In this brief e-Learning module, you will learn how to use the management GUI to work with the physical library, drives, and physical volumes that are managed by the IBM® TS7700. This information applies when a TS7740 physical library, drives and volumes are used.
The Physical Volume Pools panel provides information about pool properties and encryption settings. The Pool Properties table displays several categories of information about each physical volume pool, including the pool number, the supported media class of the storage pool, and the first and second choices for the type of media that the pool can use from the common scratch pool. These choices will depend upon the configuration of your physical drives in the cluster. Additional information includes an indication of how the pool is populated from the common scratch pool, the reclaim pool that the virtual volumes are assigned to when reclamation occurs on the selected pool, and the maximum number of devices that the pool can use. This panel also indicates whether the pool is defined as an export pool, which is a pool from which physical volumes are exported, and the format used when volumes are exported. You can modify pool properties by selecting one or more pools and using the Action menu. Encryption settings for the pool are shown in the Encryption Settings table. For more information, see the Modifying the pool encryption settings eLearning module.
You can use the Physical Volume Details panel to view detailed information about a physical volume. Enter the VOLSER number and click Get Details. Several categories of information are displayed, which provide basic information about the volume. Key details include: status information provided in the Volume State category, which indicates whether the volume is available, accessible, damaged or ejected; and pending actions, which indicate whether a move or eject operation is pending.
Use the Move Physical Volumes panel to manage move requests for a range of volumes, or a specific number of volumes, to a target pool. For example, if you select Move Range of Physical Volumes from the Action menu, you need to enter the range of volumes, the target pool and media type, and select the priority level for the move procedure. If you select to move a quantity of volumes, you need to enter the number of volumes to move, and select the source pool, target pool, and media type.
You can use the Eject Physical Volumes panel in a similar way, to manage eject requests for a range or specific quantity of volumes. If any stacked data remains on the volumes with eject requests pending, the data will first be reclaimed to other physical volumes within the same pool before the volume is ejected.
Use the Physical Volume Ranges panel to view or configure the physical volumes within the TS3500 library that should be used by the TS7700.
Click the Inventory Upload button to accept volumes that you recently added to an attached physical library.
You can use the Action menu to add, modify, or delete volume range assignments. The Unassigned Volumes table displays any unassigned volumes that are pending ejection. These volumes are assigned to the TS7700 virtual partition, according to the TS3500 cartridge assignment policy, but are not included in the TS7700 range table.
The Physical Volume Search panel helps you find a physical volume based on the search criteria you enter. You can launch a previous search or perform a new search. You can filter the search based on the VOLSER name, type, recording format, capacity state, pool, encryption key, or action pending. You can also choose to include, exclude, or ignore specific flags in the search.
Customize the search results by selecting or deselecting the properties that are listed.
The Active Data Distribution panel displays any volumes that are at 100% utilization and the associated physical pool. You can use this information to make decisions regarding data distribution and thresholds.
In this brief eLearning module, you learned how to use the management GUI to work with the physical library, drives, and physical volumes that are managed by the IBM® TS7700. For more information about how to view and work with physical volumes, see the other topics within the IBM Knowledge Center.