Ad Hoc Volume Operations

Volumes used in ad hoc operations are placed in the Adhoc Tape backup class and set by Robot Save. This allows Robot Save to track the volumes. A volume used in an ad hoc operation can be reserved for a system after it has been used. It also can be reserved for a system other than the one where it was used.

Robot Save tracks the expiration date of volumes used in ad hoc operations. If a volume contains data from more than one ad hoc operation, Robot Save tracks the greatest expiration date. This prevents active data from being overwritten.

Ad hoc volumes in an AML are assigned a location by Robot Save. Volumes that are not in an AML are not assigned a location, although you can assign a location to the volume.

Robot Save can release expired volumes that were used in an ad hoc operation to the scratch pool if you have specified the option on the Media Defaults panel. You also can select option 9, Remove Media Volume, from the Volume Options window to release both expired and unexpired volumes to the scratch pool. If the volume contains unexpired data, the volume is reserved for the system on which the removal was done. If the volume has expired, it is not reserved.

If you do not use a scratch pool, an expired volume is completely removed from Robot Save. To remove the volume, you must select option 9 from the Volume Options window; a volume cannot be released automatically without a scratch pool.

When you perform an ad hoc operation:

• Volumes in the scratch pool can be used for any ad hoc operation

• Volumes assigned to a Robot Save backup class, set, or rotation cannot be used.