CA TLMS is an automated tape library management system that manages tape resources and protects tape data sets from accidental destruction. In today's sophisticated data centers, decisions must be made every day to determine which tape volumes are eligible for reuse and which contain critical data that should be moved to a secure, off-site storage location. With CA TLMS, you can automate the management of your tape resources, improve the efficiency and productivity of operations personnel, and reduce the human error inherent in manual intervention.
CA TLMS provides benefits in these key areas:
CA TLMS automatically protects data on tape by gaining control at every OPEN, CLOSE or EOV (end of volume) and recording pertinent information, which it then uses to determine when the data expires. A tape volume must be in scratch status in the CA TLMS Volume Master File (VMF) before a job can overwrite it. An External Data Manager (EDM) or other volume owner is required to scratch tapes which it owns. If an active volume is accidentally mounted, CA TLMS automatically unloads the volume and requests a new mount. Multivolume data sets and multi-data set volumes are also protected:
Data set security is further enhanced by the input data set name verification feature, which extends data set name validation from the system default of 17 characters to the entire 44-character data set name.
Other data protection features may be activated using system options specified in member TLMSIPO of the CA common options library, CAI.CTAPOPTN.
Tape data sets are retained for a user-specified period. They can then be returned automatically to the scratch pool for reuse. Tapes that contain critical data sets and those that require long-term storage can be moved to off-site storage areas using CA TLMS control. Different retention criteria can be defined at the data center and for each of any off-site storage locations. CA TLMS keeps track of tapes at each off-site storage location and lets you know when they are ready to be returned to the data center for reuse. Tape volumes that are used as temporary work space are immediately available for reuse as scratch tapes.
Different retention methods are available, including catalog control, date control, cycle control, usage control and manual control. Date control allows you to use the RETPD or EXPDT JCL parameters to define keep dates for individual data sets. A default TRS retention control statement lets you select a default retention method to control all data sets that do not have their own specific retention criteria.
CA TLMS can control standard labeled, nonlabeled, or bypass- label-processing tapes. Tape volume serial numbers can be any combination of up to six alphanumeric characters. Tapes can be stored in any order in cabinets, boxes, or user-defined storage at up to five off-site storage locations. CA TLMS can control multi-data set volumes, multivolume data sets, and multiple data sets on multiple volumes. All volumes associated with a given data set or data set group are automatically chained together in the Volume Master File.
The Volume Master File keeps track of all tapes under CA TLMS control and all data sets on those tapes. CA TLMS records pertinent information into this file every time a tape data set is opened or closed or a volume ends. This file can also keep track of cleaning and certification dates and historical information on tape types, lengths, purchase dates, and manufacturers. The VMF is updated dynamically, but can also be updated manually using either the full-screen online interface or the batch update commands.
The information in the Volume Master File can be displayed and updated using online interface displays while running under various teleprocessing monitors. The screens are menu-driven. Volume information can be accessed by either the volume serial number or a data set name. VMF information can also be displayed or updated in batch mode if you do not have access to a console or want to perform batch updates quickly.
A special set of update commands can be used, if necessary, to clear fields in the Volume Master File and break or rebuild volume chains. These are documented in the Configuration Guide.
Auxiliary messages provide special handling, routing or disposition instructions. These messages are automatically displayed at the operator's console when the appropriate data set is closed. The AUX system option lets you relate specific messages to entire groups of data sets.
CA TLMS can automatically produce either standard external gummed labels for each new data set when created, or special gummed labels for volumes that are nonscratch, out of service, or outside a specified range. The gummed labels can be customized by changing the z/OS EARL Service statements.
The z/OS EARL Service report writer produces completely customized reports by selecting whatever information you need from the Volume Master File and transaction log.
Other reports can be produced with predefined report programs.
The Tape Retention System can be executed in forecast mode. The forecast reports in advance which volumes will be scratched and which volumes will be moved the next time the Tape Retention System is run. Forecast reports can also be used to validate changes to the retention criterion before executing the actual scratch run.
User-defined system options allow you to customize processing by overriding various decisions that CA TLMS has automated. These options include those related to system security, CTS, EDM (External Data Manager) tape processing, System Message Control and the activation of various CA TLMS user exits. These options are detailed in the Configuration Guide.
A number of user exits provide extended control over tape utilization and retention processing. These exits allow you to store job accounting information in the Volume Master File, change or add data to the transaction record at either OPEN or CLOSE/EOV, restrict users who can update the Retention Master File, modify VMF records so they are processed differently by the Tape Retention System, and bypass scratch processing or data set protection. All exits are documented in the Configuration Guide.
Gummed labels and VMF reports are fully customizable because they are written in z/OS EARL Service.
The Volume Master File can be backed up without affecting current tape processing. The Volume Master File can be recovered, if necessary, by restoring the most recent backup and automatically applying transactions that occurred following the backup.
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