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In releases IBM i 7.2 and later, the media class contains the Initialize media on expiration field which can be used to indicate whether to initialize media when it expires. Media will be initialized, if it is available in a tape drive or tape media library, when BRMS maintenance runs.
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NOTE: When BRMS for IBM i 7.2 or later is installed, the Initialize media on expiration field in media classes will be set to an initial value based values that where previously set using the INZONEXP options defined below.
In releases IBM i 7.1 and earlier, an option has been added to the Start Maintenance for BRM (STRMNTBRM) command when *YES is specified for the Expire media (EXPMED) parameter to initialize BRMS media when it is expired. When the option is enabled, it will require media that is being expired to be mounted on a device. This option can be used to free disk storage sooner for virtual media technologies. These options may not work on IBM 7.2 and above if the option is changed in WRKCLSBRM
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