Virtual Optical Library: VOPT Versus QOPT

Resolving The Problem

This document explains the difference between VOPT and QOPT directories and what these 2 directories actually are used for.

The VOPT and QOPT virtual optical library directories provide different views and options.

VOPT cannot  be used to access any data on the optical volumes or the actual optical volumes themselves..

The VOPT folder lists the objects QIMGCLG and the file names of the volumes. It is a logical view of the image catalog but does not contain any actual data.

VOPT is the image catalog directory that holds a list of the optical volume images and QIMGCLG is a file that the image catalog uses to manage the volume images in that catalog.

The VOPT view is of the image catalog directory; however, it does not have any visibility to the actual optical volume data.  The name of the volume image is selected during ADDIMGCLGE.  The VOPT directory is the container for the virtual optical library.

The QOPT folder is the view into the optical subsystem.  All optical volumes (regardless of device) show up under the /QOPT/ view.  The volumes in the physical optical library, physical DVD, and any virtual device would show up under /QOPT/.  When the image catalog is loaded into a virtual device (LODIMGCLG), the volume images in that catalog become actual optical volumes and show up under /QOPT/.  If the image catalog is unloaded from the device, those volumes will disappear from the view in the /QOPT/ directory.  /QOPT/ is by definition a collection of all optical volumes that are visible on the system, and the volume IDs under it must be unique.

To see a discussion of the difference between the image catalog directory view and the /QOPT/ view, you should refer to the COMMON presentation at this link IBM 3995 migration to POWER7 at the following URL: www.ibm.com/systems/power/software/i/management/storage/optical.html

The difference between the /QOPT/ view and the image catalog directory view is on pages 29-32 of the presentation.