In a volume mount analyzer study, you must:

1. Determine a representative time period for the study.

   To get an accurate picture of tape mount activity, you should choose a time that includes peak loads as well as routine processing. A good starting point is to study a one month period, including weekends. Also, include month-end activity in the sample period. In any event, collect SMF records during a period that is representative of your tape usage.

2. Collect SMF records by enabling and creating the necessary SMF records during the chosen time period.

   To perform an analysis, the volume mount analyzer uses SMF data that your installation has collected over the representative time period, which should be one month. See Understanding the Input to GFTAXTR for information about the SMF records required to perform the analysis.

   To run the volume mount analyzer, you must provide the required SMF records. The volume mount analyzer needs these SMF records to generate the desired output reports.

3. Run the SMF data extractor program, GFTAXTR, once to reduce the amount of input data.

   You use the resulting output data set for the rest of the study unless you want to study another period of time.

4. Run the volume mount analyzer program, GFTAVMA, to generate both the summary and detailed reports.

   Before you run GFTAVMA, you need to understand the data set naming conventions at your installation in order to properly categorize your data. Although the volume mount analyzer can use its built-in intelligence to categorize data, its assumptions might not be completely accurate.

   To determine the potential savings and costs, you are recommended to run a simple Estimate Report (see The Estimate Report for more information). Then, with subsequent GFTAVMA runs, you can isolate certain applications based on appropriate criteria, such as program name or data set name. A suggested implementation usually contains INCLUDEs of program names and, optionally, some EXCLUDEs of data set names. See Include/Exclude Filters for more information.

5. Analyze the results.

   At this time, construct the necessary INCLUDE or EXCLUDE filters and use the volume mount analyzer keywords. You can run GFTAVMA as many times as needed, until you are satisfied with the results.

6. Determine whether you want to implement tape mount management.