you are prompted (LABELSOURCE=PROMPT). A label is written to the volume using the name that you entered.
  3. If the library does not have an entry/exit port, you are prompted to remove the tape from a specified slot number (not a drive). If the library has an entry/exit port, the command by default returns each labeled volume to the entry/exit port of the library.

Labeling New Volumes in a Library

Suppose you want to label a few new volumes in a SCSI library. You want to manually insert each new volume into the library, and you want the volumes to be placed in storage slots inside the library after their labels are written. You know that none of the new volumes contains valid data, so it is acceptable to overwrite existing volume labels. You only want to use one of the library's four drives for these operations.

Note:
This example works for libraries that do not have entry and exit ports.
Enter the following command:
label libvolume tsmlibname volname overwrite=yes checkin=scratch

If the server is not available, use the following command:

> dsmlabel -drive=/dev/mt0,116 -library=/dev/lb0 -overwrite -keep

Searching the Library

The LABEL LIBVOLUME command searches all of the storage slots in the library for volumes and tries to label each one that it finds. You choose this mode when you specify the SEARCH=YES parameter. After a volume is labeled, the volume is returned to its original location in the library. Specify SEARCH=BULK if you want the server to search the library's entry/exit ports for usable volumes to be labeled.

When you specify LABELSOURCE=PROMPT, the volume is moved from its location in the library or in the entry/exit ports to the drive. The server prompts you to issue the REPLY command containing the label string, and that label is written to the tape.

If the library has a bar-code reader, the LABEL LIBVOLUME command can use the reader to obtain volume names, instead of prompting you for volume names. Use the SEARCH=YES and LABELSOURCE=BARCODE parameters. If you specify the LABELSOURCE=BARCODE parameter, the volume bar code is read, and the tape is moved from its location in the library or in the entry/exit ports to a drive where the bar-code label is written. After the tape is labeled, it is moved back to its location in the library, to the entry/exit ports, or to a storage slot if the CHECKIN option is specified. For bar-code support to work correctly for libraries supported by Tivoli Storage Manager, the Tivoli Storage Manager server, and the device driver must be at the same level. Bar-code support is available for libraries supported by Tivoli Storage Manager and which use the Tivoli Storage Manager device driver or the RMSS Magstar or LTO Ultrium device driver.

Suppose that you want to label all volumes in a SCSI library. The library contains four drives, but you want to use only two of them to label volumes. The drives are at element addresses 116 and 117. Enter the following command:

label libvolume tsmlibname search=yes labelsource=barcode

Tivoli Storage Manager will select the next available drive.

Note:
The LABELSOURCE=BARCODE parameter is valid only for SCSI libraries.

If the server is not available, use the following command:

> dsmlabel -drive=/dev/mt0,116 -drive=/dev/mt1,117 -library=/dev/lb0 -search

Labeling Volumes in a 349X Library

For a 349X library, the server attempts to label only those volumes in the INSERT category and the library's private and scratch categories. All other volumes are ignored by the labeling process. This precaution prevents the inadvertent destruction of that data on volumes being actively used by other systems connected to the library device.

Note:
The LABEL LIBVOLUME command labels volumes in the INSERT category and in the PRIVATE, 3490SCRATCH, and 3590SCRATCH categories, but not the volumes already checked into the library.

Suppose that you want to label all of the volumes that are in the INSERT category in an IBM 3494 tape library. Enter the following command:

label libvolume tsmlibname search=yes devtype=3590
Note:
If the volumes to be labeled are 3590 media and there are both 3490 and 3590 drives in the library, you must add DEVTYPE=3590.

If the server is not available, use the following command:

> dsmlabel -drive=/dev/rmt1 -drive=/dev/rmt2 -library=/dev/lmcp0

Labeling Optical Volumes

You can use the LABEL LIBVOLUME command to label optical disks (3.5-inch and 5.25-inch).

label libvolume opticlib search=yes labelsource=prompt

You can also use the DSMLABEL utility to format and label 3.5-inch and 5.25-inch optical disks. Use the -format parameter when starting the DSMLABEL utility.

The DSMLABEL utility, which is an offline utility for labeling sequential access volumes for TSM, must read the dsmserv.opt file to pick up the language option. Therefore, you must issue the DSMLABEL command from the /usr/tivoli/tsm/server/bin/ directory, or you must set the DSMSERV_DIR and DSMSERV_CONFIG environment variables.

> dsmlabel -drive=/dev/rop1,117 -library=/dev/lb0 -search -format

Checking New Volumes into a Library


Task Required Privilege Class
Inform the server when a new volume is available in an automated library System or unrestricted storage

To inform the server that a new volume is available in an automated library, check in the volume with the CHECKIN LIBVOLUME or LABEL LIBVOLUME command. When a volume is checked in, the server adds the volume to its library volume inventory. You can use the LABEL LIBVOLUME command to check in and label volumes in one operation.

Note:
Do not mix volumes with bar-code labels and volumes without bar-code labels in a library device because bar-code scanning can take a long time for unlabeled volumes.

When you check in a volume, you must supply the name of the library and the status of the volume (private or scratch).

To check in one or just a few volumes, you can specify the name of the volume with the command, and issue the command for each volume. See Checking Volumes into a SCSI Library One at a Time.

To check in a larger number of volumes, you can use the search capability of the CHECKIN command (see Checking in Volumes in Library Slots) or you can use the VOLRANGE parameter of the CHECKIN command.

When using the CHECKIN LIBVOLUME command, be prepared to supply some or all of the following information:

Library name
Specifies the name of the library where the storage volume is to be located.

Volume name
Specifies the volume name of the storage volume being checked in.

Status
Specifies the status that is assigned to the storage volume being checked in. If you check in a volume that has already been defined in a storage pool or in the volume history file, you must specify a volume status of private (STATUS=PRIVATE). This status ensures that the volume is not overwritten when a scratch mount is requested. The server does not check in a volume with scratch status when that volume already belongs to a storage pool or is a database, export, or dump volume.

Check label
Specifies whether TSM should read sequential media labels of volumes during CHECKIN command processing, or use a bar-code reader. See Checking Media Labels.

For optical volumes being checked in to an automated library, you must specify CHECKLABEL=YES. TSM must read the label to determine the type of volume: rewritable (OPTICAL device type) or write-once read-many (WORM or WORM12 device type).

Swap
Specifies whether TSM will initiate a swap operation when an empty slot is not available during CHECKIN command processing. See Allowing Swapping of Volumes When the Library Is Full.

Mount wait
Specifies the maximum length of time, in minutes, to wait for a storage volume to be mounted.

Search
Specifies whether TSM searches the library for volumes that have not been checked in. See Checking Volumes into a SCSI Library One at a Time, Checking in Volumes in Library Slots, andChecking in Volumes in Library Entry/Exit Ports.

Device type
This parameter only applies to 349X libraries containing 3590 devices. This parameter allows you to specify the device type for the volume being checked in.

Checking Volumes into a SCSI Library One at a Time

Specify SEARCH=NO if you want to check in only a single volume that is not currently in the library. TSM requests that the mount operator load the volume in the entry/exit port of the library.

If the library does not have an entry/exit port, TSM requests that the mount operator load the volume into a slot within the library. The request specifies the location with an element address. For any library or medium changer that does not have an entry/exit port, you need to know the element addresses for the cartridge slots and drives. If there is no worksheet listed for your device in http://www.tivoli.com/support/storage_mgr/tivolimain.html, see the documentation that came with your library.

Note:
Element addresses are sometimes numbered starting with a number other than one. Check the worksheet to be sure.

For example, to check in volume VOL001 manually, enter the following command:

checkin libvolume tapelib vol001 search=no status=scratch

Iif the library has an entry/exit port, you are prompted to insert a cartridge into the entry/exit port. If the library does not have an entry/exit port, you are prompted to insert a cartridge into one of the slots in the library. Element addresses identify these slots. For example, TSM finds that the first empty slot is at element address 5. The message is:

ANR8306I 001: Insert 8MM volume VOL001 R/W in slot with element
address 5 of library TAPELIB within 60 minutes; issue 'REPLY' along
with the request ID when ready.

Check the worksheet for the device if you do not know the location of element address 5 in the library. See http://www.tivoli.com/support/storage_mgr/tivolimain.html to find the worksheet. When you have inserted the volume as requested, respond to the message from a TSM administrative client. Use the request number (the number at the beginning of the mount request):

reply 1

Checking Volumes into a 349X Library One at a Time

Specify SEARCH=NO for a 349X library, to search for volumes that have already been inserted into the library via the convenience or bulk I/O station.

checkin libvolume 3494lib vol001 search=no status=scratch

If the volume has already been inserted, the server finds and processes it. If not, you can insert the volume into the I/O station during the processing of the command.

Checking in Volumes in Library Slots

Specify SEARCH=YES if you want the server to search the library slots for new volumes that have not already been added to the library volume inventory. Use this mode when you have a large number of volumes to check in, and you want to avoid issuing an explicit CHECKIN LIBVOLUME command for each volume. For example, for a SCSI library you can simply open the library access door, place all of the new volumes in unused slots, close the door, and issue the CHECKIN LIBVOLUME command with SEARCH=YES.

If you are using a 349X library, the server searches only for new volumes in the following categories:

This restriction prevents the server from using volumes owned by another application that is accessing the library simultaneously.

Checking in Volumes in Library Entry/Exit Ports

Specify SEARCH=BULK if you want TSM to search the library's entry/exit ports for volumes that can be checked in automatically. For SCSI libraries, the server scans all of the entry/exit ports in the library for volumes. If a volume is found that contains a valid volume label, it is checked in automatically. The CHECKLABEL option NO is invalid with this SEARCH option. When you use the CHECKLABEL=YES parameter, the volume is moved from the entry/exit ports to the drive where the label is read. After reading the label, the tape is moved from the drive to a storage slot. When you use the CHECKLABEL=BARCODE parameter, the volume's bar code is read and the tape is moved from the entry/exit port to a storage slot. For bar-code support to work correctly, the TSM or RMSS device driver must be installed for TSM-controlled libraries.

Checking Media Labels

When you check in a volume, you can specify whether TSM should read the labels of the media during check-in processing. When label-checking is on, TSM mounts each volume to read the internal label and only checks in a volume if it is properly labeled. This can prevent future errors when volumes are actually used in storage pools, but also increases processing time at check in. For information on how to label new volumes, see Preparing Removable Media.

If a library has a bar-code reader and the volumes have bar-code labels, you can save time in the check in process. TSM uses the characters on the label as the name for the volume being checked in. If a volume has no bar-code label, TSM mounts the volumes in a drive and attempts to read the recorded label. For example, to use the bar-code reader to check in all volumes found in the TAPELIB library as scratch volumes, enter the following command:

checkin libvolume tapelib search=yes status=scratch checklabel=barcode

Allowing Swapping of Volumes When the Library Is Full

If no empty slots are available in the library when you are checking in volumes, the check-in fails unless you allow swapping. If you allow swapping and the library is full, TSM selects a volume to eject before checking in the volume you requested.

Use the CHECKIN LIBVOLUME command to allow swapping. When you specify YES for the SWAP parameter, TSM initiates a swap operation if an empty slot is not available to check in a volume. TSM ejects the volume that it selects for the swap operation from the library and replaces the ejected volume with the volume that is being checked in. For example:

checkin libvolume auto wpdv00 swap=yes

TSM selects the volume to eject by checking first for any available scratch volume, then for the least frequently mounted volume.


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