You can handle large dumps, up to the combined
size of 32 DASD partitions, by creating dumps across multiple volumes.
Before you begin
Prepare a set of ECKD DASD devices for a multi-volume dump, install the stand-alone dump tool on each DASD device that is
involved. Then, perform the dump process, and copy the dump to a file in a Linux® file system.
About this task
You can specify up to 32 partitions on ECKD DASD volumes
for a multi-volume dump. The dump tool is installed on each volume involved.
The volumes must be:
In subchannel set 0.
Formatted with the compatible disk layout (cdl, the default option
when you use the dasdfmt command.)
You must specify block size 4096 for dasdfmt.
For example, Figure 1 shows three DASD volumes,
dasdb, dasdc, and dasdd, with four
partitions that are selected to contain the dump. To earmark the partition for dump, a dump
signature is written to each partition. Figure 1. Three DASD volumes with four partitions for a multi-volume
dump
The partitions need to be listed in a configuration file, for example:
/dev/dasdb2
/dev/dasdc1
/dev/dasdd1
/dev/dasdd3
You can define a maximum of three partitions on one DASD. All three volumes are
prepared for IPL; regardless of which volume you use as the dump device, the
result is the same.
The following sections take you through the entire process of creating a multi-volume dump.
