Just curious, Carl: Is TCT implemented with DFSMShsm and DFSMSdss (and RACF) 
when using a PowerMax/DLm solution?

-----Original Message-----
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List <[email protected]> On Behalf Of 
Carl Swanson
Sent: Thursday, March 4, 2021 11:40 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: EMC DLM over IBM VTL

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        First off, thank you for your kind words, really appreciate that.

        One thing to note some recent announcements regarding DLm and PowerMax 
from Dell. Like IBM we now have Transparent Cloud Tiering (TCT), between the 
PowerMax and DLm. Like IBM we require our DASD and Virtual Tape product for 
this to work. One of the differences in this solution is that the connectivity 
between the PowerMax and DLm is we use FICON to move the data between the two 
systems.

        Also, for quite awhile now the DLm has had the ability to move 
(migrate)  data from its data storage to another tier of storage (Cloud). This 
feature is referred to as Long Term Retention the DLm will move the data to and 
from the storage without any need for host cycles. Generally, we see customers 
looking at this feature for data that does not have high access patterns, 
generally like archive data or data that have not been accessed for a long 
period of time. The user can create the policy (usually last time the tape was 
mounted) that best meets their needs and the DLm will move that tape once the 
policy is meet. If the tape is needed the DLm will access the new location 
directly and the data will flow back to the mainframe. We do not recommend 
using this feature for data or tapes that have a high frequency of recall.

        As to the tape management functions, we are different being a MTL. What 
will take place is a step will be added to the house keeping routine that will 
pass the daily or full scratch list to the DLm. It is that process that will 
then mark the tape as a scratch tape in the DLm.

Carl Swanson
Mobile:215.688.1459
Email: [email protected]

-----Original Message-----
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List <[email protected]> On Behalf Of 
Michael Watkins
Sent: Thursday, March 4, 2021 11:25 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: EMC DLM over IBM VTL

"Will there be a impact to mainframe backup when there is a high backup volume 
for open system  ?"

I am employed by the Texas CPA where such a solution was implemented. We never 
experienced any problems with contention. First, our z/OS mainframe necessarily 
had its own MTree file structure on the Data Domain, so there was no contention 
at the file level. The mainframe activity at this installation is characterized 
by a couple of bursts of activity each week while the open systems activity is 
more distributed through out the week, so the performance of the Data Domain 
has never been challenged.

NB: The DLm emulates a manual tape library. An IBM TS7000 is an automatic 
library.

NB: The TS7000 is capable of communicating directly with an IBM DS8000-class 
storage frame. The DLm is not.

Two caveats: (1) The TS7000 communicates with z/OS tape management software. 
The DLm does not. This complicates tape management. (2) If you are 
contemplating the achival of mainframe data on cloud storage using IBM's Cloud 
Tape Connector (CTC) solution, the DLm will not be able to do this. It will 
also complicate implementation of IBM's Transparent Cloud Tiering (TCT).

I don't believe you can find someone more knowledgeable about of Data 
Domain/DLm implementations than Carl Swanson.

-----Original Message-----
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List <[email protected]> On Behalf Of 
Carl Swanson
Sent: Thursday, March 4, 2021 8:18 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: EMC DLM over IBM VTL

CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the Texas Comptroller's email 
system.
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        First full disclosure I work for Dell Technologies but more 
specifically in the DLm group, now with that out of the way.

        Probably more than 50% of the DLm customers do share their backend 
(Data Domain) storage with the distributed world and or the IBM-I world. What 
this means is we have experiences in sizing these types of solutions. When we 
perform this sizing, we will do a study on the mainframe the distributed side 
and the IBM I if required. We then make sure that the performance 
characteristics of the back end storage array is capable of handling the peak 
workload without issue. From the DLm point of view this is the connection to 
the mainframe and we size the performance requirements based on the supplied 
RMF data .

        I can provide much more detail if you like just not sure if it is 
appropriate to do so on list. Below is my non work email, but most could 
probably figure out my work email.

        Final answer this is a common for DLm systems and works great the key 
is proper sizing which my group handles.

Carl Swanson
Mobile:215.688.1459
Email: [email protected]

-----Original Message-----
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List <[email protected]> On Behalf Of 
Jake Anderson
Sent: Thursday, March 4, 2021 1:16 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: EMC DLM over IBM VTL

Hello

We are analysing if EMC DLM would be a right fit to replace IBM VTL.


I am trying to understand about backup cycles using EMC DLM when we use single 
backup solution and single virtual tape library to backup both mainframe and 
open systems.

Is there a possibility for contention ?
Will there be a impact to mainframe backup when there is a high backup volume 
for open system  ?

These performance do effect the open system as well ?

Trying to understand these from the DLM users ? Any feedback would be 
appreciated

Jake.

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