DSM/Tape Catalog User's Guide

Introduction to DSM/TC
DSM/Tape Catalog User’s Guide — 520233-008
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Operational Characteristics

The automatic revision of a tape’s status by DSM/TC as the tape cycles through
the process of being a scratch tape, of having data written to it, and of becoming a
scratch tape again
For more information on TAPECATALOG DEFINE attributes, see:
Operational Characteristics
As an operator, keeping track of the tapes and tape files at your site is considerably
easier with DSM/TC. You can control the inventory of scratch tapes across user
groups, know which files are on which tapes, and effectively respond to tape mount
messages.
Without DSM/TC you might handle tapes and tape files with a complex system of
labels affixed to tape reels or cartridges, with additional handwritten records, or run
listings to track which files are written on which tapes. Not only is this time-consuming,
it leaves much room for error in mounting the wrong tape.
DSM/TC eliminates the problems associated with hand management of tapes and tape
files. All the information you need about your tapes and tape files is automatically
captured and stored in a catalog system that you can easily access using interactive
commands. Because DSM/TC works with the HP NonStop Kernel tape server process,
$ZSVR, all tapes are verified as being correct before the application is given access to
them. It is virtually impossible for an application to write over an unexpired tape file.
Main Components of DSM/TC
When using DSM/TC, you need to be the most familiar with these components:

Section 6, Using TAPECATALOG DEFINE Attributes

Appendix B, CLASS TAPECATALOG DEFINE Syntax Summary

Appendix C, CLASS TAPECATALOG DEFINE Consistency Checks

Appendix D, CLASS TAPE DEFINE to CLASS TAPECATALOG DEFINE Conversion

Appendix E, CLASS TAPE/TAPECATALOG DEFINE Equivalent Attributes
MEDIACOM commands Used primarily for the initial configuration of DSM/TC. After
DSM/TC is configured, they are used for management tasks.
Unless otherwise stated, all command discussions in this manual
refe
r to MEDIACOM commands.
Volume catalog Contains the information necessary to manage tape media.
File catalog Contains the information necessary to manage a tape file.
TAPECATALOG
DEFINE reque
st
Connects an application’s or utility program’s request for a tape
to the DSM/TC system.
CATALOGFILES option
(of the
standard
BACKUP and
BACKCOPY utilities)
Triggers the cataloging of all disk files written to a volume set in
one run. When the option is used, a TAPECATALOG DEFINE
must be used to describe the output tape file.