How to label and checkin tapes into Tivoli Storage Manager TSM tape library

Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM) requires labelling and checkin of tape volumes to use them in the tape library. All the tape volumes should be labelled and checked into library with appropriate commands, misuse of these LABEL & CHECKIN commands will result in loss of the complete data in that particular volume. The procedures for volume checkin and labeling are the same whether the library contains drives of a single device type, or drives of multiple device types. 

Always ensure that enough labeled volumes in the library are available to the server so that you do not run out during an operation such as client backup. Label and set aside extra scratch volumes for any potential recovery operations you might have later.

Each volume used by a server for any purpose must have a unique name. This requirement applies to all volumes, whether the volumes are used for storage pools, or used for operations such as database backup or export. The requirement also applies to volumes that reside in different libraries but that are used by the same server.

Read: IBM Spectrum Protect (TSM) Basic Free Tutorials

How to label library volumes in TSM Tape Library ?

Syntax:

>>-LABEl LIBVolume--library_name-------------------------------->

>----+-volume_name----------------------------------------------------+---->
     '-SEARCH--=--+-Yes--| A |--+--LABELSource--=--+-Barcode--------+-'     
                  '-Bulk--| A |-'                  +-Prompt---------+       
                                                   '-Vollist--| B |-'       

                                .-OVERWRITE--=--No------.   
>--+-------------------------+--+-----------------------+------->
   '-CHECKIN--=--+-SCRatch-+-'  '-OVERWRITE--=--+-No--+-'   
                 '-PRIvate-'                    '-Yes-'     

   .-WAITTime--=--60----.   
>--+--------------------+--------------------------------------><
   '-WAITTime--=--value-'   

A (SEARCH=Yes, SEARCH=Bulk)

|--+-VOLRange--=----volume_name1,volume_name2---+---------------|
   |               .-,-----------.              |   
   |               V             |              |   
   '-VOLList--=--+---volume_name-+--+-----------'   
                 '-FILE:--file_name-'               

B (LABELSource=Vollist)

                 .-,-----------.      
                 V             |      
|--VOLList--=--+---volume_name-+--+-----------------------------|
               '-FILE:--file_name-' 

Where CHECKIN Specifies whether the server checks in the volume. This parameter is optional. The following are possible values:

SCRatch

Specifies that the server checks in the volumes and adds them to the library's scratch pool. If a volume has an entry in volume history, you cannot check it in as a scratch volume.

PRIvate

Specifies that the server checks in the volumes and designates them as private. Private volumes are available only when you request them by name.

If you do not specify a value for this parameter, then the command will only label the volume but will not check it in. If you do not specify a value for this parameter and you want to check in the volume, you must issue the CHECKIN LIBVOLUME command.

Ex: label libvolume TSMLIB search=yes labelsource=barcode checkin=scratch

        label libvolume TSMLIB search=yes labelsource=barcode checkin=private


Read: Tape Library related Interview Questions

How to Checkin library volumes into TSM Tape Library ?

Syntax:

>>-CHECKIn LIBVolume--library_name------------------------------>

                    .-SEARCH--=--No-.       
>----+-volume_name--+---------------+-+------------------------->
     +-SEARCH--=--Yes--+-------+------+     
     |                 '-| A |-'      |     
     '-SEARCH--=--Bulk--+-------+-----'     
                        '-| A |-'           

                           .-OWNer--=--""----------.   
>--STATus--=--+-PRIvate-+--+-----------------------+------------>
              +-SCRatch-+  '-OWNer--=--server_name-'   
              '-CLEaner-'                              

   .-CHECKLabel--=--Yes---------.  .-SWAP--=--No------.   
>--+----------------------------+--+------------------+--------->
   '-CHECKLabel--=--+-Yes-----+-'  '-SWAP--=--+-No--+-'   
                    +-No------+               '-Yes-'     
                    '-Barcode-'                           

   .-WAITTime--=--60----.                                 
>--+--------------------+--+--------------------------+--------><
   '-WAITTime--=--value-'  '-CLEanings--=----number---'   

A (SEARCH=Yes, SEARCH=Bulk)

|--+-VOLRange--=----volume_name1,volume_name2---+---------------|
   |               .-,-----------.              |   
   |               V             |              |   
   '-VOLList--=--+---volume_name-+--+-----------'   
                 '-FILE:--file_name-' 

Where SEARCH Specifies whether the server searches the library to find volumes that were not checked in. This parameter is optional. The default is NO. Possible values are:

No
Specifies that only the named volume is checked into the library. For SCSI libraries: The server issues a request to have the volume inserted into a cartridge slot in the library or, if available, into an entry port. The cartridge slot or entry port is identified by its element address. For 349X libraries: The volume could already be in the library, or you could put it into the I/O station when prompted.

Yes
Specifies that the server searches the library for volumes to be checked in. You can use the VOLRANGE or VOLLIST parameter to limit the search. When using this parameter, consider the following restrictions:

• If the library is shared between applications, the server could examine a volume required by another application. For 349X libraries, the server queries the library manager to determine all volumes that are assigned to the SCRATCH or PRIVATE category and to the INSERT category.
• For SCSI libraries, do not specify both SEARCH=YES and CHECKLABEL=NO in the same command.

Bulk
Specifies that the server searches the library's entry/exit ports for volumes that can be checked in automatically. This option only applies to SCSI libraries.

Ex: checkin libvol TSMLIB search=bulk status=scratch 
       checkin libvol TSMLIB VOL007 status=private


Restrictions:

• Do not specify both CHECKLABEL=NO and SEARCH=BULK.

• You can use the VOLRANGE or VOLLIST parameter to limit the search.

Read: TSM Storage Pool Concepts (V7 Revised)