Clean up some old tape datasets

venktv · New User Joined: 29 Mar 2006 Posts: 59 Location: Montreal

Hi All,

I want to clean up hundreds of old tape datasets, please let me know the best methods of doing it..

Thanks and Regards
Venkat

dick scherrer · Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 9:46 am

Hello,

venktv · New User Joined: 29 Mar 2006 Posts: 59 Location: Montreal

Hi Dick,

Thanks for the response, yes I want to scratch the old tape datasets, which are no longer needed.
Few of these are test region datasets, which are to be deleted without taking the backup.
but few datasets are having user data, since they are on old tapes, we need to replace them.

Thanks and Regards
Venkat

dick scherrer · Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 10:33 am

Hello,

Before scratching anything, i'd suggest making a list of the old tapes that still have good data and set up jobs to copy them.

Once you have successfully copied all of the "good" data, you could then make a list of volsers to be scratched and work with your storage management people to scratch all of the tapes on the list.

You might then work with the storage manatement people to have the "old" tapes physically removed and have new tapes of the same volser initialized. They would usually replace old/worn tapes when they went scratch anyway.

venktv · New User Joined: 29 Mar 2006 Posts: 59 Location: Montreal

Hi..

Thanks for the suggestion, i have enquired the person who raised this request, he just want to delete unwanted datasets and not replacing the whole tape itself...

so, since i have large number of datasets, could you pls tell me how to delete the large number of tape datasets at a time using IDCAMS or any other utility?
what i mean is 'is there any way i can write generic names like
DELETE ABC*.D*.*

Thanks in advance..
Venakt

expat · Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 3:44 pm

Had you used the search facility on the forum you may well have found THIS thread.

gcicchet · Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 3:54 pm

Hi,

deleting tape datasets will not necessarily return these tapes to the scratch pool.

Tapes will be returned to the scratch pool if tapes are under catalog control otherwise they will need to be expired via whatever TMS system is used.

Gerry