Defining a basic copy request based on volsers

Edit online

When defining a copy request, you must first create a basic copy request based on either volume serial numbers (volsers) or data set names. This procedure describes how create a basic copy request based on volume serial numbers (volsers).

About this task

To define a basic copy request based on volume serial numbers:

Procedure

  1. From the Tape Optimizer Primary Menu panel, choose option 2. Copy Requests.
    The Copy Requests panel opens, as shown in the following figure:
    Figure 1. Copy Requests panel
       Menu    Help 
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
            IBM Tivoli Tape Optimizer on z/OS - Copy Requests 
 COMMAND => ____________________________________________________________________
 
 Enter "/" to select option
    _ Create a new tape copy request by VOLSER 
    _ Create a new tape copy request by Data set name or mask

 Enter END to return

 Enter "/" next to a request to select for submit, edit or delete
   Sel    - Req -   - Req -   - Req -     - Tape Range -    - Status -   - RQDB - 
            Num       Date      Time       Start    End
    _     00001     06/03/10  12:47:29                        PEND START
    _     00004     06/03/10  12:43:46    C50023              ACTIVE       00
    _     00005     06/03/10  12:26:03    C50025              PEND START
  ******************************* Bottom of data ********************************

    The bottom portion of this panel lists the copy requests that you previously defined and that have not yet been deleted. The list contains the following columns:

    Req Num
    A unique number that Tape Optimizer generates for a copy request to identify it.
    Req Date
    The date (YY/MM/DD) on which the copy request was created.
    Req Time
    The 24-hour time (HH:MM:SS) when the copy request was created.
    Tape Range
    The starting and ending volser values or data set names that define a range of input tapes or data sets to copy.
    Status
    One of the following copy request statuses: PEND START (pending, not yet started), BUILDCOPY (Tape Optimizer is scanning the DFSMSrmm™ tape database to find the tapes that match the copy criteria), PEND RSTRT (pending, was stopped and is now waiting to be restarted), ACTIVE (running), and PEND COMP (done, will be deleted the next time you start the product).
    Note: A job might have the status ACTIVE or BUILDCOPY even if it terminated abnormally or was canceled. You can check whether these copy requests are actually running from SDSF. If an ACTIVE request is not running, you must either delete it or resubmit it. If a BUILDCOPY request is not running, you can edit it to correct any problems and then resubmit it, or delete it. If you do not take these remedial actions, you will not be able to run other copy requests.
    RQDB
    The ID for the Request Database that Tape Optimizer assigned to the copy request. This ID can be a number from 00 through 09. The value will be 00 unless you defined multiple Request Databases for multiple Tape Optimizer instances.
  2. Type a forward slash (/) next to the Create a new tape copy request by VOLSER option and press Enter.
    The Create/Edit Request panel opens, as shown in the following figure:
    Figure 2. Create/Edit Request panel (for volsers)
       Menu      Filters      Options      Help
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      IBM Tivoli Tape Optimizer on z/OS - Create/Edit Request -
 COMMAND ===> __________________________________________________________________

 Specify a tape unit name or storage class (STORCLAS):
   Input Tape Esoteric or Generic Unit Name . . . . . . . . . ________
   Input Tape SMS Storage Class . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ________
 
   Output Tape Esoteric or Generic Unit Name. . . . . . . . . ________
   Output Tape SMS Storage Class. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ________
   Output Tape SMS Data Class.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ________
   Output Tape SMS Special Expiration Date. . . . . . . . . . ________

 Stack Input Tape Volumes on Output Tapes . . . . . . . . . . _  "/" to Select

 Enter END to continue or CANCEL to return without saving.

 Specify a list of single TAPE VOLSERs or TAPE VOLSER ranges to be copied.

          - Starting VOLSER -   - Ending VOLSER - 
               ______                ______
               ______                ______ 
               ______                ______ 
               ______                ______
               ______                ______ 
 ******************************* Bottom of data ********************************
  3. To identify the input tape drives to use, complete one of the following fields:
    • In the Input Tape Esoteric or Generic Unit Name field, type the name of an esoteric (a group of tape devices), a generic unit name, or the hexadecimal address of a specific tape unit to identify the tape drive or drives to use for reading data from the input tapes. This value can be up to eight characters long. For example, you could specify "CART" as an esoteric, "3490" as a generic unit name, or "A80" as a unit address.

      If you previously selected the Perform unit name validity check option on the General Parameters panel, Tape Optimizer will check the validity of the unit name that you specify. If the name is invalid, the Invalid Unit Name window is displayed. In this event, either specify CANCEL if you want to discard the invalid unit name and specify another name, or specify END if you want Tape Optimizer to accept the invalid unit name. You might want Tape Optimizer to accept an invalid unit name if your SMS routines can interpret the name or if you plan to run the copy job on a processor where the name is valid.

    • If your site uses SMS to manage tape drives, you can specify an SMS storage class. In the Input Tape SMS Storage Class field, type the name of the storage class that you want the system to use for allocating SMS-managed input tape drives for the copy request. If you are unsure about which storage class to use, contact your system administrator.
    Tip: Ensure that all input tapes can be mounted on the input device. Any tapes that the input device cannot read will not be copied.
  4. To identify the output tape drives, complete one of the following fields:
    • In the Output Tape Esoteric or Generic Unit Name field, type the name of an esoteric, a generic unit name, or the hexadecimal address of a tape unit to identify the tape drive or drives to use for writing data to output tapes. This value can be up to eight characters long.

      If the Invalid Unit Name window is displayed, either specify CANCEL to discard the invalid unit name so that you can specify another name, or specify END to have Tape Optimizer accept the invalid unit name.

    • If your site uses SMS to manage tape drives, you can specify an SMS storage class. In the Output Tape SMS Storage Class field, type the name of the storage class that you want the system to use for allocating SMS-managed output tape drives for the copy request. If you are unsure about which storage class to use, contact your system administrator.
    • If your site uses SMS to manage tape drives, you can specify a SMS data class that will be passed to SMS tape drive allocation. Based on the data class specified, the user's SMS ACS exit can then select special tape drive features such as encryption. In the Output Tape SMS Data Class field, type the name of the data class that you want the system to use.
    • If your site uses SMS to manage tape drives, you can pass special expiration dates, such 99000, to your system's SMS ACS exit. The routine can set the SMS management class based on the date. If the management class matches a RMM Vital Record rule, then the rule will protect the tape. It is important to note that the final expiration date on the new tape will still be overwritten by the expiration date found on the input tape during the RMM variable copy. In the Output Tape Special Expiration Data field, specify a date in the format YYDDD or YYYDDD.
    Tip: Ensure that all output tapes can be mounted on the output device. Any tapes that the output device cannot read will not be copied.
  5. In the Stack Input Tape Volumes on Output Tapes field, type a forward slash (/) if you want to stack tape volumes onto output tapes to optimize tape media utilization.
    If you select this field, you can set optional stacked tape utilization limits for determining when Tape Optimizer loads new output tapes. To do so, use the Options pull-down menu.
    • If you select to stack tape volumes and the input tapes have the expiration dates less than or equal to the current day plus 5, then the Tape Optimizer sets the expiration date as the current date plus 5 for the stacked tape.
    • If you select to stack tape volumes and the input tapes have the expiration dates greater than the current day plus 5, then the Tape Optimizer sets the expiration date as a maximum expiration date for the stacked tape.
  6. In the Starting VOLSER and Ending VOLSER columns at the bottom of the panel, specify volser ranges, individual volser values, volser masks, or a combination of these entries, as follows:
    • To specify an individual volser, type a volser value in the Starting VOLSER column and leave the Ending VOLSER column blank. A volser value can be from one to six characters long and can include alphanumeric characters, national characters, and special characters.
    • To specify a volser range, type a volser value in the Starting VOLSER column and a volser value in the Ending VOLSER column. The ending volser value must be greater than the starting volser value. (If the ending volser is equal to or less than the starting volser, the range is invalid.) Tape Optimizer will copy the specified volsers and all intermediate volsers in the range.
    • To specify a volser mask, type the first few characters of a volser value followed by the asterisk (*) wildcard character (for example, CS*) in the Starting VOLSER column. Leave the Ending VOLSER column blank. Tape Optimizer will copy all tape volumes that have volsers starting with the characters you type.

    All entries require a value in the Starting VOLSER column. If an entry has a value in the Ending VOLSER column only, it will not be copied. If you fill all of the entry lines, press Enter after the entry on the last line to add more lines at the bottom.

    Tape Optimizer will copy the tape volumes in the order in which you specify their volsers. If Tape Optimizer cannot find a tape volume, it continues to the next volser in a volser range or to the next volser in the list. When a tape is selected for copying, the entire tape chain to which it belongs is eligible for copying.

  7. Optionally, use the Filters and Options pull-down menus to refine the copy request.
    You can create filters for refining the set of input tapes or data sets to copy and set various copy options.
  8. When you are finished, press F3.
    The JCL for the copy job is displayed in an ISPF Edit panel. The location of the JCL member is shown at the top. You can save the JCL to another location, if necessary. For example, you might want to move it to a location from which it can be run by a job scheduler.
  9. Press F3 (Exit) to return to the Copy Requests panel.