TapeSaver

The TapeSaver architecture is centered around three primary components: the TapeSaver Control Program, the Volume Table of Contents (VTOC) Manager, and the Tape Drive Manager. The Control Program intercepts and manages all tape I/O requests, ensuring that the correct volumes are mounted and data is written and read correctly. The VTOC Manager maintains a database of all tape volumes, their locations, and their status.

This component is crucial for efficient volume stacking and retrieval. The Tape Drive Manager handles the allocation and deallocation of tape drives, optimizing their utilization. Communication between these components occurs through z/OS system services and internal control blocks.

The system uses standard z/OS I/O interfaces for interacting with tape devices. The command-line interface (CLI) provides administrative access to all system functions. The `TSACFG` command is used for configuration.

The system integrates with z/OS security, using RACF or equivalent, for access control. Data is not encrypted by default, but can be protected using z/OS encryption features. The system logs all operations to z/OS system logs.

The `TSALOG` command can be used to view the logs. TapeSaver supports standard tape drives and Automated Tape Libraries (ATLs). The ATL support includes features for inventory management and automated volume selection.

The architecture is designed for high availability and scalability, allowing for efficient management of large tape environments. The system's design minimizes the impact on existing applications and JCL.