Creating fixed block volume groups using the DS CLI

Complete this task to create fixed block volume groups.

A volume group identifies the set of fixed block logical volumes that are accessible by one or more SCSI host system ports. SCSI host system access is constrained to the identified access mode. Only those SCSI host ports that are registered to a volume group ID are allowed to access the set of logical volumes that is contained by the volume group.

Logical volumes can be assigned to a volume group when the volume group is created, or the logical volumes can be added (or removed) at a later time. The volume group type determines the maximum number of volumes that can be assigned to a volume group, either a maximum of 256 volumes or a maximum of 64 000 volumes. The volume group type must be selected according to the addressing capability of the SCSI host system that will use the volume group.

Perform the following steps to create and view fixed block volume groups:

Issue the mkvolgrp command to create a fixed block volume group. Enter the mkvolgrp command at the dscli command prompt with the following parameters and variables:
Note: Repeat this step for each volume group that you want to create.
```
dscli>mkvolgrp  -dev IBM.1750-68FA120 -hosttype pSeries
-volume 0001-0010,0120 my_nickname
```
Notes:
1. You can use the -hosttype parameter with the mkvolgrp command. This parameter is an easier way of specifying the type of volume group. If you do not use the -hosttype parameter, it is assumed that the volume group type is scsimask.
2. You cannot use the -type parameter and the -hosttype parameter together.
3. If your volume group is not scsimask type and you do not want to use the -hosttype parameter, use the -type parameter. scsimask as the default value of the -type parameter; you can also specify scsimap256 or os400mask as your volume group type. Because you need to know the criteria that is associated with these volume group types, see the mkvolgrp command for more information.
4. Volume IDs must meet the following criteria:
  - ID ranges must be separated by a comma (displayed as 0001-0010,0120 in the example).
  - For scsimap256, the array or ranges cannot exceed 256 volume ID entries. Otherwise, up to 64 384 entries are allowed.
  - Use the -type 0s400mask parameter if the volume group is limited to fixed block volume OS400-protected or OS400-unprotected types. Otherwise, the volume group is limited to the fixed block volume type 1750.
  - The volume group name (my_nickname in the example command) must be unique within the scope of the specified storage unit.
Issue the lsvolgrp command to create a list of assigned volume group IDs. Enter the lsvolgrp command at the dscli command prompt with the following parameters and variables:
```
dscli>lsvolgrp -dev IBM.1750-68FA120 -l
```
Notes:
1. The lsvolgrp command with the -l parameter displays a report with the following 3 values:
  - Name (the unique name that you assigned to the volume group)
  - Volume group ID
  - Type (the configured volume group type)
2. You can narrow the scope of the report by requesting a specific type of volume. See the lsvolgrp command for information about the -type parameter.