Here we will show you how to move your volume to a different index or slot, make your volume write protected, change the volume description, and truncate (shrink) your volume’s allocated size down to the actual size of the data.
In the previous example, a virtual volume was described with having the following attributes:
Now, if you want to change the index, write protection, description, and shrink the allocated size of the virtual volume down to the size of the data saved, then this can be performed by selecting Configuration and Service→ Hardware → Ταπε ∆εϖιχεσ → Tape Image Catalogs, Right-click your image catalog and select List Volumes, then right-click your volume and select Properties. From the Volume properties, the volume’s characteristics can be changed. Figure 3-48 on page 99 shows the use of iSeries Navigator changing the characteristics.
Note: Allocate Storage (ALCSTG) and Write Protect (WRTPTC) cannot be changed when the volume is in a MOUNTED status.
Figure 3-48 Change Volume Properties via Navigator
The Following shows the changes/results:
Volume index (IMGCLGIDX) = 8
Write Protect (WRTPTC) = Yes
Volume Description (TEXT) = Netherlands, Sweden, and United States
Maximum size (IMGSIZ) = 2000MB
Allocate Storage (ALCSTG) = Minimum storage
Data storage = 107MB (112MB total)
Dynamically allocated size (currently) = 112MB
Changes to the characteristics of your virtual media through a 5250 emulation session are performed with the Change Image Catalog Entry (CHGIMGCLGE) command.
From the Change Image Catalog Entry (CHGIMGCLGE) screen, you have the ability to change the text description, as well as the catalog index, write
protection, maximum image size, and how the storage is allocated for your virtual volume.
Figure 3-49 on page 100 gives a screen shot of the CHGIMGCLGE command:
Figure 3-49 Change volume attributes via 5250 emulation
The volume is now at index 8, the volume is write protected, and the volume has 112MB of storage allocated, but has a maximum storage of 2000MB
By displaying the attributes of the stream file, we now can see in Figure 3-50 on page 101 that the allocated storage went from 168MB down to 112MB.
Change Image Catalog Entry (CHGIMGCLGE) Type choices, press Enter.
Image catalog . . . > NIGHTLY Name Image catalog index . . . > 2 1-256, *VOL New catalog index . . . > 8 1-256, *SAME Write protect . . . > *YES *SAME, *YES, *NO Image size . . . 2000 *SAME, 48-1000000 megabytes Allocate storage size . . . > *MIN *SAME, *MIN, *IMGSIZ Text 'description' . . . 'Netherlands, Sweden, and United States' Bottom F3=Exit F4=Prompt F5=Refresh F12=Cancel F13=How to use this display F24=More keys
Figure 3-50 Stream file changed attributes via 5250 emulation
3.3 Copy Virtual Tape to Physical Tape
This section discusses the methods for copying virtual tape to physical tapes.
Although virtual tape has many benefits, it is very important to copy your virtual tape volumes to physical tapes as soon as possible. The main reason it is so important to copy to physical media is to preserve the data in the event of a disaster where the system or dasd disk drives are no longer accessible.
Most commonly, you will want to duplicate and exact copy of your virtual tape image to a physical volume. However, this section also discusses copying a portion of the virtual backup to tape as well as copying the tape image to tape where later it can be restored only as an entire image.
3.3.1 Pre-Duplication Steps
This section gives the steps necessary for checking that your volumes are ready for duplication.
1. Decide which volume and/or files require duplication 2. Ensure that the virtual tape device is Available (Varied on).
This can be checked in iSeries Navigator by clicking Configuration and Service→ Hardware → Ταπε ∆εϖιχεσ → Stand-Alone Devices and the right window pane should show your tape device with a status of AVAILABLE.
If not, then right-click your device and select Make Available
To check on a 5250 emulation screen, enter WRKDEVD *TAP on the
command line to get a listing of your tape devices and select option 8 next to your tape device to work with configuration status. The device should have a status of AVAILABLE or VARIED ON. If not, then select option 1 to make available or vary on.
3. Ensure that the image catalog, containing the volume to be duplicated, is Loaded on the virtual tape device.
This can be checked in iSeries Navigator by clicking Configuration and Service→ Hardware → Tape Devices → Image Catalogs and your image catalog in the right pane should show the image catalog in a Loaded status. If not, then right-click your image catalog and select Load Image Catalog.
From a 5250 emulation screen, use the WRKIMGCLGE command to view the status of the image catalog and the volumes. The image catalog should be in a READY status. If not, then use the LODIMGCLG command. See
“Load the image catalog in the virtual device” on page 51 for more information on loading an image catalog.
4. Ensure that the volume to be duplicated is in a Loaded or Mounted status.
This can be checked in iSeries Navigator by clicking Configuration and Service→ Hardware → Tape Devices → Image Catalogs, right-click your image catalog from the right pane and then select List volumes. You may also display the contents of the volume by right-clicking the volume and selecting Display Volume Labels or selecting Print tape to create a spool file. For more information on viewing the contents, please see 3.2.3, “Viewing your virtual volumes” on page 82.
From a 5250 emulation screen, use the WRKIMGCLGE command to view the status of the volumes. The volume to be duplicated should be in a LOADED or MOUNTED status.
5. Ensure that the target device is in an Available status (Varied on).
This can be checked in iSeries Navigator by clicking Configuration and Service→ Hardware → Tape Devices → Stand-Alone Devices and the right window pane should show your tape device with a status of AVAILABLE.
If not, then right-click your device and select Make Available
To check on a 5250 emulation screen, enter WRKDEVD *TAP on a command
device to work with configuration status. The device should have a status of AVAILABLE or VARIED ON. If not, then select option 1 to make available or vary on.
6. Ensure that a tape is Loaded or Mounted on the target tape device and is in the proper format; whether duplicating to an initialized tape or appending to an existing volume.