Technical data

Managing Storage Media
9.3 Initializing Volumes
Before you or any user can write files or data to a disk or a tape volume, you
must initialize a volume.
Caution
Initializing a disk volume removes links to existing files on the volume,
which, in effect, deletes (but does not erase) the files. To erase the data in
a file, use the INITIALIZE/ERASE command.
Do not initialize a volume that contains data that users want to keep.
(Initializing a volume each time you use it is not necessary.)
Steps for Setting Up Disk or Tape Volumes
To set up a disk or tape volume, you need to perform two steps. In each step you
enter a DCL command, as follows:
1. INITIALIZE Formats the volume and writes an identifying label on it. This
effectively removes the previous contents of the volume. (Initializing
a volume each time you use it is not necessary.)
2. MOUNT Provides the user’s process with access to a volume’s files or data.
This section contains instructions for initializing volumes. Section 9.5 contains
instructions for mounting volumes. Before you initialize a volume, you might
want to refer to Section 9.4, which contains information about volume protection.
Setting Up Media on a Workstation
For workstations with removable media, users can perform the tasks shown in
Table 9–7 unassisted.
Table 9–7 Tasks Users Can Perform Unassisted
Task Description
Load Insert the media into the drive.
Initialize Remove all previous contents from the media. (VOLPRO privilege is
required for most operations.)
Mount Logically mount the media and allocate the device (requires SYSNAM,
GRPNAM, or VOLPRO privilege for various operations). To mount a
volume on a device, you must have read (R), write (W), or control (C)
access to that device.
Perform file
operations
Access files and perform the desired operations on them.
Dismount Logically dismount the media and deallocate the device (requires
GRPNAM and SYSNAM user privileges to dismount group and system
volumes).
Unload Remove the media from the drive compartment.
For additional information about manipulating removable media on your
workstation, refer to the hardware manuals that accompany your workstation.
On VAX systems, also refer to the upgrade and installation supplement for your
computer.
Managing Storage Media 9–17