Adding a virtual tape library to your environment

Define a virtual tape library (VTL) to take advantage of mount performance and scalability advantages.

About this task

VTLs are identified by using the DEFINE LIBRARY command and specifying LIBTYPE=VTL. Because a VTL library functionally interacts with the server in the same way that a SCSI library does, it is possible to use the UPDATE LIBRARY command to change the library type of a SCSI library that is already defined. You do not have to redefine the library.

Example

The following examples show how to add a VTL library to your environment.

Add a new VTL library

If you have a new VTL library and want to use the VTL enhancements that are available in Tivoli® Storage Manager Version 6.3, define the library as a VTL to the server:

define library chester libtype=vtl

This sets up the new VTL library and enables the RELABELSCRATCH option to relabel volumes that have been deleted and returned to scratch status.

Update an existing SCSI library to a VTL

If you have a SCSI library and you want to change it to a VTL, use the UPDATE LIBRARY command to change the library type:

update library calzone libtype=vtl

You can only issue this command when the library being updated is defined with LIBTYPE=SCSI.

Revert a real tape library from the VTL library type

If you define a SCSI tape library as a VTL and want to change it back to the SCSI library type, update the library by issuing the UPDATE LIBRARY command:

update library chester libtype=scsi