Troubleshooting
Problem
Virtual Tape support was added in Technical Release 2 of R710. This document includes information on the requirement.
Resolving The Problem
Virtual Tape support was added in Technical Release 2 of R710. This document includes information on the requirement.
Physical tape drives only, no support for exporting tape image catalogs to IBM i clients:
o LTO3/LTO4/LTO5
o DAT72/DAT160/DAT320
**NOTE**
A full list of the supported devices and required PTFs are available at the following URL:
https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/i/7.3?topic=storage-client-virtual-devices-optical-tape
Notes:
1. IOP-less attachment only IOP-attached tape drives are not supported by the IBM i client . Tape library drives can only be virtualized when configured as a stand-alone device; they are not supported while in library mode. Fibre Channel tape libraries running in sequential mode and Fibre channel tape drives are supported via i hosting i. For VIOS hosted LTO5/6 you would get better potential performance using NPIV versus vSCSI.
2. The NWSD parameter "Online at IPL" should be set to *NO. Refer to DCF
for details.
3. The tape unit must be varied off on the host system in order to use the tape drive on the client system.
4. The only time a device gets virtualized is when the NWSD is varied on. When a new tape is attached to the host, do the following steps to virtualize the new tape drive. With the tape drive varied ON, on the host, shut down the clients, vary off their NWSDs, vary on their NWSDs, and activate the partitions.
5. Tape can be restricted from being virtualized to a client partition using the command CHGNWSD and Restricted device resources (RSTDDEVRSC) parameter.
For information on how to configure the virtual tape, you should refer to this document: Create a Client Partition (i, AIX, or Linux) Hosted by an i5 Server Partition: http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=nas8N1013476
|
o |
Server Partition Software -- IBM i 7.1 with Technology Refresh 2 |
| o | Client Partition Software -- IBM i 7.1 with TR2 + MF52103 -- OR – -- IBM i 7.1 + client support PTFs listed in the wiki link below -- OR – -- IBM i 6.1.1 + client support PTFs listed in the wiki link below |
Physical tape drives only, no support for exporting tape image catalogs to IBM i clients:
o LTO3/LTO4/LTO5
o DAT72/DAT160/DAT320
**NOTE**
A full list of the supported devices and required PTFs are available at the following URL:
https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/i/7.3?topic=storage-client-virtual-devices-optical-tape
Notes:
1. IOP-less attachment only IOP-attached tape drives are not supported by the IBM i client . Tape library drives can only be virtualized when configured as a stand-alone device; they are not supported while in library mode. Fibre Channel tape libraries running in sequential mode and Fibre channel tape drives are supported via i hosting i. For VIOS hosted LTO5/6 you would get better potential performance using NPIV versus vSCSI.
2. The NWSD parameter "Online at IPL" should be set to *NO. Refer to DCF
for details.3. The tape unit must be varied off on the host system in order to use the tape drive on the client system.
4. The only time a device gets virtualized is when the NWSD is varied on. When a new tape is attached to the host, do the following steps to virtualize the new tape drive. With the tape drive varied ON, on the host, shut down the clients, vary off their NWSDs, vary on their NWSDs, and activate the partitions.
5. Tape can be restricted from being virtualized to a client partition using the command CHGNWSD and Restricted device resources (RSTDDEVRSC) parameter.
For information on how to configure the virtual tape, you should refer to this document: Create a Client Partition (i, AIX, or Linux) Hosted by an i5 Server Partition: http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=nas8N1013476
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Historical Number
605169131
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Document Information
Modified date:
24 March 2025
UID
nas8N1011444