USING TAPES
The preferred tape media for CEMSCS is IBM 3480 tape cartridges.  The CEMSCS facility no longer supports 9-track tapes.

CEMSCS operations will support the follow pools of tape media for users:

Silo tapes.
Archive tapes
User tapes.

Silo/TMS tapes:
These are 3480 tape cartridges stored and mounted by a robotic arm within the Silo.  Tape access is
accomplished through MVS batch job requests from the CEMSCS and managed by the Tape Management
System (TMS).  Silo tape cartridges are pre-labeled both externally and internally with serial numbers between
100000-199999.  Silo tapes are fully protected by the Tape Management System.

Archive Tapes:
These are 3480 tape cartridges stored in the CEMSCS vault.  They are retrieved upon email request from users
and mounted by CEMSCS operators in Mission Control. These tapes are written to for purpose of storing data
for period of greater than one year.  This type of tape has the name range of A00001 to A99999.

All requests for Archive Tapes are to be sent via email with the following parameters:
To:   COB.opmsg@noaa.gov (the current CEMSCS crew working in Mission Control)
CC:  Mark.Boland@noaa.gov (the current Tape Manager)
Subject: Archive Tape Request

Old Archive tapes - In the message the user should list tapes to be retrieved from the vault and the date that they
may be returned.  The CEMSCS operator will retrieve the tapes from the vault and reply that they are ready.

New Archive tapes - In the message the user need only state that they need a number of new Archive tapes
created.  The CEMSCS operator will check the Archive Tape list, then internally and externally label them, and
reply to the user listing the tapes alloted and that they are ready.

This return date on old or new tapes may not exceed 1 working day for each tape requested..  The quantity may
not exceed 10 tapes per request.  The CEMSCS operators will return tapes to the vault based on this standard.  

Do not submit a job using requested tapes until the CEMSCS operator has responded that the tapes are ready. 
A job calling for a tape not previously requested will be cancelled.  If the user does not get a response from the
operators within two hours of the initial request, they should call the CEMSCS operators at the number below.

The CEMSCS operators will only perform these duties during the hours of 7 am to 4:30 pm, Monday thru
Friday, excluding holidays.  Users may call the CEMSCS operators at (301) 457-5264.

User Tapes:

User's are currently allowed to control their own tapes.  TMS will not control or protect this tape category.  Tape
control for a user-controlled tape is in the form of possession (i.e., the user stores the tape media).  To have a
user-controlled tape processed, the following steps must be followed.

1.   Ensure the correct write ring disposition has been set for the tape.  Operations will not change ring
disposition for user-controlled tapes.  Jobs will be canceled and users will  be asked to correct the ring
disposition.

2.   Place an external label on the tape indicating a valid CEMSCS bin.

3.   Place tape(s) in the tape-submit bin labeled "Tape Submit".  This bin is located in FB-4, Room 0320. 
Tapes must be in the tape submit bin before the job is submitted.

4.   After the job has finished processing, the tape(s) will be placed in the bin indicated on the tape's external
label.  To reuse a tape, the user must move the tape back to the Tape Submit bin.

As this method of tape handling is extremely labor intensive, and data protection is minimal, tape  users are
urged to convert this type of tape processing to TMS tape processing.

Tape Copy Utilities:

Scanning a Non-TMS tape using FATSCAN:

This is an example of a job using the FATSCAN utility to scan the archive tape A00001, which will be mounted
by CEMSCS operators in Mission Control:

//#SCANIT JOB (BIN-14),CLASS=A,MSGCLASS=R
//STEP1 EXEC FATSCAN,
// VOLI=A00001,
// UNITI=CART,
//SYSIN DD *
ANALYZE BLP

Copying a Tape Using FATCOPY:

This is an example of a job using the FATCOPY utility to copy from a TMS tape in the Silo to the archive tape
A00001, which will be mounted by CEMSCS operators in Mission Control:

//#COPYIT JOB (BIN-14),CLASS=A,MSGCLASS=R
//STEP1 EXEC FATCOPY
// VOLI=REF=TAP.$UNAME.MYDATA1,
//  FILEI=1,
//  UNITI=CART,
//  VOLO=A00001,
//  UNITO=CART,
//  FILEO=1
//SYSIN      DD *
  ANALYZE VERIFY,KEEP

Users may request assistance on the use of FATS and FATAR through the Help Desk or from the Tape
Manager.