HP Archive Backup System for OpenVMS Guide to Operations

Media Management
4.7 Magazines
4.6.1 Parent Location
4.6.2 Spaces
4.7 Magazines
The parent location is an MDMS location object which is the next level up on the location hierarchy.
For example, a location SHELF1 might have a parent location ROOM2, indicating that
SHELF1 is in ROOM2. You should define a parent location only if you wish all locations
belonging to the parent (including the parent itself) to be compatible when selecting volumes and
drives. For example, in a hierarchy of SHELF1 and SHELF2 in ROOM2, volumes in any of the
three locations would match a request to allocate a volume from ROOM2. Do not use the location
hierarchy for other purposes.
Locations can contain spaces, that are used in OPCOM messages when volumes and magazines
are being moved from one place to another. Enter a range of spaces in an alphanumeric range
separated by a dash. Examples of space ranges are 1-10, A-Z, AAA001-AAA099, 10A-10Z.
A magazine is an MDMS object that contains a set of volumes that are planned to be moved
together as a group. It can also relate to physical magazines that some jukeboxes (most notably
small loaders) require to move volumes into and out of the jukebox. Magazines can be moved
into and out of MRD-controlled jukeboxes with all their volumes at once.
However, just because a jukebox requires a physical magazine does not necessarily mean that
you must use MDMS magazines. The physical magazine jukebox can be handled without magazines,
and volumes are moved individually as far as MDMS is concerned. The choice should
depend on whether you wish the volumes to move independently (don’t use magazines) or as a
group together (use magazines).
Magazines are not supported for DCSC-controlled jukeboxes. Magazines have the following
attributes.
4.7.1 Jukebox, Start Slot and Position
The jukebox name contains the name of the jukebox if the magazine is in a jukebox. When in a
jukebox, a magazine can optionally have a start slot or position, as follows:
• In a single-drive loader jukebox, only one magazine can be loaded at a time. In this case, the
start slot is always zero, and the number of slots in the jukebox becomes the number of slots
in the magazine.
• In larger, TL820-type jukeboxes, the magazine can be placed in many different places. If
you have associated a topology with the jukebox, you can place the magazine in a “Position”,
specified by a tower, face and level specification. This is easier to physically locate in
such jukeboxes than the alternative, which is a start slot designation. OPCOM messages for
Move Magazine operations will state either position or start slot depending on whether a
topology was specified.
All three fields are protected and normally managed by MDMS when a “Move Magazine” operation
occurs. Only manipulate these fields if an error occurs and you need to recover the database
to a consistent state.
4.7.2 Onsite and Offsite Locations and Dates
When not in a jukebox, a magazine may be either in an onsite or offsite location. An onsite location
is one where the magazine can be quickly accessed and moved into a jukebox, which is also
onsite. An offsite location is meant to be a secure location in the case of disaster recovery, and
generally does not have local access to a jukebox. However, nothing in MDMS precludes the
possibility of offsite locations having their own jukeboxes.
4-14 Media Management