Hello, Using a switch can I configure the same tape drive (or a library) to alternate backups with it between a Windows server and an IBM i server?

Dear Miguel

What type of connection it is for the tape device to both Windows and IBM i servers - fiber or SAS?   If you use fiber, there is no need to use any switch. You just configure SAN switch so that both servers see the same tape device and then you manually allocate tape device from each server one at a time. You do this from IBM i by varying on the tape device description when you want to allocate it and then vary it off when you no longer use it so Windows server can use it. (I do not know how to allocate it from Windows.)    But make sure the tape device is supported by IBM i. You can check the supported tape device list here: IBM i Removable Media: Tape and Tape Library Devices at https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/ibm-i-removable-media-tape-and-tape-library-devices        

As for SAS connection, I never know of any switch device. In the distant past, I just configured 2 SAS cables for both servers to the same tape device and manually switched the cable on demand.  It is a good news if there is such a switch for use now.   Could you provide a URL for this SAS switch product?

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Satid S
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Personally, just in my option, if what you are asking and aiming for is a robust solution in operation every day, pick a physical tape library with at least two tapes drives.

Then partition the library in two logic libraries, with a tape drive each, each visible to a system (one for windows, one for IBMi), avoiding each system to interfere with the other.

I use such solution using FC tape drives and SAN switches.

Dear Miguel,

Specifically to answer your question i think that is possible. You can zone the same tape drive to windows server and IBM i. The only drawback of using this approach is that you won't be able to use this drive concurrently for both the platforms. For example, before running backup on IBM i you need to make sure that backup on windows server is already completed and vice versa.