Administrator's Guide


Categories in 349X Automated Libraries

A 349X library has an intelligent control unit that tracks the inventory of all volumes in the library. The control unit tracks the category number of each volume. A single category number identifies all volumes used for the same purpose or application.

These category numbers are useful when multiple systems share the resources of a single library. Typically, a software application that uses a 3494 library device uses volumes in only one or more categories that are reserved for that application. To avoid loss of data, ensure that each application sharing the library uses unique categories.

When a volume is first inserted into the library, either manually or automatically at the convenience I/O station, the volume is assigned to the insert category (X'FF00'). A software application, such as TSM, can then interact with the library control unit to change a volume's category number to a different value. To do this for TSM, use the CHECKIN LIBVOLUME command (see Informing the Server about New Volumes in a Library).

The number of categories that TSM requires depends on whether you have enabled support for 3590 drives by using the ENABLE3590LIBRARY parameter in the server options file.

For information on the ENABLE3590LIBRARY server option, see Administrator's Reference.


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