Duplicating media

Use the Duplicate Media using BRM (DUPMEDBRM) command to copy the contents of a volume or set of volumes. You can copy a single volume, a list of volumes, or a media set.

Note: The OBJDTL parameter of the DUPMEDBRM command is ignored. Duplicated media will always result in duplicated object detail, if object detail information is available for the duplicated items on the input media. The object detail of the duplicated media is not actually copied, but is "keyed" to the original saved object detail to minimize the storage BRMS requires to maintain the duplicated detail information.
Before you use the DUPMEDBRM command, however, keep the following information in mind:
  • You must have two devices to use this command, unless duplicating from a virtual device. If the devices are shared non-MLB devices, BRMS varies the devices on for you. If your device is not a shared device, you must vary it on.
  • The media or media set that you are copying must be members of the media inventory.
  • When you duplicate volumes using the DUPMEDBRM command, BRMS does not automatically save the media information updates associated with the duplicated volumes. Follow the steps outlined in Saving media information for duplicate volumes after duplicating volumes to assure the media information updates are saved and the recovery reports reflect the most current information.
  • When supplying volume serial numbers to the DUPMEDBRM commands as values for the To volume identifier field, you must provide more expired volume serial numbers to receive output copies. This is in case of any length variations between physical volumes.
  • You cannot duplicate saved items saved to TSM servers using the DUPMEDBRM command. Duplication of TSM server media is managed by the TSM administrator using TSM operations.
  • When duplicating virtual media to physical media, BRMS will then treat the physical media as the original save. This is only on the first duplication to physical media.
  • If a volume is marked for duplication, BRMS will not move the volume when movement is run.
  • If a volume that is past expiration but still marked for duplication hasn't been duplicated, BRMS will not expire the volume.
Note:
  1. The devices do not have to support the same media classes. You specify the media policy in the DUPMEDBRM command.
  2. To use DUPMEDBRM to copy a file group, the output media assumes the group number of the input media. An exception to this is a SETMEDBRM command that overrides the value for file group and type for the output volumes.
  3. The easiest approach to duplicate volumes of a parallel set is to mark the volumes for duplication then use VOL(*SEARCH) on the DUPMEDBRM command.
Parent topic: Setting up your media management operation