CODEWITHSUNDEEP
jcl
Wesley Kluckhohn
Wesley Kluckhohn

Reputation: 115

Reading through Tapes - JCL

We currently backup some of our data to tapes (virtual, not physical) and I am needing to read and pull information from those tapes. Currently we are using JCL with a DD statement for each Vol/Ser that looks like:

//VOLSERO  DD DSN=DWP.PROD.****.TAPE,
//            DISP=SHR,                          
//            UNIT=CCLOCAL,                      
//            VOL=SER=(R94188)                   
//*                                              
//         DD DSN=DWP.PROD.****.TAPE,
//            DISP=SHR,                          
//            UNIT=CCLOCAL,                      
//            VOL=SER=(R94438)

Each week we drop 1 tape and add a new one as we are backing up new records. Is it possible to read through all of the tapes for that dataset without entering the Vol/Ser or will every tape require it's own DD statement?

Upvotes: 0

Views: 543

Answers (1)

cschneid
cschneid

Reputation: 10775

You indicate the datasets are cataloged, so you shouldn't need to specify the volume serial number.

As @BillWoodger indicates in his comment, talk to your storage people. Coding the DEFER subparameter of the UNIT option might be beneficial, as may UNIT=AFF. Your storage people, and possibly your production control people, will know how they want it done in your shop.

You indicate the datasets are part of a GDG, so to access the most recent 3 generations you should be able to code...

//VOLSERO  DD DSN=DWP.PROD.SEND.****(0),
//            DISP=SHR
//         DD DSN=DWP.PROD.SEND.****(-1),
//            DISP=SHR
//         DD DSN=DWP.PROD.SEND.****(-2),
//            DISP=SHR

If you want to access all extant generations, and it sounds like you do, you should be able to code...

//VOLSERO  DD DSN=DWP.PROD.SEND.****,
//            DISP=SHR

...and be aware of the GDGORDER parameter if you want the datasets in ascending chronological creation order.

Again, talk to your storage and production control people. There's often a difference between what's possible, what's acceptable, and what's optimal.

Upvotes: 2

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