IBM i Global

Hello,

We plan to configure four IBM i 7.5 partitions on a Power10 server (S1012) and use the RDX drives for backup and restore (regular SAV&RST and SAVSYS&D-IPL).

In this configuration, when we use the optical child virtual device in the RDX from a partition, do we need to vary off the optical child virtual device configuration on all partitions except this one?

I have read "IBM i Removable Media: Optical devices" and at least with IBM i 7.5, it seems that the backup/restore operation is possible regardless of the configuration status. (Although you will need to monitor for error messages.)

• Last paragraph of "Optical virtualization"

"If you are virtualizing an RDX or USB flash drive that contains optical container media, and there is a volume list file on the media that makes the child virtual volumes writeable, then only one partition at a time can access the child virtual volumes. For all other partitions, the child virtual device description must be varied off."

• "Optical Sharing Rules"

"With IBM i 7.2 and PTF MF69031, IBM i 7.3 and PTF MF69032, or IBM i 7.4 and PTF MF69033,   (snip) ... so it will no longer be necessary to vary off/on the optical device description from the partition that modified the optical volume before the other partitions can use the volume."

If someone could clarify this, it would be very helpful.