Usage notes for Tape Manager catalog operations

Consider the following when using the TAPEMNT command with the Tape Manager catalog:

  1. A scratch request will fail if there are no free tapes available for the pool. The pool will be checked for free tapes first. If the pool has been defined with a FREEPOOL, that pool will be checked next. If the pool is authorized to use the system free pool, that pool will be checked next.
  2. If the volume ID is specified and the volume is in the system pool, the status of the tape will not be changed when the tape is unmounted.
  3. If RDEV is specified and the volume becomes available on a different device, different processing occurs, depending on the volume library type (MAN or ATL).
    • A volume with a manual library type will be unloaded and the mount will remain pending.
    • A volume with an automated library type will be given to the attach ID and an informational message (191) will be issued.
    Generally, it is not recommended that you specify RDEV for mounts, especially library mounts.
  4. If DEVPOOL is specified and a volume becomes available on a device that is not explicitly associated with the device pool, different processing occurs depending on the volume library type (MAN or ATL).
    • A volume with a manual library type will be unloaded and the mount will remain pending.
    • A volume with an automated library type will be given to the attach ID and an informational message (EUM0191I) will be issued.
  5. If DEVPOOL is specified on the command and there are no devices associated with the requested device pool, the mount request will fail since there is no way to validate that a device is in the pool.

    For a Tape Manager catalog (non-RMM) scratch mount request, the system will select a scratch volume based on the pool media type. If the volume is mounted on a device that is not associated with the device pool, the mount request will remain in a pending status. No checking is performed to verify that the selected volume is compatible with the device pool for which the request was made.

  6. If an ATL mount request is cancelled by the Library Manager, ensure that the volume is in the ATL.
  7. The expiration date will be set to the default for R/W mounts whenever "no expiration" is specified on the TAPEMNT command, for both scratch and volume-specific mounts.
  8. A system administrator can move volumes into and out of private pools, but administrators must be explicitly authorized (using the POOLACC command) to mount tapes that are in a private pool. This requirement means that a command will be logged that will show an administrator was authorized to mount volumes from a private pool using the TAPEMNT command.