Using the Vault Management System (VMS) › Vaulted Tapes › Off-Site Vault Compression

Off-Site Vault Compression

As vaulting activity at your site evolves, you may eventually have large numbers of empty slots between occupied slots in your vaults. To save space, you can re-sequence the vault starting with SLOT 1.

This technique should not be used on volumes controlled by vault retention (VR=n) because the OUTDATE is recalculated and causes volumes to be retained too long.

1. Add a New Vault Name

   On the Vault Name control statement (VAULTS=) in the VPD, specify a new vault location ID to use in place of the current ID. The current ID should not be removed.

2. Redefine Associated DSN Entries
   • For each DSN= control statement that uses the vault to be re-sequenced, specify REDEFINED in the VPD.
   • Change the vault name on the V= control statement following the DSN= control statement to the new location ID.
3. Execute VMS Job with PARM=TEST for TMSVMUPD

   The VMS job should be executed using PARM=TEST in the TMSVMUPD JCL to suppress updating of the TMC. Review the CA Earl reports to determine if the movement is correct.

4. Execute VMS Job

   When you are satisfied with the results of the CA Earl reports, remove PARM=TEST from the TMSVMUPD JCL; the next execution of the VMS job establishes the reconfigured patterns. The old vault name, if not used elsewhere, can be then removed from the pattern.

5. Restore the Original Vault Name

   If it is necessary to maintain the original vault name, simply leave REDEFINED on the DSN= statement. Change the V= control statement back to the original vault name, and execute the redefined pattern a second time. The work vault name and the REDEFINED keyword can then be removed from the pattern.