🚀 go-pugleaf

      We have a few StorageTek autoload cartridge drives.
      What I would like to do is to automate the VMBACKUP
      backing up process after midnight using autoloading
      of cartrdiges for VMBACKUP tape mounts.

      I have no problem if I specify 1 stream of tape drive
      for the backup.  For example, if I specify tape pool
      of the following cartridges CC1221 to CC1240, I know
      that CC1221 will be the first to go and CC1222 follows
      and so on (However, I've not tested what cartridge
      VMBACKUP will ask for when some of cartridges had
      expired).  So I will place 9 cartridges on the autoloader
      (9 is the maximum) and let the backup job runs by itself.

      But my entire full backup job requires 11 to 17 cartridges.
      Hence I have to speficy two streams of drive. Using 2
      streams of drive, the sequence to tape mount request cannot
      be easily predicted.  VMBACKUP may backup more efficient
      DASD on one drive and the slower one on the other.  So
      although drive A starts first, drive B may end first
      and VMBACKUP request the next cartrdige in the sequence.

      Because of these, I would not be able to load the
      cartridges onto the autoloader and leave it overnight
      for VMBACKUP to run by itself.  System Center had got
      back to me saying this cannot be done (although note
      VMBACKUP/E) or is not recommended due to tape remount
      possibility.

      I was thinking of setting VMRMAINT as a service machine
      which will be autolog by VMSCHEDULE and invoke a SERVANT
      exec after midnight.  Before this exec is run, before the
      operators leave at 10 pm, they will pre-load the cartridges.
      Say they load CC1111 to CC1119 in Drive A and CC1120 to
      CC1129 at Drive B.

      In this servant exec, it will first issue the
      START job commands to VMBACKP.  It then goes to WAKEUP
      and waits for IUCV message from VMBACKUP.  It will monitor
      the cartridge requested by VMBACKUP.  If the cartridge
      requested by VMBACKUP on any of the drive is not as pre-loaded,
      SERVANT exec will reply REJECT and keeps on rejecting until
      VMBACKUP ask for the correct cartridge.

      Has anyone wrote a similar exec?  If you have a better solution
      I would appreciate a copy of your exec or module whatever.
      If not, I will go ahead and write it and probably some of you
      might be interested.

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* Anthony Ng                        * "Don't Look Back !"       *
* Systems Programmer                *      Luke 9:62            *
* NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE  * "Batteries NOT included,  *
* Bitnet : CCENGNM@NUSVM            *  neither any guarantte."  *
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