BRMS: argh!!!!!

I have a system I do a BRMS save to virtual tape. I ftp that over to
another system and then I do a DUPMEDBRM to physical tape. Been working
for quite some time now.

Like an idiot I've never tried a restore.

Put on some PTF's over the weekend.

Now the DUPMEDBRM fails.

Called IBM. Opened PMR. What IBM is telling me is that the DUPMEDBRM
never really worked. To prove it they said pick one of those volumes and
do an option 13 to display what is saved on that tape (No, this does NOT
run a DSPTAP! It looks at the BRMS catalog of what is on the tape.)

Well, the option 13 tells me these tapes are really all blank.

Well, isn't that special?

Something in my mind is telling me that I did do the option 13 in the past
and noticed stuff but now my confidence is shaken to the core and the only
point of that exercise would be to cover my butt. To me, I'd rather
expend the energy getting good backups.

IBM has opened a discussion group on that PMR.

I told them that it's not a sev 1 as I am not glued to the phone waiting
in front of my computer 24x7. But whatever severity is immediately below
that. I think I sufficiently expressed my angst.


Rob Berendt