I found no way of querying tape barcodes from TSM backup catalog. It allows one to query tape labels, but no barcodes. Does it mean that TSM doesn't store tape barcodes?
I understand that LABEL LIBVolume command allows setting tape label to barcode (via LABELSource=Barcode option), but the other two values of that option (Prompt and Vollist) allow generating tape labels that differ from tape barcodes. That makes it possible for internal tape label to differ from the tape's barcode. But then how TSM will identify tape media to the library using such mismatched tape label?
The fact that AIDIT LIBRARY command talks about synchronizing inventory of library with that of library client (I assume it means TSM storage agent by that) and will use barcode, if available, as a tape label, doesn't help, as it will not do the right thing when tape label is not the same as the barcode (see above). Even if AUDIT LIBRARY records that value as tapelabel in TSM catalog.
Having barcodes recorded in TSM catalog would solve this issue, but I found no indication that they are recorded. I find it hard to believe, as without barcode TSM won't be able to tell to the library which tape it wants to access. Reading internal tape label will be very inefficient.
I use TSM 6.3.3 and didn't find barcodes returned by any of TSM command and didn't find barcodes in any of the db2 tables. That allows for two possibilities:
1) Setting tape labels to barcode is recommended practice and if that isn't done, this needs to be fixed by relabeling tape or changing its barcode
2) Barcodes are stored by storage agent outside of the backup catalog
I find 2) less likely, but decided to post the question to find out.
Thanks in advance,
George
I understand that LABEL LIBVolume command allows setting tape label to barcode (via LABELSource=Barcode option), but the other two values of that option (Prompt and Vollist) allow generating tape labels that differ from tape barcodes. That makes it possible for internal tape label to differ from the tape's barcode. But then how TSM will identify tape media to the library using such mismatched tape label?
The fact that AIDIT LIBRARY command talks about synchronizing inventory of library with that of library client (I assume it means TSM storage agent by that) and will use barcode, if available, as a tape label, doesn't help, as it will not do the right thing when tape label is not the same as the barcode (see above). Even if AUDIT LIBRARY records that value as tapelabel in TSM catalog.
Having barcodes recorded in TSM catalog would solve this issue, but I found no indication that they are recorded. I find it hard to believe, as without barcode TSM won't be able to tell to the library which tape it wants to access. Reading internal tape label will be very inefficient.
I use TSM 6.3.3 and didn't find barcodes returned by any of TSM command and didn't find barcodes in any of the db2 tables. That allows for two possibilities:
1) Setting tape labels to barcode is recommended practice and if that isn't done, this needs to be fixed by relabeling tape or changing its barcode
2) Barcodes are stored by storage agent outside of the backup catalog
I find 2) less likely, but decided to post the question to find out.
Thanks in advance,
George