Thanks for the thought but I don't think that's it - there really is just
one tape drive and it's in regular use from the z/OS LPARS.
I HAVE (just) successfully used TAPE WVOL1 volser to write a VOL1 label o
nto
a tape - this was part of a double-check that the tape WAS fully rewound
prior to the write (from the HELP, the usual cause of HCP584I would seem
to
be attempting to write - in some circumstances - to a previously-written
tape without ensuring one is at the beginning). However, an
immediately-following TAPE DUMP * * A gave us the following on OPERATOR:
17:30:49 HCPERP2252I TAPE 0500 PATH 50 NOT OPERATIONAL
17:30:49 HCPERP2252I TAPE 0500 PATH 50 NOT OPERATIONAL
17:30:49 HCPERP602I TAPE 0500 AN INTERFACE CONTROL CHECK OCCURRED
17:30:49 HCPERP6303I SENSE = 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 000000
00
17:30:49 HCPERP6303I 00000000 00000000 00000000
17:30:49 HCPERP6304I IRB = 04C24017 6DF3DD30 00020000 0080C400
17:30:49 HCPERP6305I USERID = MAINT
17:30:49 HCPERP2216I CHANNEL PATH ID = 50
17:30:49 HCPERP2220I PHYSICAL CHANNEL PATH ID = 0100
along with:
HCPDPM1280E Device 0181 not usable; assign lost
on MAINT.
:sigh.
