TAPEINIT control statement ignored when using PARM=BACKUP - SMF Director

Products

• JARS SMF Director

Issue/Introduction

When attempting to run the TAPEINIT control statement within a JCL step for SMF Director (SMFD), the command is ignored and the product does not move to the next tape volume as expected.
This occurs specifically when the program is executed with the PARM=BACKUP parameter.

Environment

SMF Director 12.7

Cause

When PARM=BACKUP is specified in the EXEC statement, SMF Director is hardcoded to perform the SCDS backup processing and ignore all statements provided in the SYSIN DD.

A TAPEINIT is performed to force SMF Director to use a new volume for subsequent dumps. However, if the TAPEINIT is included in the SYSIN of a step where PARM=BACKUP is specified, the command has no effect.

Example of problematic JCL:

//BACKSMF EXEC PGM=SMFD,PARM=BACKUP
//SCDS     DD DSN=####.SMFD.SCDS,DISP=SHR
/SCDSBACK DD DSN=####.SMFD.SCDS.BACKUP,
//            DISP=(NEW,CATLG,DELETE),UNIT=####,
//            SPACE=(CYL,50)
//SYSIN    DD *
 TAPEINIT SID(####) PRIMARY.
/*

Resolution

To successfully execute a TAPEINIT, you must run it in a separate job step (or separate job) that does not use the BACKUP parameter.

1. Create a separate step/job for the TAPEINIT processing.
   
   
2. Ensure the BACKUP step is distinct from the utility step.