Configuring optical devices

 

This topic provides information on configuring your CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM devices, and optical medial libraries. The systems come with a rack-mounted CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive. As an option, you can order a DVD-RAM drive as a feature to replace your internal drive or to have it in addition to your internal drive. All optical drives are multi-user devices that multiple users can access concurrently. Directly attached optical media libraries are attached to the system through the small computer system interface (SCSI). On i5/OS^®, multiple users can access data on optical media libraries concurrently. These interfaces are available to access the data on the CD and DVD devices and optical media libraries:

• Save and restore interface

• Hierarchical file system (HFS)

• Application programming interface (API)

• Integrated file system interfaces

• Optical commands and utility displays

The CD-ROM and DVD-ROM drives on the system are not enabled for the digital audio disk format.

 

Connectivity of non-IBM library devices

In addition to IBM^® optical libraries, you can now attach some non-IBM optical library devices to the system. For more information on which devices are supported and system configuration requirements, see the Optical Storage web site.

• Configuring your optical drive
  Depending on the model of your system, you can position the CD-ROM or DVD drive either horizontally or vertically in the system.
• Configuring directly attached optical media libraries
  To create a device description for an optical media library device, use the Create Device Description (Media Library) (CRTDEVMLB) command.
• Labeling optical cartridges
  Each optical disk cartridge contains two sides. Each side corresponds to an optical volume. There are two techniques to associate a volume ID label with the correct side of the optical cartridge. This is important to know when you set the write-protect switch.
• Getting started with optical cartridges and volumes
  This topic introduces you to some of the optical support functions and familiarizes you with using optical cartridges and volumes.

 

Parent topic:

Optical storage

Related information
Optical Storage web site