When using a multi-volume DASD dump data set, the device number of the first volume is specified. The other volumes are located by stand-alone dump using the information that is placed in the data set when it is initialized. All volumes are written concurrently by stand-alone dump. The data set is rejected if stand-alone dump is unable to access all volumes of the data set or if invalid control information is read from the data set during initialization.
If you do not allocate enough space in your dump data set, the stand-alone dump program prompts the operator to continue dumping to another DASD dump data set or tape volume. You can continue dumping to any stand-alone dump supported device, however, after a tape device is selected, it must be used to complete the dump even though multiple volumes might be required.
IBM® recommends that you allocate multiple dump data sets to perform a complete stand-alone dump.