Is there a way to load a tape?

[PMSLIC]

Occasionally when all the tapes have been used and the tapes are loaded someone forgets to load the tape into the drive.

As a result we get the CPA4086 Drive not ready which kicks to the error routine which does nothing but end the job. Unfortunately we usually load the drive on Fridays and if this happens it doesnt get noticed until Monday morning.

Is there a command I can use in the error routine to load the next tape no matter what the error? Ocassionally someone load a lan tape into the as400 drive and I get an incompatibility error.

Tom

[DeadManWalks]

Re: Is there a way to load a tape?

There is no LODTAP command in the normal os. Do you have BRMS or some other tape management? Is your tape drive one of the long sleeve one that hold more than one tape? if so look at the manual, some have a way to auto load the next tape.

[PMSLIC]

Re: Is there a way to load a tape?

No we don't use BRMS. Normally our backup ends using the UNLOAD and the next tape will load.

I'm looking for a way to handle exceptions like a tape not mounted, the wrong type of tape mounted. I figure the wrong type I can just use a CHKTAP or DSPTAP with an UNLOAD. Its when I get the error that there is no tape loaded that I'd like to run a command telling it to load the next tape in sequence.

[RBOrrell]

Re: Is there a way to load a tape?

I don't know if there is anything that you can do. The loading of a physical media is not programmable.... unless you have a robot in the computer room

[MichaelCatalani]

Re: Is there a way to load a tape?

Even if you can not load a tape, you could always execute a command at some point in time (ie: Friday afternoon) which performs something like a CHKTAP which could alert you if the tape isnt loaded.