Initialize a tape on 3581 MLB

["Jeff Crosby" <jlcrosby@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Last week, I whined that I could not initialize a new tape on a 3581 as an
MLB.  What I had been doing was:

1) VRYCFG TAPMLB01 *OFF
2) VRYCFG TAP01 *ON
3) INZTAP on device TAP01
4) VRYCFG TAP01 *OFF
5) VRYCFG TAPMLB01 *ON
6) Add the media to BRMS

It was suggested to open a PMR with IBM.  I did.  Here is how to initialize
a tape on a 3581 MLB without a barcode reader:

1) Go to the front panel of the 3581 and set it to sequential mode
2) Power cycle the 3581
3) Either: a) VRYCFG TAPMLB01 *OFF followed by
                VRYCFG TAPMLB01 *ON RESET(*YES)
       Or: b) IPL the i5
4) Do a DSPTAPCTG to get a full inventory of the tapes
5) The initial tape name SLT001 needs to be replaced by NLT001.  Example:
INZTAP DEV(TAPMLB01) NEWVOL(myname) VOL(NLT001)
6) Run ADDMLMBRM or ADDMEDBRM
7) Go to the front panel of the 3581 and set it back to random mode
8) Power cycle the 3581
9) Either: a) VRYCFG TAPMLB01 *OFF followed by
                VRYCFG TAPMLB01 *ON RESET(*YES)
       Or: b) IPL the i5

Voila.

I think I'll keep doing the way I have been doing it. <g>