Looking for archive software on z/OS

manuwankenobi · New User Joined: 02 Mar 2006 Posts: 32 Location: FRANCE

Hello,

I'm looking for an archive software on z/os. The software would move files from z/os to tape (the entry should be deleted from mvs catalog) and the tape would be stored on another site. The software would also offer a catalog in order to find what was moved and where and would be able to restore a dataset (if the tape is in the library).

Did you heard about such a software ?

Thank you very much.

Marc.

Akatsukami · Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 9:08 pm

I presume that you find ADRDSSU unsuitable? Could you explain why, as we will then be able to eliminate from consideration other tools sharing those (lack of) features.

Robert Sample · Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 9:32 pm

ADRDSSU
HSM
CA/ASM2
come to mind immediately. I wouldn't be surprised to find products from EMC, Compuware, BMC, and other vendors with a very little bit of research.

manuwankenobi · New User Joined: 02 Mar 2006 Posts: 32 Location: FRANCE

Thank you to read my post.
I knew that ADRDSSU could move files on tape, I knew also that HSM has migration function.
I didn't find these software suitable because :
- ADRDSSU : I can copy / delete the files but I have to create myself a "memory" of the files moved : the files are no more at the mvs catalog, but are in a DSS Dump and the restore action is not easy for a end-user.
- HSM ML2 : The files are always at the MVS catalog and there are risks to delete a file or use as input a file that has already been used. The restore is easy.

The files that I want to archive should be usable at a recovery site, not only at the data center.

I didn't hear about CA/ASM2, but reading the data sheet, I think it could be the right software. Some research with Google lead me to FDR/Arc which seems to be too a right software.

I always goggle or have a look at "mainframe upgrade" before posting, If i wrote this post, it was in order to know what software is most used and suitable.

Regards.

Marc.

expat · Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2011 1:03 pm

Why the need to delete the catalog entry when HSM can retain any given number of backup generations cataloged or otherwise.

manuwankenobi · New User Joined: 02 Mar 2006 Posts: 32 Location: FRANCE

Expat,
In my mind, an HSM Backup is not an archive. An archive is something stored out of the data center, unavailable without asking to recall the media, so I think that it would not be cataloged.

Nic Clouston · Posted: Fri May 06, 2011 10:38 pm

All our offsite datasets are catalogued - why should they not be?

Robert Sample · Posted: Fri May 06, 2011 11:55 pm

Our disaster recovery files, which are kept offsite, are all cataloged to make disaster recovery easier. We keep annual copies of certain files for archival purposes; these are kept offsite as well and they are cataloged, too.

manuwankenobi · New User Joined: 02 Mar 2006 Posts: 32 Location: FRANCE

In my shop, most of the programmers have access to files for diagnosis purpose. If the file are cataloged but not present they will complain! This is why I think the files should not be cataloged. I would prefer them to ask me " please can you find the file xxxxxxx that was used on January 2008".
Regards.

Nic Clouston · Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 2:33 pm

You should have special names for files that go offsite e.g. BLAH.OFSITE.BLAHBLAH then you would not have a problem. Ordinary working files should not go offsite (although they do for a couple of days or so until replaced by later files). Also - make your progrmmers aware of which files go offsite, when and for how long. A simple report that they can look up should be enough .