Configure Software for the Virtual Tape Environment

STAR Library Manager (LIBMGR) is software that enables OS 2200 to use the tape automation services of the
DSI Virtual Tape Library (VTL). LIBMGR executes as a background program with an interface for console operations.
It has active and ongoing interaction with STAR-1100 and the OS 2200 operating system, and extends data protection,
library management and highly productive tape operations into your virtual tape environment.

Features and Benefits
_Connects with the VTL through user exit in OS 2200
_Configured to recognize the tape resources: control units, drives and volumes
_Recognizes the equipment identifier as "virtual" and seamlessly directs these requests
_System administrators can configure STAR Library Manager, in coordination with STAR-1100, 
   to define scratch tape pools which will be assigned to the VTL
_Directs scratch mounts through the generalized scratch pool facility in STAR-1100
_Administrators can configure systems to use independent or shared scratch pools. When LIBMGR
   is correctly configured for shared scratch pools, user programs on multiple attached OS 2200 systems
   can safely request scratch tapes from a common pool

  

This diagram is an example of two OS 2200 systems sharing tape resources.  Software components relevant
to tape processing are shown in moderate detail for Client A, on the bottom of the diagram. The relevant software
components on Client B are shown in abbreviated form.

Red arrows show how STAR-1100 shares its tape inventory file (TIF) among two or more peer OS 2200 systems. 
The connectivity supporting the actual I/O to the tape drives is called the data path, shown in blue.  Mount and
dismount commands are issued to the tape drives via a control path, depicted in black.

The diagram for Client A shows how STAR Library Manager, under OS 2200, is capable of connecting to a combination
of multiple Virtual Tape Libraries and Automated (robotic) Tape Libraries.  Each OS 2200 system can connect to up
to a maximum of four (4) external libraries.  This maximum includes any combination of Virtual Tape Libraries and
Automated Tape Libraries.  STAR Library Manager is a proprietary product of Formula Consultants Inc. (FCI). 

Contact FCI for additional information about STAR Library Manager: www.formula.com