Re: Shared tape drive for 2 LPARs

I'm not sure this is really that "simple" (even though it doesn't sound like
asking for much!)

As you have pointed out, there are many ways to remotely invoke a VRYCFG
command on another system or partition. However, in the OS/400 LPAR
environment, I think you would also need (if I have my terminology correct)
a shared bus and a shared IOP, and you would need to be able to issue
commands in the primary partition to swap the IOP between/among partitions,
keeping in mind that all devices on the IOP will swap (not necessarily just
the tape drive). This means more than just a VRYCFG command, and I don't
know if those commands exist. The only interface I have seen to do this is
an interactive screen in SST/DST, i.e. human at the console. Maybe there are
some APIs for this, perhaps even for Ops Nav? I think the vendors out there
are trying to fill in this missing piece.

The original poster did not specify hardware, and that might be important
here. Is it an external tape device with multiple interfaces or an internal
device? From the way he presented it, it sounded to me like an internal
device, but not sure.

-Marty

--__--__--

From: "Mark Waterbury" <mark.s.waterbury@worldnet.att.net>
To: <kdasto@fiskars.com>
Cc: <midrange-l@midrange.com>
Subject: Re: Shared tape drive for 2 LPARs
Date: Wed, 7 Aug 2002 17:32:19 -0600
Reply-To: midrange-l@midrange.com

...

 And, come on, you "vendors" out there; (you know who you are),
don't try to sell an "expensive" solution for a very simple problem!

 Regards,

 Mark S. Waterbury