MAREN is a software product for the management of volumes in data centers. The volume pools of ARCHIVE can also be subjected to management by MAREN. In this case, MAREN assigns the volumes to an ARCHIVE directory. The MAREN entry of the volume shows the directory assignment; the volume is not available for access from another source (see the “MAREN” manual [12]).
The ARCHIVE statements SAVE, EXPORT, PURGE and POOL automatically call MAREN via an interface, and MAREN updates its management information accordingly. This does not require use of the directory file. Volume management by ARCHIVE can thus be integrated into the volume management of the whole data center.
In order to avoid inconsistencies between MAREN and ARCHIVE directories, MAREN must always be loaded while ARCHIVE is being used. In addition, the information on ARCHIVE tapes contained in the MAREN catalog must not be modified directly by means of MAREN.
Recommendation
If MAREN has been installed, the volume pool should be managed only with the aid of MAREN and not with ARCHIVE.
Any inconsistencies of status between a MAREN catalog and an ARCHIVE directory file can be rectified with the DIRCONV statement UPDATE-VOLUME-CATALOG , see the “HSMS” manual [9].