Specific and non-specific tape mounts

vasanthz · Posted: Wed May 02, 2012 4:44 pm

Hi,
Could anyone please explain(possibly layman terms) a few lines what specific and non-specific tape mount means.
I was able to find some information like "non specific tape mounts is for scratch volume mount" and few more lines of technical information but unable to understand what it means.
Thanks in advance,

Bill Woodger · Posted: Wed May 02, 2012 4:53 pm

I think they mean: non-specific, give me any old tape that I'm allowed to write to; specific, give me the actual tape volume I want or I'll come kick the wheels off your comfortable Operator's Chair.

David Robinson · Active User Joined: 21 Dec 2011 Posts: 199 Location: UK

I think it's fairly self explanotory?

A specific tape mount is where the system requests a specific tape volume to be mounted.

A non-specific tape mount is where the system requests a scratch tape. The Operator or tape library will then select any tape from the available scratch pool.

vasanthz · Posted: Wed May 02, 2012 5:03 pm

Thanks for your reply Bill and David,

Assuming that we have a tape management system which takes care of volume-dataset relation.
From your explanations, Am I correct to assume,
if a tape dataset is mentioned on a JCL "without volume serial" with DISP=SHR or DISP=OLD then it is specific tape mount?
And
If volume serial is not mentioned and DISP=NEW is coded in JCL then is it non-specific tape mount?

dbzTHEdinosauer · Posted: Wed May 02, 2012 5:08 pm

specific has to do with tape volume serial number.

if there is a volume serial number - specific
there is no volume serial number - non-specific

it has nothing to do with the dataset disposition (DISP)

vasanthz · Posted: Wed May 02, 2012 5:20 pm

Thanks Dick,
I "think" I am clear now.

Bill Woodger · Posted: Wed May 02, 2012 5:22 pm

EDIT: Already clear before I finished typing.

OK, before the 10mins is up - DISP NEW with no volser, non-specific. Check MOD yourself. Everything else, specifc in the context (from catalog or vol=ser= in JCL).

vasanthz · Posted: Wed May 02, 2012 5:28 pm

You could still share your thoughts Bill. I got a lot of free kilobytes in my head unused.

gcicchet · Posted: Thu May 03, 2012 4:44 am

Hi,

you could argue that a DISP=SHR or DISP=OLD for a tape dataset is specific as it will mount the catalogued entry.

Gerry

vasanthz · Posted: Thu May 03, 2012 11:19 am

Thanks,
All izz well now.