The directory file contains a volume pool whose volumes can be used for saving with this directory file. In this pool the user can enter the VSNs of tapes and MT cartridges which are to be used for save operations. The volumes which actually contain save versions are also entered in the pool.
Alternatively, the software product MAREN can be used to designate volumes for use with a specific directory file (see section "ARCHIVE and MAREN").
In a save run with a directory file, the volumes required are requested from the pool by default; VSNs need not be specified.
However, the device type must be specified if it is not the standard device type (which is entered in the ARCHIVE parameter file under DEVICE-TAPE-T-C), even if volumes of only one type are entered in the volume pool.
Tapes and MT cartridges are added to the volume pool with the ADD operand of the POOL statement (see "POOL Manage volume pool"). The volumes included in the directory file can be output via the POOL operand of the INQUIRE statement. The report then contains the entry “POOL” in the “OWNER” column (see “Example 2”, "INQUIRE Display contents of directory file").
Volumes are also added to the directory file if specific VSNs are specified or are assigned by the operator or via the MAREN free tape allocation facility in a save run with a nonstandard volume assignment. These VSNs can be output by means of the POOL operand of the INQUIRE statement. The report then contains the entry “OPERATOR” in the “OWNER” column.
During saving (SAVE/EXPORT), the RETPD operand can be used to assign a retention period for the save volumes, during which the volumes cannot be overwritten. This retention period is also output when INQUIRE is entered.
At the end of the retention period, the expiration date is reached.
In certain cases the expiration date for a volume which is entered in the ARCHIVE directory or, if it exists, in the MAREN catalog can be higher than the expiration date entered on the volume. This is always the case when, during an incremental save, a file is not saved because it had already been saved in a preceding full save and the expiration date of the dincremental save is higher than that of the full save. The expiration date of the full save/of the volume is then automatically increased in the ARCHIVE directory (and possibly also in the MAREN catalog). See also the section "Retention period and expiration date".
Volumes which do not contain a save version can be removed from the pool with the REMOVE operand of the POOL statement (see "POOL Manage volume pool").
Volumes which do not come from the volume pool are erased from the directory file by ARCHIVE after you delete the save version contained by the volume with the PURGE command.
The volumes of the pool can have various statuses:
AVAILABLE
The volume is available for save operations (either it has not yet been used or the save file has been deleted and the retention period has expired).IN-USE
The volume is occupied by a save file whose retention period has not yet expired.OBSOLETE
The retention period of the volume has expired but the save file has not yet been deleted.UNUSABLE
The volume cannot be written to due to an error (either it could not be opened during a save run because of invalid labels or an unrecoverable error has occurred during writing).If you specify the POOL operand in the INQUIRE statement, these volumes are marked as 'UNUSABLE' in the REMARK column. ARCHIVE will not access these volumes even if they are specified in another save run.
These volumes must be removed from the pool with the POOL statement before you can add error-free volumes with the same VSNs.