A105@UWOCC1.BITNET (Brent Sterner) (11/03/86)
Well, it finally happened. I had heard that VMS didn't handle tapes
very well, having grown to adolescence from PDP-11s. Last week two of
our users tangled over our single tape drive. The user with the most
data on his tape lost (and may now be convinced that I*M is a safer place
to live.
Scenario: 1st user (loser) issues a mount request.
Operator locates the tape, and begins to mount it.
1st user changes his mind and cancels the tape request.
Operator completes the tape mount, unaware of the cancellation.
2nd user's batch job mounts a tape, mount gives him the
loser's tape, which is written all over. Result is
a very bitter feeling in one of our users.
Both tapes were labelled, and were written using VMS BACKUP.
What can be done about this? It has since been suggested that our
site write a MOUNT.COM to attempt to identify labelled tapes before they
are given away. This will not address any unlabelled tapes which we may
use on the VAX from time to time (there are 2 other manufacturers systems
in the same shop), but it might help a little.
What do INFO-VAX sites do about this? Have you written such a MOUNT
procedure? I have DECUS SIG tapes from Spring and Fall 85, but don't
recall seeing anything like this. Whatever you can suggest will be
appreciated. If you are actually USING something that might help us out,
that would be better than theory.
BTW, I called Collarado TSC about this. They are generally helpful,
and always friendly, but this time the best answer I could get was that
"I think someone else here has addressed a similar problem for another
customer - I'll call you back". This request is nothing more than a
parallel request for help. TSC may have a solution, but if they do I've
not heard it as yet.
I've also heard that a TOPS-like GALAXY system is in the works for
some future VMS release. This should solve the problem, but our site
needs a work-around NOW, not in 2 years. I invite ANYONE within Digital
to suggest such a work-around for a relatively large shop (6000 users).
I'll share the best replies (Digital and non-Digital) with the net.
Thanks in advance to all who will no doubt reply. Covering my head
from the avalanch of replies, I remain
Brent Sterner
Computing & Communications Services
Natural Sciences Building
The University of Western Ontario
London, Ontario, Canada
N6A 5B7
Telephone (519)661-2151 x6036
Network <A105@UWOCC1.BITNET>DIEHL%v750%germany.CSNET@RELAY.CS.NET (Arno Diehl) (11/08/86)
Brent, I fail to see the problem (or I've the solution for you)! There is a very simple way for secure tape handling: $ ALLOCATE MTA0: $ MOUNT MTA0: ... ... any tape handling actions (including cancelling the mount requests!) $ DISMOUNT/UNLOAD MTA0: $ DEALLOCATE MTA0: ________________ Arno Diehl, University of Karlsruhe, West Germany