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Administrator's Guide


Managing Server Requests

TSM displays requests and status messages to all administrative clients that are started in console mode. These request messages often have a time limit. If the request is not fulfilled within the time limit, the operation times out and fails.

For manual libraries, TSM detects when there is a cartridge loaded in a drive, so no operator reply is necessary. For automated libraries, commands such as CHECKIN LIBVOLUME, LABEL LIBVOLUME, and CHECKOUT LIBVOLUME involve inserting cartridges into slots and issuing a reply messge.

Task Required Privilege Class
Starting the Administrative Client as a Server Console Monitor Any Administrator
Displaying Information About Volumes that are Currently Mounted Any Administrator
Displaying Information about Pending Mount Requests Operator
Replying to Mount Requests Operator
Canceling Mount Requests Operator
Responding to Requests for Volume Check-in System or Unrestricted Storage
Dismounting Idle Volumes Operator
Dismounting Volumes from REMOVABLEFILE Devices Operator

Starting the Administrative Client as a Server Console Monitor

You can display mount requests and status messages by starting the administrative client in console mode. However, if the server is started as a Windows service, which is recommended, a server console is required to see messages. To start the administrative client as a server console monitor:

  1. From the TSM Console, expand the tree for the machine you are configuring.
  2. Expand the server you want to work with and then expand Reports.
  3. Click Monitor. A server console monitor opens in the right pane.
  4. Click Start.

To start a server console monitor from an operating system command line, enter this command:

> dsmadmc -consolemode

Displaying Information About Volumes that are Currently Mounted

Operators can issue the QUERY MOUNT command to display the volumes currently mounted by TSM. The information lists mounted volumes, the drives on which they are mounted, and whether the volumes are currently in use.

Displaying Information about Pending Mount Requests

You can display information about pending mount requests either by checking the mount message queue on a server console monitor or by issuing the QUERY REQUEST command. TSM displays a message similar to the following:

ANR8352I Requests outstanding:
ANR8326I 001: Mount DLT volume VOL1 R/W in drive D1 (MT4) of library
MYMANLIB within 60 minutes.
 

TSM displays a 3-digit request ID number as part of the message. The request ID number can also be obtained by issuing a QUERY REQUEST command. If the request requires the operator to provide a device to be used for the mount, the second parameter for this command is a device name.

Replying to Mount Requests

For automated libraries, operators must issue the REPLY command in reply to mount requests, or the server waits until the mount-wait-time has passed before resuming processing. Manual libraries do not require a reply because TSM detects when there is a cartridge loaded in the drive.

The first parameter for the REPLY command is the 3-digit request ID number that indicates which of the pending mount requests has been completed. For example, an operator can enter the following command to respond to request 001 in the previous code sample.

reply 001

Canceling Mount Requests

You can issue the CANCEL REQUEST command if a mount request for a manual library cannot be satisfied. TSM cancels the request and the operation that required the volume fails.

The CANCEL REQUEST command must include the request identification number. This number is included in the request message, or it can be obtained by issuing a QUERY REQUEST command, as described in Displaying Information about Pending Mount Requests.

Canceling Mount Requests for Volumes that have been Removed from the Library Device

You may occasionally remove media from a library with the intention of storing or destroying the media. If, after the media have been removed, TSM requests the volumes, the you can cancel the request with the CANCEL REQUEST command. You can ensure that the server does not try to mount the requested volume again by specifying the PERMANENT parameter to mark the volume as unavailable.

For most of the requests associated with automated libraries, the TSM CANCEL REQUEST command is not accepted by the server; an operator must perform a hardware or system action to cancel the requested mount.

Responding to Requests for Volume Check-in

Operators may occasionally need to check additional volumes into an automated library, for example, when TSM cannot locate a volume it requires from the volume inventory. If the requested volume is available, place the volume in the device and check in the volume. See Checking Media into Automated Library Devices.

If the volume requested is unavailable (lost or destroyed):

  1. Update the access mode of the volume to UNAVAILABLE by using the UPDATE VOLUME command.
  2. Cancel the server's request for check-in by using the CANCEL REQUEST command. (Do not cancel the client process that caused the request.) To get the ID of the request to cancel, use the QUERY REQUEST command.

If operators do not respond to check-in requests within the mount-wait period, TSM marks the volume as unavailable. The mount-wait period is set in the device class of the storage pool.

Dismounting Idle Volumes

You can issue the DISMOUNT VOLUME command to explicitly request that an idle volume be dismounted. After a volume becomes idle, it remains mounted for a time specified by the mount retention parameter for the device class. Using mount retention can reduce the access time if volumes are repeatedly used.

For information about setting mount retention times, see Mount Retention Period.

Dismounting Volumes from REMOVABLEFILE Devices

Operators must respond to messages requiring media to be manually ejected from REMOVABLEFILE device types, for example JAZ drive media and CDs. TSM then checks the drive every 7 seconds to see if the medium has been ejected. A volume dismount is not considered complete until TSM detects that the medium has been ejected from the drive or that a different medium has been inserted into the drive.


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