TSM represents units of storage media with administrator-defined TSM objects: storage pool volumes and storage pools. Figure 5 shows storage pool volumes grouped into a storage pool. Each storage pool represents only one type of media. For example, a storage pool for 8mm devices represents collections of only 8mm tapes.
Figure 5. Relationships of Storage Pool Volumes, Storage Pools, and Media
For device classes such as DISK, you must define volumes. For other device classes, such as tape, you can allow the TSM server to dynamically acquire scratch volumes and define those volumes as needed. For details, see Preparing Volumes for Random Access Storage Pools and Preparing Volumes for Sequential Access Storage Pools.