Writing to VSE/VSAM Virtual Tapes
WRITE can only start at the beginning of a VSE/VSAM virtual tape. No rewrite or overwrite of existing data is possible except from the beginning a tape. For writing to a VSE/VSAM virtual tape more than once, the file definition (skeleton SKVTAPE) must include the REUSE parameter. Once a VTAPE STOP command has been issued, the remaining buffer content is written to tape. The tape is closed, and an end-of-volume (EOV) indicator is written. This means, no further data can be appended (added) to this particular virtual tape.
- The VSE/VSAM file is defined with REUSE.
During OPEN processing the tape is positioned to its beginning before a WRITE operation starts. Existing data is overwritten.
- The VSE/VSAM file is defined with REUSE and VTAPE START includes
the SCRATCH parameter.
SCRATCH causes the tape to be cleared before WRITE starts at the beginning of the tape.
- The VSE/VSAM file is defined with NOREUSE.
You can write to the tape only once (for backup, for example).
NOREUSE with SCRATCH is invalid and causes an error.