Scratch Pools › Implementing Scratch Pools

Implementing Scratch Pools

Implement scratch pools by first creating two files: the scratch pool definition file and the scratch pool assignment file. Then define each scratch pool in the scratch pool definition file and each pool assignment rule in the scratch pool assignment file.

1. End CA VM:Tape.
2. Choose a name for the scratch pool definition file, such as SCRPOOL NAMES, and specify it on a POOLNAME record in the VMTAPE CONFIG file:

   POOLNAME SCRPOOL NAMES
   

   The POOLNAME record specifies the name of the CMS file containing the scratch pool definitions.

   Note: For more information about using the POOLNAME record, see POOLNAME Record.

3. Choose a name for the scratch pool assignment file, such as SCRPOOL ASSIGN, and specify it on a POOLASGN record in the VMTAPE CONFIG file:

   POOLASGN SCRPOOL ASSIGN
   

   The POOLASGN record specifies the name of the CMS file containing the scratch pool assignment rules.

   Note: For more information about using the POOLASGN record, see POOLASGN Record.

4. Save and then exit the VMTAPE CONFIG file.
5. Edit the scratch pool definition file, using the name you specified in the previous steps and add a definition record for each scratch pool you want to use.

   For example, in the SCRPOOL NAMES pool definition file, to define scratch tapes in the range VM0001 to VM0999 and from VS0001 to VS0999 as members of the SYSTEM.TEST pool, add this definition record:

   SCRPOOL=SYSTEM.TEST,RANGE=VM0001-VM0999,RANGE=VS0001-VS0999
   

   Note: For more information about the format of a definition record, see Scratch Pool Definition File.

6. After you have finished adding pool definitions, save and then exit the scratch pool definition file.
7. Edit the scratch pool assignment file, using the name you specified in step 3, and add an assignment rule for each scratch request.

   For example, in the SCRPOOL ASSIGN file, add the following assignment rule to specify that any request for a scratch tape from a user ID called CORPDB with a data set name starting with SQLDS.BACKUP must be assigned a scratch tape from the BANK VAULT pool:

   DSN=SQLDS.BACKUP*,JOB=CORPDB,POOL=BANK.VAULT
   

   Note: For more information about the format of an assignment rule, see Scratch Pool Assignment File.

8. After you have finished adding assignment rules, save and then exit the scratch pool assignment file.
9. Restart CA VM:Tape.

   You can now use the tapes as defined in each scratch pool.