Introduction › Tape Data Set Protection

Tape Data Set Protection

CA 1 provides the following tape protection features:

• All multi-volume data sets are protected as they are created. Chain pointers reference the forward and backward structure of the data set, immediately identifying all associated volumes.
• Each secondary file on a tape has its own identifying record and expiration date in the CA 1 database, and is separately protected and reported on.
• If a problem occurs, an Audit data set tracks all changes to the CA 1 database to provide restoration capability up to the instant of failure. Activity reports available from the Audit data set provide detailed information about the tape processing trends in your installation. Use the reports to resolve specific tape processing problems.
• Non-label tapes are controlled with the same degree of protection provided for standard label tapes, including input data set name checking, multi-file control, and the chaining of multi-volume data sets.
• Products external to CA 1 can use and manage CA 1 controlled tapes. The External Data Manager (EDM) feature allows systems such as the IBM Hierarchical Storage Manager (DFSMShsm) to own a CA 1 controlled volume and indicate when it should be returned to scratch status. These tapes are identified on reports as EDM controlled.
• Complete security integration with external security packages (CA ACF2, CA Top Secret Security, and RACF) allows control of real-time processing, batch jobs, and online interfaces.
• External tape labels are not necessary. Provision is made for both selective label printing and the printing of labels for all output tapes. Protection is provided without the need to identify tape data sets externally.