How to “touch” a tape to insure it is in-cache when using externalized virtual volumes

Products

• CA 1 Flexible Storage
• CA 1 Tape Management - Copycat Utility
• CA 1 Tape Management - Add-On Options

Issue/Introduction

We are looking for the best way to pull tapes into cache in a VTS from the backend physical tape. One thought was to use the COPYCAT MAP function to read the tapes. However, COPYCAT MAP, appears to read the whole tape taking time for each volume. It would be best if we could just read the label on the tape to get it to load but not read the whole tape. 

Environment

TS7740 library (VTS is 3957-V06)

Resolution

This is the JCL that will touch the volume, but only dump 1 record, therefore It runs very quickly if the virtual volume is already cache. If the virtual volume is not in cache, it will be staged to cache. You do need to have the DSN coded (the INDD1 points to the tape data set name). You do not have to hard-code the volser itself.

//STEP1 EXEC PGM=IDCAMS
//SYSPRINT DD SYSOUT=*
//INDD1 DD DSN=(YOUR DSN - that points to the tape data set name),DISP=SHR
//OUTDD1 DD SYSOUT=*
//SYSIN DD *
PRINT INFILE(INDD1) COUNT(1)
/*