Skip to Main Content
IBM Power Ideas Portal


This portal is to open public enhancement requests against IBM Power Systems products, including IBM i. To view all of your ideas submitted to IBM, create and manage groups of Ideas, or create an idea explicitly set to be either visible by all (public) or visible only to you and IBM (private), use the IBM Unified Ideas Portal (https://ideas.ibm.com).


Shape the future of IBM!

We invite you to shape the future of IBM, including product roadmaps, by submitting ideas that matter to you the most. Here's how it works:

Search existing ideas

Start by searching and reviewing ideas and requests to enhance a product or service. Take a look at ideas others have posted, and add a comment, vote, or subscribe to updates on them if they matter to you. If you can't find what you are looking for,

Post your ideas
  1. Post an idea.

  2. Get feedback from the IBM team and other customers to refine your idea.

  3. Follow the idea through the IBM Ideas process.


Specific links you will want to bookmark for future use

Welcome to the IBM Ideas Portal (https://www.ibm.com/ideas) - Use this site to find out additional information and details about the IBM Ideas process and statuses.

IBM Unified Ideas Portal (https://ideas.ibm.com) - Use this site to view all of your ideas, create new ideas for any IBM product, or search for ideas across all of IBM.

ideasibm@us.ibm.com - Use this email to suggest enhancements to the Ideas process or request help from IBM for submitting your Ideas.

Status Future consideration
Workspace IBM i
Categories Save and Restore
Created by Guest
Created on Aug 12, 2021

Allow change of Unload at Vary Off for Tape Device Description whilst active

The default value for the "Unload device at vary off" parameter on a tape device description is *YES

Currently, it is not possible to change this value to *NO without varying off the device description, which of course ejects the tape.

I would like to option to change this parameter which the device is varied on


Use Case:

This is most useful when the device in question is a tape drive rather than a tape library as it causes the tape to be ejected and an operator has to physically go to the drive and reload the tape.

This can also cause issues with tape libraries when used in autoload + sequential mode, in this circumstance it causes a different tape to be loaded into the drive.


Idea priority Medium
  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Sep 21, 2021

    The CAAC has reviewed this requirement and recommends that IBM view this as a medium priority requirement that should be addressed. This would be very helpful, especially for smaller customers. It is a very common scenario for customers to hit.

    Background: The COMMON Americas Advisory Council (CAAC) members have a broad range of experience in working with small and medium-sized IBM i customers. CAAC has a key role in working with IBM i development to help assess the value and impact of individual RFEs on the broader IBM i community, and has therefore reviewed your RFE.

    For more information about CAAC, see www.common.org/caac

    Nancy Uthke-Schmucki - CAAC Program Manager

  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Sep 13, 2021

    The CEAC has reviewed this requirement and recommends that IBM view this as a MEDIUM priority requirement that should be addressed.

    Background: The COMMON Europe Advisory Council (CEAC) members have a broad range of experience in working with small and medium-sized IBM i customers. CEAC has a crucial role in working with IBM i development to help assess the value and impact of individual RFEs on the broader IBM i community and has therefore reviewed your RFE.

    To find out how CEAC help to shape the future of IBM i, see CEAC @ ibm.biz/BdYSYj and the article "The Five Hottest IBM i RFEs Of The Quarter" at ibm.biz/BdYSZT

    Therese Eaton – CEAC Program Manager, IBM

  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Sep 3, 2021

    IBM will use this request as input to planning but no commitment is made or implied. This request will be updated in the future if IBM implements it. IBM will use votes and comments from others in the community to help prioritize this request.

  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Aug 23, 2021

    IBM has received the requirement and is evaluating it. IBM will provide a response after evaluation is complete.

  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Aug 13, 2021

    Hello Steve,

    Changing the command default is a valid workaround. This can be done during an upgrade. The nasty thing about this is that when you want it to be changed you are to late ;-)

    I once ran into that situation and had to ask the IT manager to drive to the office late in the evening. Based on that it seems a minor request, but I do support it.

    Greetings Rudi