Matt,

I know that it's bad form for me to tout my own product, but STORServer
Manager (the TSM operational interface) may help you to solve this
problem.  It is a GUI to your tapes at the vault, in the library, in
scratch etc.  It was designed to make TSM media management a little
easier.  You can check it out on our website, and you can sign up for a
live demo.

Laura Buckley
STORServer, Inc.
www.storserver.com
www.storsol.com
ph: (719) 531-5133
cell: (719) 337-2436
fax: (719) 266-55576
buckley AT storserver DOT com


-----Original Message-----
From: ADSM: Dist Stor Manager [mailto:ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU] On Behalf Of
Matt Simpson
Sent: Friday, October 25, 2002 10:03 AM
To: ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU
Subject: Re: drm operator scripts


At 11:32 AM -0400 10/25/02, Nelson, Doug wrote:
>We move tapes from VaultRetrieve to CourierRetrieve and then move them
>(individually) from CourierRetrieve to OnSiteRetrieve once we have
>verified that we have received them. It only takes a minute
>(literally).

I don't like the process of invidually moving them to OnSiteRetrieve,
with or without an intermediate stop at CourierRetrieve.  Computers are
supposed to eliminate manual processes.

I guess I'm spoiled by coming from a world where Tape Management Systems
remember that a tape exists unless they're specifically told that it no
longer exists.  TSM should be smart enough to checkin a tape that's in
CourierRetrieve status, and say "Oh .. I guess it's back now".  If it
could do that, then if a tape got moved to CourierRetrieve and did not
get checked back in,  the fact that it was remaining in CourierRetrieve
status would be a red flag.  Moving them to OnsiteRetrieve, which
"disappears" them, just seems like an unnecessary and dangerous step.

--


Matt Simpson --  OS/390 Support
219 McVey Hall  -- (859) 257-2900 x300
University Of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506 <mailto:msimpson AT uky DOT edu>
mainframe --   An obsolete device still used by thousands of obsolete
companies serving billions of obsolete customers and making huge
obsolete profits for their obsolete shareholders.  And this year's run
twice as fast as last year's.