Tivoli supported function, it is called "Collocation", If you set this
parameter to yes than you set "Reclamation Threshold" to something over 50%.
I set it up to 55%, so when two tapes belonging to same client machine have
over 55% free space, Tivoli would merge files to one tape.

2. AIX level is 4.3.3

3. Tivoli server lever is: Version 4, Release 1, Level 1.0

I have been using this function for long time, I used it with Tivoli version
3 also before we upgraded to version 4.   Problem started happening some six
months ago.   I was on vacation last two months and before I went on
vacation I changed Reclamation Threshold to 100, which means there was no
merging happened, after I came back I changed it to 55% and we started
having this problem.

 When TSM is merging data from two tapes if there is a file TSM can not
read, it should timeout and move to next file, but in this case it just
stays with the same file and after some hours it changes the status of drive
to Unavailable, with tape stuck in the drive which can only be removed
manually.

If I find read or write error on any tape, I can issue Audit tape command to
delete damaged file.  On this server with STK 9710 library most of the time
this process works fine but sometimes I also get same problem.  Tape just
stays in the drive and after some hours drive becomes unavailable.

I have opened problem report with Tivoli and worked with them number of
times with different people but they could not find anything and told me to
check with STK about the drives.

The library is a StorageTek 9710 with 10 DLT7000's all the drives and
library are at the most current code levels
This only happens when we try to run Collocation.

Can anyone help me with this problem or point me in a direction to look for
answers??


Garry Taylor
Technical Support System Specialist
Phoenix,Arizona 85016
602.840.4844 x405
Storage Tek
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