iSeries/AS400 Backup: Initialize a tape

iSeries/AS400 Backup: Initialize a tape

KB article ID: 5012 (permalink)

Before you can use a new iSeries/AS400 backup tape, you need to initialize it.

This is an administrative function, performed while logged into a 'green screen' session. Use one of the following methods.

Method A#

  1. Goto Tech menu

  2. Use #81. Go to operating system menu

  3. Use #52. Initialize tape or diskette

  4. At ‘name of drive’, enter TAP01 (…provided this is name of your tape drive. For 90% of you, this is the name of your tape drive.)

  5. At ‘Tape density’, enter the appropriate size-of-tape code -- see the Tape Density chart below.

  6. And Enter.

  7. A message will tell you to insert tape. Do so, if you haven’t already, and Enter.

Method B#

  1. At Cmd line, type INZTAP and press F4

    • Device = TAP01

    • New volume identifier = IBMIRD

    • New owner identifier = *BLANK

    • Volume identifier = *MOUNTED

    • Check for active files = *NO

    • Tape density =

    • Code = *EBCDIC

    • End of tape option = *REWIND

    • Clear = *NO

  1. Press Enter.

  2. A message will tell you to insert tape. Do so, if you haven’t already, and Enter.

NOTE: With regard to initializing larger tapes: On account of the hours required to initialize larger tapes (13GB or larger), we recommend you start initializing a tape in the early a.m., leave the tape in to run backup that evening, then repeat the next day with the next tape. Proceed in this manner till all your tapes are initialized.

      • 120 MB = *QIC120

      • 525 MB = *QIC525

      • 1.2 GB = *QIC1000

      • 2 GB = *CTGTYPE

      • 2.5 GB = *CTGTYPE

      • 4 GB = *QIC4GB

      • 8 GB = *QIC4DC

      • 13GB = *QIC5010

      • 16GB = *QIC5010

      • 25GB = *MLR3

      • 30GB = *SLR60

      • 50GB = *SLR100

      • 800GB = *ULTRIUM4

      • 1.5TB = *ULTRIUM5

      • 2.5TB = *ULTRIUM6 (LTO6 tapes)