Tivoli Storage Manager for Windows Administrator's Guide


Chapter 5. Managing Removable Media Operations

Tapes and optical disks represent the most common removable media used by TSM. The media are associated with devices and are also associated with TSM policy. When administrators add devices using the Device Configuration Wizard, the wizard automatically defines the media for the devices. If they use TSM commands, administrators define the media. After devices have been configured, administrators must prepare media by labeling it, and, if the media is for an automated library device, they must check the media into the library volume inventory.

Once devices and media are operational, administrators are responsible for setting up media rotations, which are media management schemes that capture the data retention and media reuse goals of the administrator. See Overview of Setting Up a Tape Rotation.

Administrators and operators can monitor media operations and respond to device and media requests using the server console. See Starting the Administrative Client as a Server Console Monitor. For automated library devices, TSM maintains a volume inventory that allows TSM to interact with the device to mount volumes, but sends messages when the device needs attention from an operator. For manual library devices, TSM sends mount requests and messages expecting a person to interact with devices and media.

This chapter contains the following sections:

Concepts:
"Overview of Volumes"
"Overview of Media Management and TSM Policy"
"Overview of Setting Up a Tape Rotation"
Tasks:
Automated (Robotic) Devices:
"Preparing Media for Automated Library Devices"
"Managing Media in Automated Library Devices"
"Reusing Media"

Manual (Single-Drive) Devices:
"Preparing Media for Manual Library Devices"
"Managing Media in Manual Library Devices"
"Reusing Media"

All Devices:
"Managing Media Mount Operations"
"Setting Up a Tape Rotation"

In this chapter, most examples illustrate how to perform tasks by using the TSM command line interface. For information about the TSM commands, see Administrator's Reference, or issue the HELP command from the command line of a TSM administrative client.

All of the TSM commands can be performed from the administrative Web interface. For more information about using the administrative interface, see Quick Start.


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