Creating the tape configuration database

5 Define the volume catalogs.

Use the AMS DEFINE command to define the general volume catalog hlq.VOLCAT.VGENERAL. The general VOLCAT is the default volume catalog and contains all of the library records as well as any volume records that do not reside in a specific volume catalog. This volume catalog must exist before any tape library can be defined.

If a large number of tape volumes have the same first character in the volume serial number, it may be advisable to define specific volume catalogs (hlq.VOLCAT.Vx), where x is the first character of the volume serial number.

Note: The letter V is reserved exclusively as the first character in a VOLCAT volume serial number. It readily identifies the volume serial number as belonging to a VOLCAT. To avoid confusion with the VOLCAT naming conventions, the letter V is restricted from being used as the first character of a tape library name. Any other character is valid.

See z/OS DFSMS Access Method Services Commands manual for more information on the DEFINE command and the z/OS DFSMS Managing Catalogs for more information on estimating the size of the catalogs. Keep in mind that each virtual tape server can contain thousands of volumes.

5a Define general volume catalog.

The following example shows how to define the general volume catalog, hlq.VOLCAT.VGENERAL.

   //DEFVCAT  JOB   ...
   //STEP1    EXEC  PGM=IDCAMS
   //SYSPRINT DD    SYSOUT=A
   //SYSIN    DD    *
        DEFINE USERCATALOG -
               (NAME(hlq.VOLCAT.VGENERAL) -
               VOLCATALOG -
               VOLUME(338001) -
               CYLINDERS(1 1))
   /*

The catalog parameters are:

NAME: Specifies the volume catalog, hlq.VOLCAT.VGENERAL.
VOLCATALOG: Specifies that the user catalog is a volume catalog.
VOLUME: Specifies that the user catalog is to reside on volume 338001.
CYLINDERS: Specifies that one cylinder is allocated to the catalog and that when the catalog is extended, it extends in increments of one cylinder.

All other parameters are allowed to default.

Note: The system uses "SYS1" as the default high-level qualifier (hlq). You may choose any other high-level qualifier in its place. For more information on changing the high-level qualifiers for VOLCATs, see z/OS DFSMS Managing Catalogs.

5b Define specific volume catalogs.

The following example shows how to define a specific volume catalog, hlq.VOLCAT.VT. The catalog contains all the volume entries for tape volumes with the first character of "T" in the volume serial number.

   //DEFVCAT  JOB   ...
   //STEP1    EXEC  PGM=IDCAMS
   //SYSPRINT DD    SYSOUT=A
   //SYSIN    DD    *
        DEFINE USERCATALOG -
               (NAME(hlq.VOLCAT.VT) -
               VOLCATALOG -
               VOLUME(338001) -
               CYLINDERS(1 1))
   /*

The catalog parameters are:

NAME: Specifies the volume catalog, hlq.VOLCAT.VT.
VOLCATALOG: Specifies that the user catalog is a volume catalog.
VOLUME: Specifies that the user catalog resides on volume 338001.
CYLINDERS: Specifies that one cylinder is allocated to the catalog and that when the catalog is extended, it extends in increments of one cylinder.

All other parameters are allowed to default.

5c Connect the volume catalogs to the SMS complex.

Connect the volume catalogs to all other systems in the SMS complex that use the tape library.

Use the AMS IMPORT command to connect the general volume catalog, hlq.VOLCAT.VGENERAL and any specific volume catalog, hlq.VOLCAT.Vx.

The following function must be performed on each system in the SMS complex except the one where the catalogs have been defined.

IMPORT CONNECT VOLCATALOG OBJECTS((hlq.VOLCAT.VGENERAL) operands)
IMPORT CONNECT VOLCATALOG OBJECTS((hlq.VOLCAT.Vx) operands)

5d Define the RACF facility class profile.

Define the RACF facility class profile for access to the tape configuration database.

If you use RACF to protect your system resources, enter the following command from an authorized TSO session:

RDEFINE FACILITY STGADMIN.IGG.LIBRARY options

5e Authorize the storage administrator to the RACF facility class

The storage administrator TSO logon ID must be authorized for READ-level access to the facility class. Enter the following command to authorize the storage administrator for READ-level access.

PERMIT  STGADMIN.IGG.LIBRARY CLASS(FACILITY) ACCESS(READ) ID(logonID)

See z/OS Security Server RACF Command Language Reference for more information.