AML Maintenance

Automated Media Libraries (AMLs; also called Automatic Tape Librarians or ATLs) include any save device that can load, use, and unload specific save media automatically. By using an AML, you can automate your saves completely and eliminate the need for an operator to mount tape volumes during the save process. Robot Save supports Automated Media Libraries from several manufacturers. For each of these devices, Robot Save provides a driver program that is used to load, assign, eject, and unload media automatically during the save session.

An AML can be connected to multiple systems or partitions, both IBM i and other platforms, such as an RS/6000 or a mainframe. Robot Save may manage some of the volumes in the AML, while the other systems manage the rest.

You must define an AML to Robot Save before it can be used for backup operations. Robot Save must know which systems an AML is connected to and the tapes Robot Save is supposed to manage. An AML must have the same name, as specified during Robot Save setup, on every system connected to it. However, the device descriptions you use to configure an AML on each system do not need to be the same.

Note: If you set up your AML to have multiple logical units, each logical unit, with its defined tape drives, is defined as a separate AML. You must have a separate AML definition for each logical unit.

General Recommendations

The following general recommendations apply to all of the AMLs supported by Robot Save:

  • Use the manual volume naming method to name your save media. AMLs use barcoded tapes and you must be able to match the internal volume name to the barcode. Manual naming allows you to control the volume names. If you use the serial or logical naming methods, the volume name is generated automatically by Robot Save. This could result in a mismatch between the barcode (external label) and the internal label.

  • Establish a scratch pool of tapes before starting your saves. Use the RBSAMLLRN command to add the tapes to Robot Save. The RBSAMLLRN command inserts volumes into the AML and places them in the scratch pool with the correct location (location and category for IBM AMLs). If you are using an IBM AML, the RBSAMLLRN command also initializes new volumes (if necessary).

    Note: IBM non-3494 AMLs in a data center also must run the RBSAMLSYNC command to synchronize the category information on all systems.

  • On the Media Defaults panel, specify Y in the Use Scratch Media Pool field.

  • Keep tapes containing AML vendor libraries so they are available for restore operations, if needed. You will need to restore these libraries before you can use the AML for the remainder of the system restoration.

    Note: You only need to do this if your AML requires additional software provided by the AML manufacturer. IBM AML software is part of the operating system.

AML Device Groups

AMLs use the device groups a little differently than the way they are used by the rest of Robot Save. The save devices in the AML are placed into a device group automatically when you select them for the AML. Only devices that are not already in another device group are available for selection. The device group is given the same name as the name of the AML. You do not need to create the device group using the Device Group Maintenance option from the System Setup Menu. Any changes to the save devices in the group must be made using the AML Maintenance option.

Storage Locations

An AML as a whole is associated with a single unique storage location. The location represents the volumes that currently are stored in the AML. Robot Save uses this location when it selects scratch volumes during a save operation or ejects volumes from the unit. Since the storage location must be unique, we recommend you use the AML name for the storage location. This storage location is used by every system in the data center and always refers to the same AML. You cannot use the Storage Location Maintenance option to create or change the storage location information for an AML. All changes must be made through the AML Maintenance option on the System Setup Menu.

In addition to a storage location for the entire AML unit, you can define storage locations for the I/O ports in the AML. The I/O ports are used to move volumes in and out of the AML. You can create storage locations when you define the port. The location names used for the ports also must have a unique name and are used by all systems in the data center. You cannot use the Storage Location Maintenance option to create or change storage locations associated with AML ports.

When a volume moves from the storage location assigned to an AML to another location, it is ejected from the AML. Volumes can be ejected immediately or queued to be ejected at a later time.

If Robot Save requests a volume during a backup, but the volume cannot be found in the AML, the volume is moved to a location with the special name UNKNOWN. The location is marked as being in error and the volumes in that location will not be used because the location is incorrect. See Error Resolution in the Operations section of this User Guide for complete information on resolving errors. You can view the list of volumes in two ways:

  • Display the Volume Inquiry panel and select the By Location search option.

  • Run the Volumes by Location Report and select the location UNKNOWN.

Supported Automated Media Libraries

Robot Save supports Automated Media Libraries from a number of manufacturers. Definitions for the supported AMLs are shipped with Robot Save and appear on the Automated Media Library Type Selection panel. Specific information on using each AML with Robot Save is available here.

If you have an Automated Media Library that does not appear on the Automated Media Library Type Selection panel, contact Robot Technical Support to see if support is planned for the future.