Tape library use without a media management application
While a media management application greatly simplifies and extends a tape library's capabilities, you can perform many tape functions in a IBM® i environment with control language (CL) commands, which are part of the operating system.
The following table shows the typical setup and operational tasks and associated CL commands for the tape library.
Note: You need to use these commands if you do not use a media management
application such as BRMS.
| Task | Command |
|---|---|
| Creating a tape library device description | Auto-configured or use Create Device Description (Media Library) (CRTDEVMLB) |
| Displaying RS-232/LAN resource and description | Display Hardware Resources (DSPHDWRSC) |
| Configuring the 3494 communication (RS232/LAN/TCP) | Configure Device Media Library (CFGDEVMLB) |
| Display LAN information for 3494 and LAN host | Display LAN Media Library (DSPLANMLB) |
| Removing a tape library device description | Delete Device Description (DLTDEVD) |
| Changing the tape library device description | Change Device Description (Media Library) (CHGDEVMLB) |
| Changing the tape library device attributes for a job | Change Job MLB Attributes (CHGJOBMLBA) command or Change Job MLB Attributes (QTACJMA) API |
| Displaying the tape library device attributes for a job | Display Job (DSPJOB) OPTION(*MLBA) or Work with Job (WRKJOB) OPTION(*MLBA) |
| Retrieving the tape library device attributes for a job | Retrieve Job MLB Attributes (QTARJMA) API |
| Displaying tape library information | Display Tape Status (DSPTAPSTS) |
| Checking the status of the tape library | Work with Media Library Status (WRKMLBSTS) |
| Creating user categories | Create Tape Category (CRTTAPCGY) |
| Mounting a category | Set Tape Category (SETTAPCGY) OPTION(*MOUNTED) |
| Demounting a category | Set Tape Category (SETTAPCGY) OPTION(*DEMOUNTED) |
| Assigning a mounted category to a different job | Set Tape Category (SETTAPCGY) OPTION(*ASSIGN) |
| Releasing a mounted category from a job | Set Tape Category (SETTAPCGY) OPTION(*RELEASE) |
| Deleting a user category. | Remove all the cartridges from the category. Use the Delete Tape Category (DLTTAPCGY ) command |
| Listing all user or system categories | Display Tape Category (DSPTAPCGY) |
| Changing the category for cartridges | Change Tape Cartridge (CHGTAPCTG) or Work with Tape Cartridges (WRKTAPCTG) |
| Inserting cartridges | Add Tape Cartridge (ADDTAPCTG) or Work with Tape Cartridges (WRKTAPCTG) |
| Ejecting cartridges | Remove Tape Cartridge (RMVTAPCTG) or Work with Tape Cartridges (WRKTAPCTG) |
| Mounting cartridges for input or output commands | Specify the tape library device and cartridge identifier with the commands |
| Demounting a cartridge | Demounting is implicit with ENDOPT(*UNLOAD), a demount of a category, or a new mount request |
| Working with a list of cartridges within a tape library | Work with Tape Cartridges (WRKTAPCTG) |
| Displaying information about a cartridge | Display Tape Cartridge (DSPTAPCTG) or Work with Tape Cartridges (WRKTAPCTG) |
| Working with the tape library resource manager queue | Work with MLB Resource Queue (WRKMLBRSCQ) |
| Retrieving the capabilities for a tape library device or resource | Retrieve Device Capabilities (QTARDCAP) API |
| Retrieve the status for a tape library device or resource | Retrieve Device Status (QTARDSTS) API |
| Retrieving the information for a tape library | Retrieve Device Information (QTARDINF) API |
Note: An end-of-tape option of *UNLOAD for any of the tape commands
causes the cartridge to be returned to a storage cell when the tape
operation has completed processing. It might not be returned to its
original storage cell. When using the *REWIND parameter the cartridge
remains in the drive after the tape operation has completed. However,
this cartridge is unloaded if another cartridge has been requested.
When using *LEAVE the cartridge remains in the drive after the tape
operation has completed.