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Product Overview

Vtape virtualizes tape drives in z/OS mainframe environments. It eliminates physical tape mounts by creating virtual tape drives that integrate with existing JCL, applications, and tape management software. This allows these systems to operate as if they were using physical tape drives, while Vtape stores the data on disk or other storage devices.

Data can be written to physical tape later if required. The architecture of Vtape consists of several key components. These include the Virtual Tape Server (VTS), which manages the virtual tape drives and their associated metadata.

The Disk Storage Manager (DSM) handles the storage and retrieval of virtual tape datasets on disk. The Tape Management System (TMS) interface allows Vtape to integrate with existing TMS systems such as CA-1, TMS/MVS, and Control-T. The Security Interface integrates with z/OS security systems such as RACF, ACF2, or Top Secret to control access to virtual tape datasets.

Vtape communicates with these components using standard z/OS communication protocols, such as VTAM and TCP/IP. Vtape stores metadata in VSAM datasets.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Vtape do?

Vtape is a software solution that creates virtual tape drives, eliminating the need for physical tape mounts. It allows existing mainframe applications and tape management systems to operate as if they are using real tape drives, while storing data on disk or other storage devices.

Is this a system, application, or tool?

Vtape is a system that virtualizes tape drives. It provides a layer of abstraction between mainframe applications and physical tape storage, improving performance and efficiency.

What types of organizations use this?

Organizations that rely on mainframe systems and use tape storage for backup, archiving, and disaster recovery are good candidates for Vtape. This includes large enterprises in industries such as banking, insurance, and government.

When should we consider Vtape?

A company should consider Vtape when they want to reduce the operational overhead associated with physical tape, improve tape access times, and enhance tape stacking efficiency. It is also beneficial when migrating to disk-based storage solutions.

What are the alternatives to Vtape?

Alternatives to Vtape include physical tape libraries, other virtual tape systems, and cloud-based storage solutions. Examples of competing products are IBM Virtual Tape Server (VTS) and EMC Disk Library for mainframe (DLm).

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