× The internal search function is temporarily non-functional. The current search engine is no longer viable and we are researching alternatives.
As a stop gap measure, we are using Google's custom search engine service.
If you know of an easy to use, open source, search engine ... please contact support@midrange.com.


  1.  Home
  2. MIDRANGE-L
  3. May 2019

RE: Tape libraries on IBM i hosting IBM i.

The only use we have for internal drives in the system unit are for VIOS. One mirrored pair for each VIOS lpar. Two redundant vios lpars.
So you're right. If you were planning on using those for IBM I, you've lost that.

All the more reason for the RFE to have tape libraries virtualized from IBM i come to fruition.

-----Original Message-----
From: MIDRANGE-L <midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Jim Oberholtzer
Sent: Tuesday, May 7, 2019 12:56 PM
To: 'Midrange Systems Technical Discussion' <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: Tape libraries on IBM i hosting IBM i.

If you buy new 8Gb fibre cards they can get pricey. Used ones are several hundred dollars.

Yes, VIOS is the best way to go, however, VIOS MUST have a dedicated disk
controller or Fibre card to boot from SAN. If you don't have a SAN then
the cost of a VIOS solution get's very high very fast.

The SAN switch is the same regardless of the presence of VIOS. To accomplish what we've been discussing you need a SAN switch. Again, the used market comes to the rescue. You only need 8GB switches and then I'll bet only 8 ports so those can be found at reasonable costs.


--
Jim Oberholtzer
Agile Technology Architects

-----Original Message-----
From: MIDRANGE-L <midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Rob Berendt
Sent: Tuesday, May 07, 2019 11:48 AM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: Tape libraries on IBM i hosting IBM i.

True you must allocate. On all lpars we use Allocate Unprotected. They just grab what's available in the pool of drives.

However I find his solution extremely expensive versus spinning up a VIOS lpar to virtualize the tape library. IBM doesn't give those cards away.
Plus the expense of a port on the SAN switch for each card. And if you're into the whole redundant thing, oh my! And then you have to concern yourself with that if you want to spin up another lpar.

-----Original Message-----
From: MIDRANGE-L <midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Jim Oberholtzer
Sent: Tuesday, May 7, 2019 12:11 PM
To: 'Midrange Systems Technical Discussion' <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: Tape libraries on IBM i hosting IBM i.

Well, not quite.

What you do is allocate unprotected. That way any of the partitions can grab a tape device as needed, then release it when it's done. To set a tape device so it is exclusive to a partition you would allocate it protected.

So, you must allocate them to start with.


--
Jim Oberholtzer
Agile Technology Architects

-----Original Message-----
From: MIDRANGE-L <midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Steinmetz, Paul via MIDRANGE-L
Sent: Tuesday, May 07, 2019 10:58 AM
To: 'Midrange Systems Technical Discussion' <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Steinmetz, Paul <PSteinmetz@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: Tape libraries on IBM i hosting IBM i.

Jim,

We have FC cards on each LPAR connected with a FC switch to the tape library.
All drives in library available to either LPAR, with the correct zoning.
No need to allocate/deallocate.

Paul

-----Original Message-----
From: MIDRANGE-L [mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jim Oberholtzer
Sent: Tuesday, May 07, 2019 11:51 AM
To: 'Midrange Systems Technical Discussion'
Subject: RE: Tape libraries on IBM i hosting IBM i.

IF you have the attachment cards, (with a SAN switch) then you can just allocate/deallocate, no real need for VIOS.

I agree VIOS is the better choice, but it can be done without.


--
Jim Oberholtzer
Agile Technology Architects

-----Original Message-----
From: MIDRANGE-L <midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Holger Scherer
Sent: Tuesday, May 07, 2019 10:30 AM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: Tape libraries on IBM i hosting IBM i.

For i on i there is not much option. Best idea would be to have a VIOS and NPIV config.

-h

Am 07.05.2019 um 15:15 schrieb Jim Oberholtzer
<midrangel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>:


Then again, a VTL all but solves the problem since they can emulate
multiple libraries on a single device. All that holds that up is the attachment card on the POWER system.

--
This is the Midrange Systems Technical Discussion (MIDRANGE-L) mailing list To post a message email: MIDRANGE-L@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To subscribe, unsubscribe, or change list options,
visit: https://lists.midrange.com/mailman/listinfo/midrange-l
or email: MIDRANGE-L-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Before posting, please take a moment to review the archives at https://archive.midrange.com/midrange-l.

Please contact support@xxxxxxxxxxxx for any subscription related questions.

Help support midrange.com by shopping at amazon.com with our affiliate link:
https://amazon.midrange.com

--
This is the Midrange Systems Technical Discussion (MIDRANGE-L) mailing list To post a message email: MIDRANGE-L@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To subscribe, unsubscribe, or change list options,
visit: https://lists.midrange.com/mailman/listinfo/midrange-l
or email: MIDRANGE-L-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Before posting, please take a moment to review the archives at https://archive.midrange.com/midrange-l.

Please contact support@xxxxxxxxxxxx for any subscription related questions.

Help support midrange.com by shopping at amazon.com with our affiliate link:
https://amazon.midrange.com
--
This is the Midrange Systems Technical Discussion (MIDRANGE-L) mailing list To post a message email: MIDRANGE-L@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To subscribe, unsubscribe, or change list options,
visit: https://lists.midrange.com/mailman/listinfo/midrange-l
or email: MIDRANGE-L-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Before posting, please take a moment to review the archives at https://archive.midrange.com/midrange-l.

Please contact support@xxxxxxxxxxxx for any subscription related questions.

Help support midrange.com by shopping at amazon.com with our affiliate link:
https://amazon.midrange.com

--
This is the Midrange Systems Technical Discussion (MIDRANGE-L) mailing list To post a message email: MIDRANGE-L@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To subscribe, unsubscribe, or change list options,
visit: https://lists.midrange.com/mailman/listinfo/midrange-l
or email: MIDRANGE-L-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Before posting, please take a moment to review the archives at https://archive.midrange.com/midrange-l.

Please contact support@xxxxxxxxxxxx for any subscription related questions.

Help support midrange.com by shopping at amazon.com with our affiliate link:
https://amazon.midrange.com
--
This is the Midrange Systems Technical Discussion (MIDRANGE-L) mailing list To post a message email: MIDRANGE-L@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To subscribe, unsubscribe, or change list options,
visit: https://lists.midrange.com/mailman/listinfo/midrange-l
or email: MIDRANGE-L-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Before posting, please take a moment to review the archives at https://archive.midrange.com/midrange-l.

Please contact support@xxxxxxxxxxxx for any subscription related questions.

Help support midrange.com by shopping at amazon.com with our affiliate link:
https://amazon.midrange.com

--
This is the Midrange Systems Technical Discussion (MIDRANGE-L) mailing list To post a message email: MIDRANGE-L@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To subscribe, unsubscribe, or change list options,
visit: https://lists.midrange.com/mailman/listinfo/midrange-l
or email: MIDRANGE-L-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Before posting, please take a moment to review the archives at https://archive.midrange.com/midrange-l.

Please contact support@xxxxxxxxxxxx for any subscription related questions.

Help support midrange.com by shopping at amazon.com with our affiliate link: https://amazon.midrange.com

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

This thread ...
Replies:
Follow On AppleNews
Return to Archive home page | Return to MIDRANGE.COM home page

This mailing list archive is Copyright 1997-2024 by midrange.com and David Gibbs as a compilation work. Use of the archive is restricted to research of a business or technical nature. Any other uses are prohibited. Full details are available on our policy page. If you have questions about this, please contact [javascript protected email address].

Operating expenses for this site are earned using the Amazon Associate program and Google Adsense.