Conference cookie::archive_backup

    
    Hi,
    
    I am in the process of developing scratch/load capability for the
    next release of ABS, which is due some time this fall. For future
    release schedule, please contact Monica ballard (cookie::ballard)
    who is covering for our regular product manager Judy Cross this
    week and next week.
    
    For SLS qualification question on V7.X VMS, please do ask in SLS 
    conference.
                                     
    Thanks,
    Masmai

Re .1

Thanks for your most excellent update! That's exactly the sort of answer I
needed.

Regards,

Simon.

Oh, dear. It may have been the answer I wanted but not, apparantly, what my
customer wanted to hear -

> The reason for asking the question in the first place was, having read the
> article you mentioned in your mail, none of the workarounds mention were
> suitable to us.
>
> Since we run a lot of our systems in the "lights out" environment, we depend
> on the unattended backup/autosel feature doing our backups with minimum 
> operator involvement and the main reason why SLS solution was chosen in the 
> first place.
> 
> At this moment, plans to migrate all our systems to VMS 7.1 are at advanced
> stage but if as you say the ABS/SLS the functionality we require is currently
> under development and will not be available until Autumn at the earliest,these
> plans will be put in jeopardy and I am not sure will be acceptable to our
> customers.
> 
> I would prefer see a soloution or a workaround earlier.

Any words of wisdom or statements I can give my customer?

Many thanks,

Simon.

Simon,

You have to create your own workaround, being a DCL script which checks for 
expired (so freed volumes), reinit's the tapes and removes the old volume
entries in the MDMS database. You hacking with STORAGE command and DCL.

Hans

I believe there has been a Stars article written up describing
a workaround for the scratch load problem.  Can someone who has 
access to Stars post that article here please?

Thanks,
Kim

    	I believe that this is the article that you mentioned.  If not,
    	please post another one.
    
    	Chris
    
    
[ABS] ABS/MDMS How To Avoid Backup Failures With A Jukebox

     Any party granted access to the following copyrighted information
     (protected under Federal Copyright Laws), pursuant to a duly executed
     Digital Service Agreement may, under the terms of such agreement copy
     all or selected portions of this information for internal use and
     distribution only. No other copying or distribution for any other
     purpose is authorized.
Copyright (c) Digital Equipment Corporation 1997. All rights reserved.

PRODUCTS:   DIGITAL Archive/Backup System for OpenVMS (ABS), Version 2.1
            DIGITAL Archive/Backup System for OpenVMS Management Tools
               (ABS OMT), Version 2.1

COMPONENT:  Media Device Management Services (MDMS), Version 2.8A

OP/SYS:     DIGITAL OpenVMS VAX
            DIGITAL OpenVMS Alpha

SOURCE:     Digital Equipment Corporation


INTRODUCTION:

This article describes a potential problem that can be encountered when 
using Archive/Backup System for OpenVMS (ABS) or Archive/Backup System 
for OpenVMS Management (ABS OMT) with a jukebox device.  It also provides 
several workaround procedures and examples.


BACKGROUND:

The term jukebox refers to any device that can automatically access
tapes for reading or writing operations.  A robotic device inside the
jukebox moves cartridges between internal storage slots and drives.
There are two general types of tape jukeboxes, tape loader systems and
automated tape library systems.

A tape loader accepts cartridges in a magazine or carrier through a
door on its enclosure.  Current tape loaders can hold and service
between four and twelve cartridges, and house a single drive.  Some
examples of tape loaders are the TLZ7L loader and TZ875 loader.

An automated tape library system has one or more ports through which
cartridges are imported and exported.  Current automated tape
libraries can hold and service between 48 and over 300 cartridges. 
They house one or more drives.  Some examples of automated libraries
are the TL810 and TL826 library systems.

Media Device Management Services (MDMS) catalogs cartridges and helps
control access to them using records that describe attributes for
every cartridge it manages.  The records are also called volume
records because a tape cartridge is also known as a tape volume.  One
of the cartridge attributes maintained by MDMS is the name of a volume
pool.

A volume pool is not explicitly created.  It is implicitly created
whenever a volume pool name is assigned to a cartridge.  Once the
volume pool name is assigned, access to the cartridge can be
controlled through the MDMS Authorize Volume Pool Access management
feature.  This feature allows you to specify the users or processes
that may access cartridges assigned any volume pool name.

ABS requires that storage classes be defined for backup operations. 
One of the parameters that makes up a storage class is the tape pool. 
The ABS Tape Pool relates to the MDMS volume pool name.

ABS OMT does not use volume pools, so it ignores cartridges assigned a
volume pool name.


PROBLEM:

When a jukebox is used with ABS or ABS OMT, a situation may be
encountered where a backup job allocates a cartridge (an MDMS volume)
that is not physically in the jukebox.

When ABS allocates a cartridge that is not in the jukebox, the
following symptoms occur:

     o  The current backup job stops and the following error messages
        are logged in the log file: 

             Mounting          volume set member: ENT036 RVN 1
             Failed          to mount volume set after 1 attempts
             Facility          ABS:  ABS_SLS_SELECT_FAILED, Failed to
             select usable tape drive via SLS
                Line          = 4385, File = RESD$:[SRC]SLS_SERVICES.C;1
             Facility          ABS:  ABS_SLS_SELECT_FAILED, Failed to
             select usable tape drive via SLS
                Line          = 9121, File = RESD$:[SRC]SLS_SERVICES.C;1
             Facility          ABS:  ABS_PLATFORM_SPECIFIC_ERROR,
             Platform-specific error in diag block
                %SYSTEM-E-UNSUPPORTED,          unsupported operation
                or function
             Continuing          to retry every 60 seconds...
             Mounting          volume set member: ENT036 RVN 1

     o  During subsequent backup jobs, a storage class that chooses
        the missing volume fails in the same way. 


DIGITAL RESPONSE:

To avoid this problem, use the volume pool feature of MDMS.  However,
because ABS and ABS OMT are different with respect to the use of tape
pools, each requires a different approach.

ABS software allows a storage class to be associated with a specific
tape pool.  Refer to WORKAROUND 1 below for a detailed explanation of
the workaround for ABS installations.

ABS OMT software implements a limited storage class that specifies no
tape pool.  Refer to WORKAROUND 2 below for a detailed explanation of
the workaround for ABS OMT installations.


WORKAROUND 1:

To avoid the problem using ABS, define a volume pool name for
cartridges for use only when they are in the jukebox.  Use this volume
pool name in the ABS Tape Pool parameter of the storage class.

When you import a magazine or cartridges into a jukebox, set the
volume pool name of the cartridges to that referenced from the ABS
Tape Pool.

When you export the magazine or cartridges (or manually remove
cartridges from an automated tape library system), set the volume pool
name of the cartridges to something other than the ABS Tape Pool. 
Alternatively, change the volume record, setting the pool name to null
or to another name.

To set up the tape pool in ABS and the volume pool authorization in
MDMS, use the following procedure:

     1. Set the tape pool attribute of the ABS storage class that uses
        the jukebox to the name of the volume pool you have chosen.
        Enter the name of the MDMS volume pool in the "Tape Pool Name"
        field of the "Archive/Backup: MDMS Options" dialog box.

     2. Enable access to the volume pool by ABS.  Use the MDMS
        "Administrator Menu", and the "Volume Pool Authorization"
        option to authorize access to the pool by ABS. 

        NOTE:  Perform this step for the pool for each backup device
               used by ABS. 

        Step Action
        ---- ---------------------------------------------------------
        1.   Access the MDMS Administrator Menu by entering the DCL
             command: 

                  $ SLSMGR

        2.   Select the Volume Pool Authorization function from the
             numeric keypad as follows:
 
                  Enter  2  then press <Return>.
  
        3.   Invoke the record insertion feature from the numeric
             keypad as follows: 

                  Enter  8  then press <Return>.

        4.   Enter the ABS node name in the Node field, then press
             <Tab>. 
 
        5.   Enter ABS in the User name field, then press <Tab>.
 
        6.   Choose one of the following options:

                  IF you want           THEN
                  --------------------  ------------------------------
                  ABS to have access    enter the volume pool name.
                  to a specific volume
                  pool
 
                  ABS to have access    enter the volume pool name, 
                  to a specific pool    and in the next to last 
                  that also is the ABS  position of the field, enter 
                  default pool          an asterisk (*).

                  ----------------------------------------------------

Once you have set up the tape pool in ABS and the volume pool
authorization in MDMS, you must manage the movement of cartridges into
and out of the jukebox system.

When adding new cartridges for management, include all necessary
volume attributes in MDMS.  If you use a tape pool to control access
to cartridges that reside outside a jukebox, make sure the name of the
tape pool is different from the name of the pool used for the
cartridges inside the jukebox.

Once you have placed cartridges into the jukebox, set the MDMS volume
pool attribute to match the name of the ABS Tape Pool for the ABS
storage class.

Use the STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=name command interactively, or in a
command procedure.

     NOTE:  Command procedures are available to help manage
            the ABS volumes in jukeboxes.  To obtain a copy of
            these command procedures for a nominal charge,
            please contact Digital Customer Support and
            reference this article.

Before or immediately after removing the cartridges from the jukebox,
set the volume pool attribute to something other than the tape pool
referenced by the ABS storage class used inside the jukebox.


EXAMPLE TAPE LOADER POOL MANAGEMENT:

This example describes an organization that uses a tape loader system. 
The following conditions apply to the example procedure:

     o  The tape backup device is a TZ887 Tape Loader system.

     o  The configured ABS Tape Pool name for the tape loader is
        loader01pool.

     o  Tapes sent to the vault are assigned a volume pool name
        of offsite.

     o  The backup load fills seven cartridges every two days.
        When the backup jobs fill all seven cartridges, the
        operator exports the magazine and imports a magazine
        containing free cartridges.

     o  The operator initializes all cartridges and binds them
        into the magazine.

     Stage     Action
     -----     -----------------------------------------------------
     1.        When the cartridges in the magazine are filled, the
               operator removes the magazine from the loader with
               using command: 

                    $ STORAGE EXPORT MAGAZINE mag2

     2.        The operator unbinds the cartridges from the magazine
               to prepare them for shipment to an offsite location
               using these commands: 

                    $ STORAGE UNBIND wk2122 mag2
                    $ STORAGE UNBIND wk2123 mag2
                    $ STORAGE UNBIND wk2124 mag2
                    $ STORAGE UNBIND wk2125 mag2
                    $ STORAGE UNBIND wk2126 mag2
                    $ STORAGE UNBIND wk2127 mag2
                    $ STORAGE UNBIND wk2128 mag2

     3.        The operator changes the pool name of the volume
               record for each cartridge taken from the loader
               using these commands:

                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=offsite wk2122
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=offsite wk2123
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=offsite wk2124
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=offsite wk2125
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=offsite wk2126
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=offsite wk2127
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=offsite wk2128

     4.        The operator binds initialized, free cartridges
               into the magazine using these commands:

                    $ STORAGE BIND wk2129 mag2
                    $ STORAGE BIND wk2130 mag2
                    $ STORAGE BIND wk2131 mag2
                    $ STORAGE BIND wk2132 mag2
                    $ STORAGE BIND wk2133 mag2
                    $ STORAGE BIND wk2134 mag2
                    $ STORAGE BIND wk2135 mag2

     5.        The operator sets the pool name for the cartridges
               bound into the magazine using these commands:

                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=loader01pool wk2129
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=loader01pool wk2130
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=loader01pool wk2131
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=loader01pool wk2132
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=loader01pool wk2133
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=loader01pool wk2134
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=loader01pool wk2135

     6.        The operator imports the magazine into the loader
               with this command:

                    $ STORAGE IMPORT MAGAZINE mag2


EXAMPLE AUTOMATED TAPE LIBRARY POOL MANAGEMENT:

This example describes an organization that uses an automated tape
library system.  The following conditions apply to the example
procedure:

     o  The backup devices are in a TL822 Automated Tape Library
        system.

     o  The configured ABS Tape Pool name for the tape loader is
        libr23pool.

     o  Tapes sent to the vault are assigned a volume pool name
        of offsite.

     o  Once a week, the operator manually removes all cartridges
        used for the week's backup jobs. 

     o  The operator replaces the backup data cartridges with
        cartridges that are initialized ahead of time.

     o  Cartridges are not cataloged into MDMS until they are
        placed in the library.

     Stage     Action
     -----     -----------------------------------------------------
     1.        At the end of the week, the operator opens the tape
               library and removes 13 tape cartridges used for the
               previous week's backups. 
     
     2.        The operator replaces the 13 cartridges with free
               cartridges that are previously initialized and closes
               the library.  

     3.        The operator sets the pool name for the cartridges
               removed from the library with these commands:

                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=offsite enz99t
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=offsite enz99u
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=offsite enz99v
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=offsite enz99w
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=offsite enz99x
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=offsite enz99y
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=offsite enz99z
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=offsite enz01a
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=offsite enz01b
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=offsite enz01c
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=offsite enz01d
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=offsite enz01e
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=offsite enz01f

               These cartridges are now associated with the offsite
               pool. 

     4.        The operator adds the new cartridges to the MDMS
               volume database by performing an inventory of the
               library for the slots the newly added cartridges
               occupy.  In this example, the slots start at 
               number 21:

                    $ STORAGE INVENTORY JUKEBOX atl02 -
                      /ADD/SLOT_RANGE=(21,13)

     5.        The operator sets the pool name for the cartridges
               entered into the library using these commands:

                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=libr23pool enz01g
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=libr23pool enz01h
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=libr23pool enz01i
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=libr23pool enz01j
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=libr23pool enz01k
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=libr23pool enz01l
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=libr23pool enz01m
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=libr23pool enz01n
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=libr23pool enz01o
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=libr23pool enz01p
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=libr23pool enz01q
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=libr23pool enz01r


WORKAROUND 2:

To avoid the problem using ABS OMT, define a volume pool name for
cartridges that reside outside the jukebox.

When you import a magazine or cartridge into a jukebox, set the volume
pool name of the cartridges to null.

When you export the magazine or cartridges (or manually remove
cartridges from an automated tape library system), set the volume pool
name of the cartridges to something other than null.

When adding new cartridges for management, include all necessary
volume attributes in MDMS.  Assign a volume pool name to the cartridge
pool attribute for every cartridge you add that is not for use in a
jukebox by ABS OMT.

When removing the volume pool name for jukebox cartridges, set the
MDMS volume pool attribute to null once the cartridges are placed into
the jukebox.

Use the STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL="" command interactively, or in a
command procedure.

     NOTE:  Command procedures are available to help manage
            the ABS volumes in jukeboxes.  To obtain a copy of
            these command procedures for a nominal charge,
            please contact Digital Customer Support and
            reference this article.

After the cartridges are written for the backup or archive operation,
they must be exported or removed and replaced with scratch cartridges.

Before or immediately after removing the cartridges from the jukebox,
set the volume pool attribute to something other than null.

To change the volume pool name to null, use the STORAGE SET
VOLUME/POOL="" command.


EXAMPLE TAPE LOADER POOL MANAGEMENT:

This example describes an organization that uses a tape loader system. 
The following conditions apply to the example procedure:

     o  The tape backup device is a TZ887 Tape Loader system.

     o  Tapes sent to the vault are assigned a volume pool name of
        offsite. 

     o  The backup load fills seven cartridges every two days.  When
        the backup jobs fill all seven cartridges, the operator
        exports the magazine and imports a magazine containing free
        cartridges. 

     o  The operator initializes all cartridges and binds them into
        the magazine. 

     Stage     Action
     -----     -------------------------------------------------------
     1.        When the cartridges in the magazine are filled, the
               operator removes the magazine from the loader using 
               this command: 

                    $ STORAGE EXPORT MAGAZINE mag2

     2.        The operator unbinds the cartridges from the magazine
               to prepare them for shipment to an offsite location
               using these commands: 

                    $ STORAGE UNBIND wk2122 mag2
                    $ STORAGE UNBIND wk2123 mag2
                    $ STORAGE UNBIND wk2124 mag2
                    $ STORAGE UNBIND wk2125 mag2
                    $ STORAGE UNBIND wk2126 mag2
                    $ STORAGE UNBIND wk2127 mag2
                    $ STORAGE UNBIND wk2128 mag2

     3.        The operator changes the POOL name of the volume record
               for each cartridge taken from the loader using these
               commands: 

                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=offsite wk2122
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=offsite wk2123
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=offsite wk2124
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=offsite wk2125
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=offsite wk2126
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=offsite wk2127
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=offsite wk2128

     4.        The operator binds initialized, free cartridges into
               the magazine using these commands: 

                    $ STORAGE BIND wk2129 mag2
                    $ STORAGE BIND wk2130 mag2
                    $ STORAGE BIND wk2131 mag2
                    $ STORAGE BIND wk2132 mag2
                    $ STORAGE BIND wk2133 mag2
                    $ STORAGE BIND wk2134 mag2
                    $ STORAGE BIND wk2135 mag2

     5.        The operator sets the null pool name for the cartridges
               bound into the magazine using these commands:

                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL="" wk2129
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL="" wk2130
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL="" wk2131
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL="" wk2132
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL="" wk2133
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL="" wk2134
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL="" wk2135

     6.        The operator imports the magazine into the loader with
               using command:

                    $ STORAGE IMPORT MAGAZINE mag2


EXAMPLE AUTOMATED TAPE LIBRARY POOL MANAGEMENT:

This example describes an organization that uses an automated tape
library system.  The following conditions apply to the example
procedure:

     o  The backup devices are in a TL822 Automated Tape Library
        system.

     o  Tapes sent to the vault are assigned a volume pool name
        of offsite.

     o  Once a week, the operator manually removes all cartridges 
        used for the week's backup jobs.

     o  The operator replaces the backup data cartridges with
        cartridges that are initialized ahead of time.

     o  Cartridges are not cataloged into MDMS until they are
        placed in the library.

     Stage     Action
     -----     ----------------------------------------------------
     1.        At the end of the week, the operator opens the tape
               library and removes 13 tape cartridges used for the
               previous week's backups. 
       
     2.        The operator replaces the 13 cartridges with free
               cartridges that are previously initialized and closes
               the library. 

     3.        The operator sets the pool name for the cartridges
               removed from the library using these commands:

                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=offsite enz99t
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=offsite enz99u
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=offsite enz99v
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=offsite enz99w
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=offsite enz99x
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=offsite enz99y
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=offsite enz99z
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=offsite enz01a
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=offsite enz01b
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=offsite enz01c
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=offsite enz01d
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=offsite enz01e
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL=offsite enz01f

               These cartridges are now associated with the offsite
               pool. 

     4.        The operator adds the new cartridges to the MDMS
               volume database by performing an inventory of the
               library for the slots the newly added cartridges
               occupy.  In this example, the slots start at
               number 21:

                    $ STORAGE INVENTORY JUKEBOX atl02 -
                      /ADD/SLOT_RANGE=(21,13)

     5.        The operator sets the null pool name for the
               cartridges entered into the library with these
               commands:

                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL="" enz01g
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL="" enz01h
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL="" enz01i
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL="" enz01j
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL="" enz01k
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL="" enz01l
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL="" enz01m
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL="" enz01n
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL="" enz01o
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL="" enz01p
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL="" enz01q
                    $ STORAGE SET VOLUME/POOL="" enz01r





REFERENCES:

"Media and Device Management Services for OpenVMS Release Notes",
Version 2.8A, January 1997.