Administrator's Reference

DSMLABEL (Labeling Volumes)

Use this utility to write labels to storage volumes in preparation for using them with the TSM server. The utility works with all tape and optical drives, whether they are stand-alone units or are in libraries.

Attention: Data is lost when relabeling. Before relabeling a TSM volume, you can either move the data (MOVE DATA command) or delete the contents of the volume (DELETE VOLUME command with DISCARDDATA=YES).

It is possible to encounter an error when DSMLABEL is processing and the TSM server is simultaneously accessing drives that DSMLABEL is using. To avoid this error, perform either of the following:

Syntax

               .--------------------------------.
               V                                |
>>-dsmlabel------- -drive=-device-+----------+--+--------------->
                                  '-,element-'
 
>----+----------------+----+---------------------------+-------->
     |           (1)  |    '- -library--=----device----'
     '- -barcode------'
 
>----+----------+--+--------+----+------------------------+----->
     '- -search-'  '- -keep-'    '- -trace--=--tracefile--'
 
>----+-------------+--+----------+--+--------+-----------------><
     '- -overwrite-'  '- -format-'  '- -help-'
 

Notes:

  1. Only valid with -search.

Parameters

-drive (Required)
Specifies a drive to use. You must specify at least one drive. If the drive is within a multidrive SCSI library, you must also specify the drive's element address. The maximum number of drives you can specify is eight.

element
This parameter is optional. Use this parameter only if you specify a drive within a multidrive SCSI library. A comma must precede the element address, with no spaces between the device name and the element address. To find the element address for your library configuration, access the TSM Web site at http://www.tivoli.com/tsm . Once at the site, navigate to the device support information for the server's operating system.

-library
Specifies the library used for volume labeling. This parameter is optional. It indicates that the drives reside in a library and can be accessed using a robotic device. You can specify only one library. If you do not specify a library, the server prompts you to manually load and unload volumes.
Note:The labeling utility only attempts to label volumes that reside in the INSERT category in the library. It ignores all other volumes. This precaution prevents the inadvertent destruction of the data on volumes being actively used by other systems connected to the library device.

-barcode
Specifies to utilize the bar code reader in the SCSI device. This parameter is optional.
Note:The barcode reader scans all cartridges using the barcode string for a given cartridge as that cartridge's volume-id. It does not prompt the user for the string. If the reader does not find a barcode label on a cartridge, or if the label is not readable, then it skips that cartridge and continues processing with the next cartridge. This allows the reader to scan the entire library's cartridges without being interrupted for a single failure.

-search
Causes the labeling utility program to search the specified library for all usable volumes and to write a label to each one found. This parameter is optional; it has no effect unless the -library parameter is specified. If you omit this parameter, and you specify the -library parameter, the server prompts the operator to manually load and remove volumes from the library's entry/exit port, if available. If the library is not equipped with an entry/exit port, the server prompts the operator to load and unload volumes from the drives in the library.

-keep
This option causes the program to keep volumes inside the library after it labels them. If you do not specify this option, it returns volumes to the library's entry/exit port after it successfully labels them. If the library is not equipped with an entry/exit port, the server prompts the operator to remove volumes from the drive. This option has no effect unless you specify the -library parameter.

-trace
Creates a trace file for use by service personnel. This parameter is optional. Do not use this parameter unless there is a problem with the program.

-overwrite
Allows the program to overwrite an existing label. This parameter is optional. If omitted, the server rejects any volume with a preexisting label and requests the next unlabeled volume.

-format
Indicates that you want the media to be formatted. The only device type for which this option has an effect is a 5 1/4-inch optical drive.

-help
Displays the online help information. If you enter dsmlabel without any parameters, you will automatically receive the help screen information.

Examples

Task 1
To label tapes in a manual library, issue the following command:
dsmlabel -drive=/dev/rmt/0m

Task 2
To search an automated library for all usable volumes and label each, issue the following command:
dsmlabel -drive=/dev/rmt/0m -library=/dev/lb0 -search


[ Top of Page | Previous Page | Next Page | Table of Contents | Index ]