Using a 3576, 3583, or 3584 in Stand-Alone Mode

Resolving The Problem

The 3576, 3583, and 3584 tape libraries do not have a stand-alone (sequential) mode or an automatic/manual mode; the library is always in a RANDOM mode configuration. If a user must manually move a tape volume or volumes, the preferred method for these devices is to use the library device to move the cartridge between the I/O station, a storage slot, and the drive. It is important to keep the library online during any drive usage.

The cartridge can be placed in the I/O station or moved from a storage slot and loaded into the drive from the WRKTAPCTG screen with Option 1 to add with CHKVOL set to *YES. Or, if it is already added and it is in an AVAILABLE status, it can be mounted with a CHKTAP command (Option 15 from the WRKTAPCTG screen). After the cartridge is in the drive, you should deallocate the device from the library (Option 6 from the WRKMLBSTS screen), and vary on the device description for the drive (Option 8, Option 8 from the WRKMLBSTS screen). When this is done, you should vary off the device description, reallocate the device resource to the library (Option 4 or 5 from the WRKMLBSTS screen), and eject the cartridge to the I/O using the WRKTAPCTG remove option.