Dell Disk Library for mainframe DLm8500 User guide

Dell Technologies® Disk Library for

mainframe

User Guide for DLm8500 with PowerMax and Cloud

5.4.0.0

December 2021

Rev. 02

Notes, cautions, and warnings

NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your product.

CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid

the problem.

WARNING: A WARNING indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury, or death.

Other trademarks may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Figures.......................................................................................................................................... 7

Tables........................................................................................................................................... 9

Chapter 1: Overview of Dell EMC Disk Library for Mainframe....................................................... 10

Introduction to Disk Library for mainframe..................................................................................................................10

DLm architecture................................................................................................................................................................ 11

VTEC Overview............................................................................................................................................................. 11

VTE.................................................................................................................................................................................. 12

DLm8500 management network.............................................................................................................................. 14

DLm8500 Ethernet data network............................................................................................................................ 14

DLm8500 fibre channel data network.................................................................................................................... 15

Backend storage...........................................................................................................................................................15

Mainframe channel interfaces...................................................................................................................................16

Tape emulation....................................................................................................................................................................17

Virtual tape drive states..............................................................................................................................................17

Data formats..................................................................................................................................................................17

High availability features...................................................................................................................................................17

VTEC............................................................................................................................................................................... 17

Network connectivity failure checks....................................................................................................................... 18

Benefits................................................................................................................................................................................ 18

Chapter 2: Accessing DLm .......................................................................................................... 19

Management access to DLm...........................................................................................................................................19

Introduction to DLm System Manager..........................................................................................................................19

Accessing the DLm System Manager........................................................................................................................... 19

Connecting to the DLm System Manager...................................................................................................................20

Chapter 3: DLm System Tasks..................................................................................................... 21

Virtuent Console.................................................................................................................................................................21

License activation.............................................................................................................................................................. 21

Overview of the activation procedure................................................................................................................... 22

Receiving the LAC and activating the license...................................................................................................... 22

Installing the license on DLm System Manager....................................................................................................27

Chapter 4: DLm Workflow Configuration..................................................................................... 29

Managing configuration................................................................................................................................................... 29

Activating or installing a configuration on selected VTEs................................................................................. 29

Creating a new configuration.................................................................................................................................... 31

Editing a configuration............................................................................................................................................... 32

Saving a configuration file ........................................................................................................................................33

Reloading a configuration.......................................................................................................................................... 33

Lock/Unlock a configuration.................................................................................................................................... 33

Deleting a configuration.............................................................................................................................................33

Installation history....................................................................................................................................................... 34

Contents

Contents 3

Tape libraries...................................................................................................................................................................... 34

Initializing DLm scratch volumes............................................................................................................................. 35

Defining tape libraries.................................................................................................................................................36

Configuring virtual devices..............................................................................................................................................37

Planning considerations..............................................................................................................................................37

DLm configuration files.............................................................................................................................................. 37

Adding devices............................................................................................................................................................. 38

Scratch synonyms .......................................................................................................................................................41

Configuring global parameters....................................................................................................................................... 44

Encryption...........................................................................................................................................................................45

Key Management Interoperability Protocol ......................................................................................................... 45

Configuring KMIP........................................................................................................................................................ 45

Uploading and Monitoring Certificates.................................................................................................................. 46

Configuring Static Keys............................................................................................................................................. 47

Tape erase...........................................................................................................................................................................48

Space erase policy.......................................................................................................................................................48

Time-to-Live erase policy.......................................................................................................................................... 49

Erase policy................................................................................................................................................................... 49

DLm Long term retention................................................................................................................................................ 49

General LTR feature notes ...................................................................................................................................... 50

Configuring LTR S3 buckets.....................................................................................................................................50

Configuring LTR policies............................................................................................................................................ 52

Configuring Cloud Storage parameters................................................................................................................. 53

Configuring Migration Policies....................................................................................................................................... 55

Migration Policies configuration fields......................................................................................................................... 57

Chapter 5: Monitoring DLm......................................................................................................... 59

VTE logs and DLm statistics...........................................................................................................................................59

VTE logs.........................................................................................................................................................................59

Viewing the latest VTE logs......................................................................................................................................59

Support data.................................................................................................................................................................60

VOLSER Listing............................................................................................................................................................60

Capacity statistics........................................................................................................................................................61

Throughput statistics................................................................................................................................................. 63

System health check.................................................................................................................................................. 64

DLm diagnostic reporting................................................................................................................................................ 65

VTE................................................................................................................................................................................. 65

Chapter 6: SRDF Replication....................................................................................................... 70

SRDF replication overview.............................................................................................................................................. 70

SRDF Synchronous (SRDF/S)................................................................................................................................. 70

Prerequisites for SRDF replication........................................................................................................................... 71

SRDF connections and configuration............................................................................................................................71

SRDF replication capabilities..................................................................................................................................... 71

SRDF/S active-passive configuration..................................................................................................................... 71

Configuration files on source and target systems............................................................................................... 72

Disaster recovery capabilities......................................................................................................................................... 72

SRDF benefits.................................................................................................................................................................... 72

4 Contents

Chapter 7: GDDR and Supported Configurations..........................................................................73

GDDR Introduction............................................................................................................................................................73

GDDR Control Systems..............................................................................................................................................73

Workload location........................................................................................................................................................ 74

GDDR Processes..........................................................................................................................................................74

SRDF/Star with AutoSwap GDDR Configuration......................................................................................................74

DLMDRD..............................................................................................................................................................................75

DLMDRC..............................................................................................................................................................................75

Chapter 8: Mainframe Tasks........................................................................................................ 76

Device configuration.........................................................................................................................................................76

3480, 3490, and 3590 tape drives................................................................................................................................ 76

Manual Tape Library (MTL)............................................................................................................................................ 77

Defining DLm devices with HCD.............................................................................................................................. 77

MTL considerations for VTE drive selection...............................................................................................................78

Enabling a Dell EMC batch utility to communicate with a specific VTE........................................................ 78

MTL-related IBM maintenance...................................................................................................................................... 79

Missing Interrupt Handler................................................................................................................................................ 79

MIH command.............................................................................................................................................................. 79

Dynamic device reconfiguration considerations........................................................................................................ 80

Critical considerations for operator-initiated swap functions ......................................................................... 80

DFSMShsm considerations............................................................................................................................................. 80

Identifying esoteric tape unit names to DFSMShsm.......................................................................................... 80

Specifying tape compaction............................................................................................................................................ 81

DLm z/OS components....................................................................................................................................................81

Initiating an initial program load from a DLm virtual tape........................................................................................ 81

Creating a stand-alone IPL tape on DLm............................................................................................................... 81

Mounting and IPLing from the stand-alone IPL tape..........................................................................................82

IPL considerations for DLm.......................................................................................................................................82

DR logging...........................................................................................................................................................................83

Preparing z/OS for IPv6..................................................................................................................................................84

Enabling IPv6................................................................................................................................................................ 84

Configuring IPv6.......................................................................................................................................................... 84

Configuring Virtual Telecommunications Access Method (VTAM).................................................................86

Chapter 9: Using DLm with Unisys...............................................................................................87

Unique DLm operations for Unisys mainframes......................................................................................................... 87

Autodetection...............................................................................................................................................................87

Load displays.................................................................................................................................................................87

Mount "Ready" interrupt............................................................................................................................................87

Query Config command............................................................................................................................................. 87

Ring-Out Mount request........................................................................................................................................... 88

Scratch request........................................................................................................................................................... 88

Configuration for Unisys..................................................................................................................................................88

Device type................................................................................................................................................................... 88

Labels............................................................................................................................................................................. 88

Scratch tapes............................................................................................................................................................... 88

Initializing tapes for Unisys............................................................................................................................................. 88

Contents 5

Configuring the Unisys mainframe for DLm................................................................................................................89

Appendix A: Virtual tape operator command reference................................................................ 90

Syntax.................................................................................................................................................................................. 90

CLOSE VSTATS................................................................................................................................................................. 91

DETAIL MOUNT................................................................................................................................................................. 91

FIND......................................................................................................................................................................................92

HELP.................................................................................................................................................................................... 92

INITIALIZE........................................................................................................................................................................... 93

KMRESTART...................................................................................................................................................................... 95

LOAD.................................................................................................................................................................................... 95

LTR....................................................................................................................................................................................... 96

MIGRATE.............................................................................................................................................................................97

QUERY................................................................................................................................................................................. 98

QUERY SPACE sample output............................................................................................................................... 100

QUIESCE............................................................................................................................................................................100

READY................................................................................................................................................................................. 101

REWIND............................................................................................................................................................................. 102

ROTATE............................................................................................................................................................................. 102

SAVE TRACE.................................................................................................................................................................... 102

SCRATCHNAME.............................................................................................................................................................. 103

SET......................................................................................................................................................................................104

SNMP.................................................................................................................................................................................. 112

STARTVT............................................................................................................................................................................ 113

STOPVT.............................................................................................................................................................................. 113

UNLOAD............................................................................................................................................................................. 114

UNQUIESCE.......................................................................................................................................................................114

UNREADY...........................................................................................................................................................................115

Appendix B: AWSTAPE Information............................................................................................ 116

AWSTAPE format.............................................................................................................................................................116

AWSPRINT library utility.................................................................................................................................................116

Appendix C: Volume Handling..................................................................................................... 121

Volume serial numbers.................................................................................................................................................... 121

Scratch volumes............................................................................................................................................................... 121

Delete (erase) scratch volume data .............................................................................................................. 122

Mount volumes ................................................................................................................................................................122

Mount a specific volume by VOLSER ............................................................................................................ 123

Mount a scratch volume ..................................................................................................................................... 123

Appendix D: Load Display Command — CCW Opcode x'9F'.........................................................125

Load display messages................................................................................................................................................... 125

Load display data............................................................................................................................................................. 125

6 Contents

1 DLm8500 Multiple Rack Solution for PowerMax Architecture......................................................................11

2 VTE front — right control panel...........................................................................................................................12

3 VTE front — left control panel............................................................................................................................. 12

4 Rear Panel of DLm 5.3 VTE for OCFS2 and NFS operations........................................................................ 13

5 Dell S3048-ON switch.............................................................................................................................................14

6 Dell N3248TE-ON switch....................................................................................................................................... 14

7 Dell S4048-ON switch.............................................................................................................................................14

8 Dell S4148F-ON switch........................................................................................................................................... 15

9 Brocade DS-6620B-V2 switches..........................................................................................................................15

10 Brocade DS-6510R-B switches.............................................................................................................................15

11 DLm System Manager login page........................................................................................................................ 20

12 Sample LAC mail...................................................................................................................................................... 23

13 Confirming site details............................................................................................................................................ 24

14 Reviewing the selection......................................................................................................................................... 25

15 License activation complete..................................................................................................................................26

16 Viewing the license key.......................................................................................................................................... 27

17 Activating or installing a configuration............................................................................................................... 30

18 Installation history....................................................................................................................................................34

19 DLm configuration files...........................................................................................................................................37

20 Create Device Range.............................................................................................................................................. 38

21 Device List.................................................................................................................................................................40

22 Manage Scratch synonyms.................................................................................................................................... 41

23 Manage Scratch Synonyms for VTE................................................................................................................... 42

24 Global Settings......................................................................................................................................................... 44

25 Encryption page....................................................................................................................................................... 46

26 Certificates Manager.............................................................................................................................................. 47

27 Configuring Static Keys..........................................................................................................................................47

28 Tape Libraries........................................................................................................................................................... 50

29 Configuring S3 LTR..................................................................................................................................................51

30 Configuring LTR policies........................................................................................................................................ 52

31 Configuring Cloud Storage.................................................................................................................................... 54

32 Adding New account...............................................................................................................................................55

33 Configuring Migration Policies..............................................................................................................................56

34 Steps tab................................................................................................................................................................... 56

35 Schedule tab............................................................................................................................................................. 57

36 VOLSER Listing.........................................................................................................................................................61

37 Used Capacity...........................................................................................................................................................62

38 Total Capacity...........................................................................................................................................................62

39 Throughput Statistics............................................................................................................................................. 63

40 Mounts and Durations............................................................................................................................................ 64

Figures

Figures 7

41 Throughput Statistics by VOLSERS................................................................................................................... 64

42 SNMPv3 configuration........................................................................................................................................... 67

43 Configuring messages............................................................................................................................................ 68

44 SRDF Synchronous (SRDF/S)............................................................................................................................. 70

45 SRDF/S active/passive configuration.................................................................................................................71

46 DR Logging Overview............................................................................................................................................. 83

47 AWSTAPE single disk file...................................................................................................................................... 116

8 Figures

1 Ports used by the DLm 5.3 VTE for OCFS2 and NFS operations................................................................ 13

2 Status Indicators.......................................................................................................................................................16

3 VTE OS licenses for DLm models........................................................................................................................ 22

4 SNMPv3 parameters...............................................................................................................................................67

5 Example of LIBRARY-ID and LIBPORT-ID..........................................................................................................77

6 Help command—option description....................................................................................................................93

7 Initialize command — option description...........................................................................................................93

8 Load command—option description...................................................................................................................96

9 LTR command - option description.....................................................................................................................96

10 MIGRATE option description................................................................................................................................ 98

11 Query command — option description.............................................................................................................. 99

12 QUIESCE option description............................................................................................................................... 100

13 SCRATCHNAME command - option description........................................................................................... 103

14 Set command—option description....................................................................................................................105

15 SNMP command—option description............................................................................................................... 113

16 Unquiesce command—option description........................................................................................................115

17 Load display data....................................................................................................................................................125

18 Format Control Byte..............................................................................................................................................126

Tables

Tables 9

Overview of Dell EMC Disk Library for

Mainframe

This chapter provides an overview of Dell EMC Disk Library for mainframe. Topics include:

Topics:

•Introduction to Disk Library for mainframe

•DLm architecture

•Tape emulation

•High availability features

•Benefits

Introduction to Disk Library for mainframe

This section provides an introduction to Disk Library for mainframe (DLm).

The Dell EMC Disk Library for mainframe (DLm) family of products provides IBM System z mainframe customers the ability

to replace their physical tape libraries, including traditional virtual tape libraries such as the IBM VTS and Sun/STK VSM, with

dynamic tape-less virtual tape solutions, eliminating the challenges tied to traditional tape-based processing.

Some customers have already implemented mainframe host-based tape-emulation solutions such as IBM VTFM (formerly known

as CopyCross™) and CA Vtape. However, these solutions utilize expensive host CPU cycles to perform the tape operations, and

direct access storage device (DASD) space to store the tape volumes. DLm provides the option for these customers to offload

the tape emulation processes from the mainframe host and free up DASD space.

All DLm models are built using a common tape-on-disk software package known as Virtuent. The Virtuent software runs on a

base hardware controller which provides four FICON connections to the mainframe.

DLm works seamlessly with the mainframe environment, including the major tape management systems, such as DFSMS,

DFHSM, and backup applications, such as DFDSS and FDR, and others without the need to change any of the customer's

JCL statements. There is no need to start a task or define a specific subsystem to operate DLm because the mainframe host

sees the DLm just as tape devices. DLm tape drives can be shared across LPARs without the need for additional tape sharing

software through local device varying or through the implementation of MTL definitions.

DLm release 5.3 and later supports Transparent Cloud Tiering (TCT), and this feature is available by RPQ and in non-production

environments.

The DLm8500 with PowerMax provides a disaster recovery option that uses Symmetrix-based remote replication technology

(SRDF) for restarting the production workload at the disaster recovery site.

●In a disaster recovery configuration, there are two sites: one site is active and serves as the production workload site, and

the other site is the dormant site, also referred to as the passive, standby, or inactive site. The DLm configuration, capacity,

and features are identical at both the active and dormant sites. The sites are identical, except that the active site is the

production site.

●A swap refers to the process of making the active site dormant, and the dormant site active. The swap process is always

the same, irrespective of the direction of the swap (that is, whether the swap is from Site A to Site B, or Site B to Site A).

The time it takes to perform a swap is also the same, irrespective of direction. The benefits of this configuration are that it

achieves parity between the sites, and that the swap procedure and swap procedure times are always the same, irrespective

of direction.

●This feature is ideal for customers who want their data centers (DC) to be completely identical. Due to the parity between

the sites, this DR configuration is ideal for customers who want their production sites to be at either the active or dormant

site for extended periods of time.

In summary, the DLm offers you many benefits over traditional tape libraries and virtual tape libraries including high

performance, higher reliability, advanced information protection, and overall lower total cost of ownership (TCO).

1

10 Overview of Dell EMC Disk Library for Mainframe

DLm architecture

This section describes the major components of a DLm.

The major components of a DLm8500 system are the virtual tape emulation controller (VTEC) and the PowerMax backend

storage system.

VTEC Overview

The VTEC is a subsystem that connects to an IBM or IBM-compatible mainframe and provides the emulation of IBM

3480/3490/3590 tape drives.

A VTEC contains the following components:

●3 to 8 virtual tape emulators (VTEs) for Multiple Rack Solutions for PowerMax

NOTE: VTEs 3 - 6 are standard. The 7th and 8th VTEs are available by RPQ only.

●A pair of 1 GbE switches for the management network in Multiple Rack Solutions

●A pair of 10 GbE switches for the data network in Multiple Rack Solutions

●A pair of 16 Gb Fibre Channel switches in Multiple Rack Solutions for PowerMax

●A PowerMax8000

NOTE: You can also configure S3 access to Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Dell EMC ECS to use as a target of LTR

offload from the DLm system.

The following figure illustrates how the various components of the DLm8500 Multiple Rack Solution for PowerMax system are

connected to each other.

Figure 1. DLm8500 Multiple Rack Solution for PowerMax Architecture

Overview of Dell EMC Disk Library for Mainframe 11

VTE

This section describes the VTE panels.

The mainframe virtual tape emulation software, Virtuent, runs on the VTEs. The VTEs emulate IBM tape drives and interface

to the mainframe and direct tape data to and from the back-end storage arrays. This data is written to the storage arrays and

stored in NFS file systems over a redundant 10 GbE data network.

The following figure shows the right control panel on the front panel of the VTE:

Figure 2. VTE front — right control panel

Label Component

1 Power Button w/ Integrated LED

2 USB port (2)

3 iDRAC Direct port

4 iDRAC Direct LED

5 VGA port

The following figure shows the left control panel on the front panel of the VTE:

Figure 3. VTE front — left control panel

12 Overview of Dell EMC Disk Library for Mainframe

Label Component

1 Drive indicator

2 System health and system ID indicator

3 iDRAC Quick Sync 2 wireless indicator

4 Temperature indicator

5 Electrical indicator

6 Memory indicator

7 PCIe indicator

The following figure shows the rear view of the VTE:

Figure 4. Rear Panel of DLm 5.3 VTE for OCFS2 and NFS operations

Table 1. Ports used by the DLm 5.3 VTE for OCFS2 and NFS operations

Port Function

Eth0 and Eth1 Bonded for failover - Customer external network (For VTE1 and VTE2 only).

The Eth0 and Eth1 ports can handle either 10 GbE or 1 GbE throughput.

Eth2 and Eth3 Bonded for failover - DLm internal management network.

Intel X710 (Ethernet to support file storage

mounted over NFS protocols) Eth4, Eth5, Eth6,

and Eth7

Bonded for LACP - Connect OM-4 cables from these ports to the DLm

internal Ethernet data network.

QLE2672 (mainframe FICON) Channel 1, 2, 3,

and 4

Connect FICON channel cables from the mainframe to these ports (link

speeds of 4 Gb, 8 Gb, and 16 Gb).

QLE2692 (Fibre Channel to support block

storage mounted over OCFS2 protocols) FC0,

FC1, FC2, and FC3

Connect OM-4 cables from these ports to the DLm internal Fibre Channel

data network. (link speeds of 4 Gb, 8 Gb, and 16 Gb.)

iDRAC iDRAC is connected to the internal management network for remote

management of the VTE.

USB Plug in a USB drive to upload or download data from or to the VTE.

Power Supplies Two 750-Watt power supplies. Connect a black cord and a gray cord.

Each VTE supports four FICON channel ports (two ports each from two QLE2672 FICON adapters). The FICON interfaces

can be single-mode or multimode. Single-mode or multimode SFP transceiver modules are pre-installed in the FICON channel

interface adapters. These transceivers receive the FICON channel interface connectors. The FICON channel cable mode must

match the SFP module mode.

Overview of Dell EMC Disk Library for Mainframe 13

Eth4, Eth5, Eth6, and Eth7 are 10-Gigabit Ethernet ports (two ports each from two Intel X710 10 GbE adapters).

FC0, FC1, FC2, and FC3 are 16 Gb Fibre Channel ports (two ports each from two QLE2692 16 Gb FC adapters).

DLm8500 management network

This section describes the management network in a DLm8500 system.

The DLm has an internal Gigabit Ethernet network for management purposes. In a DLm8500, the management ports of the VTE

and PowerMax systems are connected to a pair of 1 Gb Dell S3048-ON or Dell N3248TE-ON switches to protect against a single

switch failure. A mix of S3048-ON and N3248TE-ON is also supported.

Figure 5. Dell S3048-ON switch

Figure 6. Dell N3248TE-ON switch

External management network

DLm provides support for the IPv6 protocol. Each external network interface in the DLm is configurable for IPv6-only, dual

IPv4/IPv6, or IPv4-only addressing. To configure IPv6 support on your DLm, contact Dell EMC Customer Service.

DLm8500 Ethernet data network

In a DLm8500, the data from the mainframe is transferred to the DLm8500 back-end storage systems such as or over

10-Gigabit Ethernet connections.

Figure 7. Dell S4048-ON switch

14 Overview of Dell EMC Disk Library for Mainframe

Figure 8. Dell S4148F-ON switch

DLm8500 fibre channel data network

In a DLm8500, the data from the mainframe is transferred to the PowerMax back-end storage systems over 16 Gigabit Fibre

Channel connections.

Figure 9. Brocade DS-6620B-V2 switches

Figure 10. Brocade DS-6510R-B switches

Backend storage

This section describes the backend storage used with DLm8500 system.

The DLm8500 uses two Fibre Channel switches to connect to a PowerMax 8000 storage array to serve as the back-end

storage.

One of the benefits of a DLm8500-based system is the use of SRDF for replicating data to remote systems thereby allowing

customers to take advantage of the associated Disaster Recovery (DR) capabilities and applications of SRDF. The DLm Disaster

Recovery Dummy (DLmDRD) software runs on the management VTE in a DLm8500 configuration. DLm Disaster Recovery is the

mechanism for communication between GDDR, which runs on the mainframe, and the DLm.

16 Gb Brocade DS-6620B-V2 Fibre Channel switches

A pair of 16 Gb Brocade DS-6620B-V2 48-port Fibre Channel switches connect to the PowerMax 8000.

Overview of Dell EMC Disk Library for Mainframe 15

PowerMax storage

The PowerMax 8000 has a minimum of 7 FC drives (three RAID1 pairs plus a spare). The data drives are 4TiB NVMe using FBA

6RAID6. The Control Devices are 300GB 10K RPM Fibre Channel 4 Gbps.

Mainframe channel interfaces

A VTE contains mainframe channel interfaces. Each VTE contains four Fibre Connectivity (FICON) interfaces. The FICON

interfaces can be either single mode or multi-mode.

A DLm8500 system can be configured with 1 to 8 VTEs, providing a maximum of 32 FICON interface connections.

FICON Channel

This section describes about the FICON channel.

You must attach at least one mainframe channel to each VTE you intend to configure to be operational. Any VTE not attached

to a mainframe channel will not be operational.

Each DLm VTE FICON interface has a single LC-type fiber-optic connector. The type of cable you must use depends on the

following:

●The type of connector on the mainframe (either LC or SC)

●The type of fiber-optic cable (single mode or multimode) supported by the mainframe channel

DLm FICON interfaces are available either with single mode or multimode fiber-optic cable support. The core size micron ratings

for the cables are as follows:

●Single mode fiber-optic cable: 9/125

●Multimode fiber-optic cable: either 50/125 or 62.5/125

FICON and Fibre cards status indicators for DLm

This section describes the FICON and Fibre cards status indicators for DLm.

Each FICON interface has LED status indicators visible through its backplate. These indicate which speed the link is running 4

Gbps, 8 Gbps, and 16 Gbps. When the link is up, the LED remains steadily on and, if there is traffic, it blinks. The numbers that

are stamped into the faceplate correspond to the speed.

Table 2. Status Indicators

Amber LED16 Gbps Green LED 8 Gbps Amber LED 4 Gbps State

Off Off Off Power off (before

firmware initialization)

On On On Power on (after firmware

initialization)

Flash Flash Flash Loss of synchronization

Flash in sequence Flash in sequence Flash in sequence Firmware error

On for link up or Flash if I/O activity Off Off 16 Gbps link up/activity

(UP/ACT)

Off On/flash Off 8 Gbps link up/activity

(UP/ACT)

Off Off On/flash 4 Gbps link up/activity

(UP/ACT)

Flash Off Flash Beacon

16 Overview of Dell EMC Disk Library for Mainframe

Tape emulation

This section describes about Tape emulation.

DLm VTE emulates the IBM tape drives to the mainframe and direct the tape data to and from the back-end storage arrays.

VTE, once configured, operates independently.

A DLm system that is configured with one VTE can emulate up to 512 virtual tape devices, while one with six VTEs can emulate

up to 3,072 virtual tape devices.

The virtual tape emulation software performs the following functions:

●Receives and interprets channel command words (CCWs) from the host.

●Sends and receives the tape data records and reads and writes corresponding disk data in response to the CCWs.

●Presents initial, intermediate, and final status to the host commands and asynchronous status as needed.

●Sends and receives control information (such as sense and load display data) to and from the host in response to the CCWs.

Virtual tape drive states

This section describes the virtual tape drive states.

A virtual tape drive is in one of the two basic states at any given time — Not Ready or Ready:

●Not Ready — The virtual tape drive appears online to the host but in an unmounted state. As on a real tape drive, most

channel commands are not accepted in this state and receive a Unit Check status with an Intervention Required sense. While

in the Not Ready state, no disk file is opened on the disk subsystem.

The Not Ready state is the initial state of all virtual tape drives, and is entered whenever an Unload command is received

from the mainframe.

●Ready — The virtual tape drive accepts all data movement, read, and write commands from the host exactly like the

emulated tape drive. As the host reads, writes, and otherwise positions the virtual tape, Virtuent, the virtual tape emulation

application, maintains synchronization of the associated disk file to exactly match the content and positioning of the virtual

tape volume.

A virtual tape drive enters the Ready state when it receives a load-display Mount request from the host. When the Mount

message is received, the disk file that is associated with the volume specified in the Mount message is opened, and the

virtual tape drive comes ready to the host. The virtual tape drive remains in the Ready state, with the associated disk file

open, until an Unload command is received from the host. On receiving an Unload command, the disk file is closed and the

virtual tape drive enters the Not Ready state.

Data formats

The default file format for tape data written to DLm disks is a modified AWSTAPE format.

This format keeps track of record lengths as the file is being written so that the variable length records can be read exactly as

they were originally written.

High availability features

DLm includes failure recovery mechanisms in various parts of its architecture to ensure optimum availability.

VTEC

This section describes about DLm VTEC.

DLm delivers enterprise-class availability and scalability through a modular design based on high-performance, highly available

VTEs.

●VTEs have redundant power supplies, fans, and RAID-protected internal disks. Emulated tape drives on each VTE can mount

any cartridge and any logical partition (LPAR) can access any cartridge, delivering enterprise-class availability.

Overview of Dell EMC Disk Library for Mainframe 17

●DLm8500 configured with two VTEs or more has a shared IP address to ensure high availability for management functions.

If the primary Management VTE (VTE1) fails, the secondary Management VTE (VTE2) takes over as the primary, and the

shared IP address moves over to that Management VTE (VTE2).

●The configuration files are saved on the Management VTEs to allow quick and easy restoration if a VTE is replaced.

●VTEs provide redundant data and control paths. The redundant data path provides failover to protect against link failures,

network card failures, and switch failures.

●In DLm8500, two 10 GbE switches provide a redundant data path, and two 1 GbE switches provide a redundant management

path.

Network connectivity failure checks

DLm provides the Data Network Packet Monitor to detect faulty ports or cables in the private network.

The monitor is installed on the primary management VTE and runs once every hour. Using this hourly data, it calculates the

packet loss percentage for each data network port. If any one of these ports exceeds the packet loss threshold of 5%, a call

home is generated. The call home has details about the exact port and the component that is affected. This data enables Dell

EMC customer Support personnel to troubleshoot the issue and resolve it.

The default threshold is 5%. If your data traffic warrants adjustments to the threshold, contact Dell EMC customer Support.

Benefits

DLm offers many benefits over traditional tape including:

●Faster processing of tape mount requests (translating into shorter overall job step processing)

●No requirement for physical tapes (reducing the cost, storage, and potential for loss of tapes and data).

●Support for data sharing across multiple VTEs (creating a level of data availability not found in previous mainframe virtual

tape systems).

●Data integrity maintained by storing the tape data on internal storage arrays and using RAID 6 technology to protect the data

from physical disk drive failures.

●Built-in monitoring and reporting technologies, such as Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) and ConnectEMC,

that raise alerts when attention is needed within the DLm environment.

●Support for replication of tape data between DLm systems and up to two local or remote DLm systems.

●No single point of failure of mainframe tape data if the DLm system has more than one VTE.

●Support for two erase policies for space reclamation:

○Space — This is the default policy. When a file system reaches a specified percentage of space usage (Recovery Percent

general parameter), DLm begins erasing the oldest scratch tapes in that file system until the amount specified in the

Recovery Amount parameter has been recovered.

○Time-to-live (TTL) — This policy specifies a period of time that scratched tapes will be retained after being scratched,

before being automatically erased. Once the period expires, the tapes will automatically be erased regardless of current

space utilization. The TTL erase options are: Days and Hours.

●Support for Secure Remote Services that provides secure, fast, and proactive remote support for maximum information

availability. Contact Dell EMC Customer Support to configure Secure Remote Services.

NOTE: With DLm 5.0 and later, you can leverage the Dell EMC Usage Intelligence solution included with Secure

Remote Services. Usage Intelligence provides the capability to collect, transfer, analyze, and report software usage and

entitlement data across Dell EMC products. Contact [email protected] for more information.

18 Overview of Dell EMC Disk Library for Mainframe

Accessing DLm

This chapter explains how to access the Disk Library for mainframe (DLm).

Topics:

•Management access to DLm

•Introduction to DLm System Manager

•Accessing the DLm System Manager

•Connecting to the DLm System Manager

Management access to DLm

This section describes about the management and support access to DLm.

The first two VTEs in a multi-VTE DLm (VTE1 and VTE2) provide management and support access to the DLm system.

These VTEs are called Management VTEs. If the DLm has only one VTE, that VTE functions as the Management VTE. The

Management VTEs also connect to the management LAN of the DLm system. They act as the gateway, providing access to the

PowerMax systems. Management VTEs also function as the firewall isolating the internal DLm networks from your LAN.

This VTE provides a user interface called DLm System Manager to perform various setup, monitor, and configuration tasks.

Introduction to DLm System Manager

DLm System Manager is a web-based application that is used to configure and manage the DLm system.

It is the primary interface into the DLm environment and resides on the VTE. You can use DLm System Manager to:

●Generate and capture logs.

●View VTE status and DLm statistics.

●Access and configure VTEs.

●Configure drives.

Accessing the DLm System Manager

DLm System Manager is a web-based application that is used to configure and monitor the DLm system. It is the management

interface to the DLm system.

To access DLm System Manager, ensure that your personal computer has one of the following web browsers:

●Google Chrome 79.x and later

●Mozilla Firefox 72.x and later

●Microsoft Edge 79.x and later

NOTE:

●Mobile versions of the above and other browsers are not supported.

●Dell recommends that you move to one of the officially supported browser versions as soon as possible, as earlier

browser versions could cause serious usability issues to DLm System Manager.

2

Accessing DLm 19

Connecting to the DLm System Manager

This section explains the procedure to connect to the DLm System Manager.

About this task

To connect to the DLm System Manager:

NOTE: This procedure assumes that you have access to and are connected to the Data Center LAN to which the VTE is

connected.

Steps

1.Open a web browser.

2. Type the Management VTE's HA IP address as follows:

https://<IP address>

where the <IP address> is the HA IP address of the Management VTE on the customer LAN.

For example: https://192.168.1.1

The login screen opens as shown in the following figure:

Figure 11. DLm System Manager login page

3.Type the username and password. For a first-time login, type the following username and password:

●Username: dlmadmin

●Password: password

NOTE: At the first login, you are navigated to the Settings > Authentication page and prompted to change the

password. You must remember and use this password for future logins.

20 Accessing DLm

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Dell Disk Library for mainframe DLm8500 User guide

Dell Disk Library for mainframe DLm8500 User guide

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