Re: TS2900 Tape Library in remote data center

["Larry \"DrFranken\" Bolhuis" <midrange@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I think the important question is 'Why use sequential mode?'

Yes it seems simple on the surface but it does make restoring more 
difficult, as you need to either DSPTAP ENDOPT(*UNLOAD) repeatedly until 
you get to the needed tape or use the web interface to put the correct 
tape in the drive. Worse if you forget that you've done that, you'll 
back up onto the wrong tape(s) going forward.

I would strongly recommend use of a CL, or other program, that assures 
the correct tape is in the drive before backup begins each night. There 
are several ways to accomplish this and each has strengths and weaknesses.

Perhaps the most important part, no matter how you get a tape in the 
drive for the next backup, is that eaving a stack of tapes in there 
means that fire, flood, lift truck, etc etc all risk taking out not just 
the server but all of the backup tapes as well.

This is why so many of us are now big fans of Virtual Tape Libraries. 
You get to keep you tapes on site, and off-site, at the same time and 
nobody needs to visit the data center to touch tapes!!

	- DrF

On 9/25/2022 5:33 PM, Jim Franz wrote:
> Drive in sequential mode with autoload checked and auto-clean checked.
> Goal is to have hands free tapes rotating, with auto cleaning.
> SAVLIB with end option *UNLOAD (and save will always fit on 1 tape.
>
> Will the *unload move to IO station or to an empty slot? Installer already
> left the building.
>
> Thank you,
> Jim