A storage agent is configured to access z/OS® storage resources that are controlled by a z/OS media server. The storage agent that is installed on a client system communicates with the z/OS media server over the LAN.
Figure 1. Data movement in a z/OS media
server environment.
Solid lines indicate data movement. Solid lines with arrows indicate
client data. Broken lines indicate movement of control information
and metadata.
A typical scenario for storing or retrieving data between a storage agent and z/OS media server storage consists of the following steps:
- The storage agent initiates a data request with the Tivoli® Storage Manager server to determine whether a path exists to the z/OS media server.
- The Tivoli Storage Manager server determines that a path does exist from the storage agent to the z/OS media server.
- The Tivoli Storage Manager server provides the storage agent with the z/OS media server name from the library path definition, in addition to a volume and library name. The storage agent uses the server name, volume name (PRIVATE or SCRATCH), and library path definition to establish that it is configured to access the z/OS media server. The storage agent determines the IP address, port, and password for the z/OS media server from the Tivoli Storage Manager server database.
- The storage agent sends a request for a volume mount to the z/OS media server, by using the IP address, port, and password.
- The z/OS media server authenticates the connection, completes the volume open request, and mounts the FILE or TAPE volume.
- The client, through the storage agent, sends, or receives data to or from the z/OS media server. The Tivoli Storage Manager server manages the storage agent transaction.
- The storage agent sends metadata information to the Tivoli Storage Manager server, and the server stores the information in its database.