CARTS-TapeStacker

Solve Your Tape Storage Problems

CARTS is a suite of z/OS software solutions that are designed to meet the unique challenges of maximizing your removable storage media utilization. When you put CARTS to work in your data center, you will see real cost savings and operational benefits. Using CARTS to manage your removable media will significantly reduce your need for additional tapes, racks and tape hardware.

  • OVERVIEW
    OVERVIEW
    OVERVIEW
    OVERVIEW
    OVERVIEW
    OVERVIEW
  • FEATURES
    FEATURES
    FEATURES
    FEATURES
    FEATURES
    FEATURES
  • REQUIREMENTS
    REQUIREMENTS
    REQUIREMENTS
    REQUIREMENTS
    REQUIREMENTS
    REQUIREMENTS
  • SUPPORTED ROBOTICS
    SUPPORTED ROBOTICS
    SUPPORTED ROBOTICS
    SUPPORTED ROBOTICS
    SUPPORTED ROBOTICS
    SUPPORTED ROBOTICS

OVERVIEW

CARTS-TS 1.pngCARTS-TapeStacker analyzes the TMS Tape Management Catalog (TMC) and generates jobs that combine two or more tape datasets onto a single output tape. Datasets are stacked and restacked onto an output tape according to parameters set with Control files. After datasets have been stacked, tape usage increases on average from 20% to 95% of capacity. Tapes can be returned to the scratch pool after their datasets have been stacked onto another volume.

The best way to lower your off-site archive costs and remove the racks from your library.

Use TapeStacker to take all of those single Dataset, single volume tapes using expensive slot and floor space in your archive and consolidate them onto a single volume. CARTS customers have saved thousands of dollars in off-site fees after the first run.

CARTS-TS 2.pngGetting the most out of your robotic devices.

Silo technology is a critical part of your data center's strategy to increase the throughput of your systems and lower your overall operating costs. Therefore it is critical that you get the most throughput possible out of your investment in silo technology.

A datacenter typically uses only 10% to 40% of the capacity of each cartridge in its silos. By stacking these cartridges, you can increase cartridge utilization by 90%. Density for each slot goes up while the cost of the slot goes down. You maximize the use of your silo slots – deferring future hardware purchases months or even years.

Because your datasets are stored on fewer cartridges you spend less time loading and ejecting cartridges. Tape Stacker minimizes the number of active cartridges and maximizes your silo's capacity. Tape Stacker also increases the amount of near line data available.

The quickest way to bring the most data to your DR site.

Why take boxes of tapes to your DR site when CARTS can stack them to a few Magstar or Redwood volumes? SMS requires that you first migrate datasets to disk before use – totally unacceptable when trying to get your site up and running after a disaster. Datasets stacked by CARTS are immediately available - saving you precious time and money.

CARTS-TapeStacker analyzes the TMS Tape Management Catalog (TMC) and generates jobs that combine two or more tape datasets onto a single output tape. Datasets are stacked and restacked onto an output tape according to parameters set with Control files. After datasets have been stacked, tape usage increases on average from 20% to 95% of capacity. Tapes can be returned to the scratch pool after their datasets have been stacked onto another volume.

CARTS-TS 3.png

FEATURES

  • Loop detection
    System loop detection and application loop correction
  • Short-on-Storage prevention
    Prevention of short on storage and reduction of program compression cycles
  • Auto adjust MXT / AMXT
    Adjusting the MXT, AMXT and Cushion Size values dynamically
  • Dynamic system relief
    Relief for system stress conditions
  • Artificial Intelligence
    Storage Violation detection and Correction
  • System / User abend settings
    Automatic recovery of System/User Abends. (U305, U409, U602, U615, etc.)
  • Processing frequency logging
    Average transaction rate, file I/O rate, VTAM I/O rate and aux temporary storage request rate capturing.
  • System degradation watch
    Detection of exception and degradation conditions
  • CICS resource change log
    Automatic logging of CICS changes
  • SysPlex and MRO/ISC compatibility
    Monitoring of multi-CICS system activities through CICS and TSO/ISPF
  • On-line messages
    On-line access to messages and abend codes
  • History database
    Logging facility (History Database)
  • Central control panel
    On-line generation of AUTOMON system table
  • Ease of use and installation
    • No APF authorization required
    • No IPL is required to install the product
    • No user SVCs and no operating systems exits

REQUIREMENTS

  • Mainframe:
    IBM z/Architecture and compatible
  • Operating System:
    MVS/ESA
    OS/390 2.10 or later
    z/OS 1.8 or later
  • Tape Device and Media Support:
    CARTS supports all tape devices that can operate with Computer Associate’s CA-1/TMS tape management including:
    • 3420 reel
    • 3480 cartridge
    • 3490 cartridge
    • 3490E cartridge
    • 3590 cartridge
    • Redwood SD-3 cartridge including all STK compatible media
  • Tape Management System and Subsystem Software:
    The following software must be fully operational on the systems that will run CARTS-TapeStacker for:
    • IBM DFSMSrmm
    • CA-Dynam/TLMS
    • CA-1/TMS
    • JES2 | All CARTS components support JES2. CARTS-MountEliminator requires Version 4.3 or higher.
    • JES3 | All CARTS components support JES3 except CARTS-MountEliminator.
    • TSO | CARTS requires Version 2 and above.
    • ISPF | CARTS requires Version 3 and above.
    • Vendor Tape Robot Software

SUPPORTED ROBOTICS

Tape Robotics

CARTS supports tape robots and their accompanying software from the following vendors:

  • StorageTek HSC
  • Memorex (SUTMYN) LMS
  • GRAU Bosch ATL