Virtual tape processing is the similar to physical tape processing. Only difference is that virtual tapes are files are on a storage array and the physical tapes are square boxes you can tote in your hand.
So you need to determine what are the requirements for a tape to go scratch. Once that point in time occurs for scratching the tapes, the storage is reclaimed in the tape storage array. As others have pointed out, the storage can be reclaimed if the physical storage on the Virtual storage array for tape happens (95% for example), it will start to reclaim what it can. If you have a tape management system like CA1, TLMS, etc.... Then you need to find out what their requirements are for scratching the tape. It is best if the two environments (tape management system and virtual tape system) use a same point in time to scratch tapes. When we first installed our VTS, we had X days for the VTS and Y days for CA1. Needless to say, we got several issues where the tape looked like it should be viable but became scratched. We later sync'd the two up to 2 days for both. You also need to know how much physical storage is on the VTS and how much is being used. Too little physical storage could cause the VTS to start reclaiming tapes that are scratched more quickly. The relationship between your tape, when it gets scratched and when the virtual tape storage system recovers that data will be unique for your shop. If you can contact the group responsible for supporting your virtual tapes, they can probably give you better answers. Things to review 1) What is the tape management system (TMS)? 2) When does the TMS scratch tapes 3) When does the VTS scratch tapes 4) How much storage is on the VTS and how much is being used? 5) How long do you have after the TMS scratches the tape before the VTS reclaims the space? Next review how your tape dataset is being created. What is the EXPDT or RETPD for the dataset? Is it long enough? Do you need to extend that timeframe? Lizette > -----Original Message----- > From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU] On > Behalf Of John Dawes > Sent: Monday, April 25, 2016 9:27 AM > To: IBM-MAIN@LISTSERV.UA.EDU > Subject: Re: VIRTUAL TAPE PECULIARITY > > Is it safe to say that once a tape goes scratch all the data is deleted? > > Also, is the same volume serial number - in this case A15886 - is kept and > reused? > > Please bear with me because I am not very familiar with virtual tape > processing. > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
