The Monitor BVIR interface (MON-TS7700) is designed to simplify TS7700 management and reporting. IBM tape tools are not required. The MON-TS7700 ISPF interface provides current activity and statistics, while the batch interface produces PDF reports for historical and trending analysis. No workstations, file transfers, or PC applications are required.
The MON-TS7700 interface supports the BVIR record formats for versions 1.1 through the current version (3.1). The interface can obtain the following data from a TS7700 cluster:
- Volume Status Information
- Cache Contents Information
- Physical Volume to Logical Volume Mapping Information
- Point-in-Time Statistics
- Historical Statistics
- Physical Media Pools
- Physical Volume Status
- Copy Audit
MON-TS7700 The MON-TS7700 application simplifies the entire BVIR process. After MON-TS7700 is configured for a customer installation, it can dynamically allocate the necessary device(s) to obtain information from one or more clusters or grids. The BVIR records are consolidated and converted into Monitor record formats that the MON-TS7700 rules language can process to produce output for ISPF panels and PDF reports. The policy rules can also be customized for installation event notification. For example, a MON-TS7700 task can monitor the scratch pool in a cluster; if the pool size drops below a specified threshold, the rules can notify operators via the system console and send an email and/or text message to storage manager(s).
Remote access
The product can access clusters and grids that are not physically attached to the local system. If the remote system is also running MON-TS7700, a BVIR request can be routed to the target system via TCP/IP; the application on the target system performs the BVIR request and returns the output data to the originating system. This remote access facility works across Sysplex boundaries.
Access to external tape data
The MON-TS7700 rules language can access OAM and most tape management systems. This lets the rules cross-reference or consolidate information during record processing. For example, a rule can examine all scratch-status indicators for a tape to ensure that the TS7700, OAM, and tape management system agree on scratch status, and log any exceptions. The rules are not limited to external tape data; they can access almost any system information—SMS constructs, RACF, and catalog records, to name a few.
Delivered configuration
By default, MON-TS7700 is delivered with an ISPF application configured to provide point-in-time information—current activity and status. The default reports focus on historical and trending analysis. These PDF reports are produced on the mainframe using Java and the BIRT open-source report generator running under OMVS. The delivered configuration should be immediately useful for most customers. MON-TS7700 is easy to extend, typically requiring only minor rule changes to add fields to records or reports. If your installation requires modifications or extensions Note: Java is now standard on most z/OS systems, and BIRT has been used for many years in IBM Tivoli reporting.