RE: BRMS sharing 1 tape between 2 systems

["Steinmetz, Paul" <PSteinmetz@xxxxxxxxxx>]

I have a tape library, but I still wanted to append saves from different systems to the same volume, save on volumes used. IBM told me that BRMS would get confused,  cause problems, that is why it is not allowed.

-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Evan Harris
Sent: Tuesday, May 07, 2013 3:21 PM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: Re: BRMS sharing 1 tape between 2 systems

Rob

That is what the job logs and testing shows happen.

There is a DDM request to the system that owns the tape fiollowed by a message saying it can;t be used, (presumably because it is in use already).

To answer you earlier question, as I said originally they are both guest partitions. the tape is varied on at start of backup and varied off at end; it'sd also left varied off on the host partition.The vary on/opff can be done via a BRMS exit or by specifying that the drive is a shared drive.




On Wed, May 8, 2013 at 1:22 AM, <rob@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> So I guess if it violates ANY of those it rejects that tape?  Or, is 
> it if violates one but passes another then maybe it can use it?  If 
> it's the former then this kills it:
> -  Owned by the requesting system
> Which, on an expired tape, isn't a show stopper.  Because if the 
> systems are communicating the requesting system will talk to the 
> owning system of an expired tape and say the requestor is out of tapes 
> and notices you have a few, may he borrow this one?.  But maybe it 
> acts different on a non expired tape.
>
>
> Rob Berendt
> --
> IBM Certified System Administrator - IBM i 6.1 Group Dekko Dept 1600 
> Mail to:  2505 Dekko Drive
>           Garrett, IN 46738
> Ship to:  Dock 108
>           6928N 400E
>           Kendallville, IN 46755
> http://www.dekko.com
>
>
>
>
>
> From:   "Steinmetz, Paul" <PSteinmetz@xxxxxxxxxx>
> To:     "'Midrange Systems Technical Discussion'"
> <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>,
> Date:   05/07/2013 08:40 AM
> Subject:        RE: BRMS sharing 1 tape between 2 systems
> Sent by:        midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
>
>
>
> Tapes can easily be shared between systems, but the 1st system to use 
> a tape becomes the owner of that tape. That tape can then only be used 
> by that system. Once its expired, the ownership can change.
> Also, you can only APPEND to tapes owned by that system.
>
> I wanted to do same scenario, could be done, per IBM.
> BRMS append rules below.
>
> When you select *YES at the Append to media prompt, BRMS takes the 
> following steps to select the volumes to append:
> v    When selecting volumes for media libraries, BRMS determines if the
> last volume that is used
> can also be used for the append operation. The media class is the 
> determining factor. When selecting volumes for stand-alone drives, 
> BRMS issues message BRM1472, which nominates suitable candidate 
> volumes.
> v    BRMS selects an active volume with attributes that match those in the
> appropriate media
> policy. BRMS
> uses the following to check if the volume is available for appending:
> -  Same media class
> -  Same storage location
> -  Same expiration date
> -  Owned by the requesting system
> -  Same move policy
> -  Same secure attribute
> v
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx [ 
> mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of rob@xxxxxxxxx
> Sent: Tuesday, May 07, 2013 8:20 AM
> To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
> Subject: Re: BRMS sharing 1 tape between 2 systems
>
> Jack's email seems to indicate that what BRMS is trying to do is to 
> communicate with the other system and ask it "are you done with all 
> the data on this tape?  Like, is it expired?  And, if so, may I use it 
> on my system?".  I can see BRMS doing that.
>
> If it's standalone, how do you share it between systems?  Dynamic lpar 
> I/O move?
>
> Can a virtual tape be used?  If so, will a DUPMEDBRM support appending?
> And, will it support appending to a tape also used by another system?
>
> My guess is that you have two or more lpars.  They don't fill up a 
> single tape each.  You'd like to combine them together so that when 
> you ship them offsite you can minimize the number of tapes tied up in 
> a father/grandfather/etc situation.  Interesting.  Good luck.  If you 
> can't figure it out open up a question pmr with IBM.  If they tell you 
> it's not currently supported open up a DCR.  Sounds reasonable.  If 
> anyone can keep track of which tape contains which object from which 
> system after all that, it will be BRMS.
>
>
> Rob Berendt
> --
> IBM Certified System Administrator - IBM i 6.1 Group Dekko Dept 1600 
> Mail
> to:  2505 Dekko Drive
>           Garrett, IN 46738
> Ship to:  Dock 108
>           6928N 400E
>           Kendallville, IN 46755
> http://www.dekko.com
>
>
>
>
>
> From:   Evan Harris <auctionitis@xxxxxxxxx>
> To:     Midrange Systems Technical Discussion <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>,
> Date:   05/07/2013 02:49 AM
> Subject:        BRMS sharing 1 tape between 2 systems
> Sent by:        midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
>
>
>
> I'm working on a site running V7R1 TR6 that uses BRMS to manage their 
> backups. BRMS networking is set up and active and media can be seen 
> between systems,
>
> They have a scenario where they want to backup 2 guest partitions to a 
> single tape. They only have standalone tape drives available, no tape 
> library.
>
> - The drive is available on the second system
> - The media class is set to SHARE YES.
> - The backup control group specifies APPEND *YES
>
> Backups fails with message BRM1518 Volume xxx cannot be used on this 
> system.
>
> Second level text provides additional information that "media 
> management indicates that the volume is not to be shared between 
> systems" and provides details of the back on the first partition.
>
> Is it actually possible to do what the customer wants to do ?
>
> Is the "sharing" that BRMS does between systems limited to sharing 
> common media and tracking, but backups to be appended to a tape must 
> be appended to a tape already used by the same system ?
>
> I can understand why this might be so, but would like to confirm one 
> way or another. Any references to manuals or documentation would be 
> appreciated.
>
> --
>
> Regards
> Evan Harris
> --
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