Questions about library handling 2

[EGR]

Hi,

I have been working with TSM for a short while now but I am unsure about library topics.
I have read the Implementation Guide (for 5.2) but I still don't get everything.
So I have got some question for my understanding:

1. Library
A TSM Server 5.3.0 is installed on W2k3.
The TSM Device driver is not installed.
Know I have to configure an Exabyte 7 Slot Autoloader.

Is it possible to install the TSM Device Driver afterwards without having a negative effect on the the running TSM server?
At the moment there is just a disk system (JBOD) configured.

I am not quite sure wheter I need the TSM driver or not.

2.New tapes
Do I have to label ALL new tapes as scratch even when these are preformated?

3.
What is the difference between "checked out" volumes and "offsite-"volumes?

4.audit library
- Does an 'audit library' recognize backupsets and db-backups?
- I have read that TSM deletes records about volumes that it does not find during that audit in the library
=What does that audit process do to checked out volumes (backupsets, db_backup)?
=When a tape was accidentally put out of the library is the data really lost?

5. checkout - checkin
When I have got a library with a single drive and not mail slot (entry slot) how can I checkout or checkin volumes?
Is it ok for TSM when I open the library (autoloader) and pull the hole magazine with all slots?

Is it neccessary to enter the elment id of the slot where put or pull the tape?

Thanks you very much in advance

Regards
/noodles

 

[ProbablyDown]

In my experience on TSM Server on AIX:

1) You can add the library later because you may change the lib or whatever. I'm not sure what the "TSM Driver" is, but as long as the device is configured on the O/S you should be able to create paths and drives in TSM. again, I'm from unix land here...

2)All new tapes may be preformatted but the fact that they are "scratch" means that a storage pool can use it. They all have to be labelled and checked in to be used. You can add them to any tape pool you choose, but scratch will allow any tape pool that is allowed to draw from scratch to use them.

3) checked-out = unavailable (but may be in the library) offsite = offsite, hence not in the library. You would check out the volumes then go to you tape library and physically remove it. then you would update the volume to "offsite" once you remove it.

4) Not too sure what you mean here. You can take a tape out of the library at any time, but if you just remove it without checking it out, TSM may try to use the tape. Auditing the library can be very time consuming.

5)You can load all the scratch tapes in and do a checkin search=yes status=scratch checklabel=barcode and that will keep the drive free. you can also checkout and use remove=no. then you can go and manually remove it if you don't have an i/o door.


Hope I didn't confuse you more...

 

[EGR]

Hi ProbablyDown,

your answer really did help me!
I am always confused so that is normal...

To number 4:

I have read that during an audit of the library TSM compares its database with the actual volumes locally available in the library.
When it has entries in its database and it cannot find that volume during a audit TSM deletes these volume entries from its database.
Is that true?

When I have correctly checked out a volume does TSM still behave in that way and expexts that the volume is physically available in the library and if not otherwise delets it frim the database?

Hope my English is good enough to make clear what I wanted to ask ;-)

Regards
/EGR

 

[comtec17]

When the volume is checked out, TSM places a mark within the database that says the volume is not available within the library. Doing an audit just asks TSM to check and make sure that the volume inventory and the TSM database inventory match up. If they do not match it will report to you the issue.

 

[EGR]

Hi,

so everything is safe?
I can check out volumes, put them in the save and audit the library weh nI want to?

Thanks

/egr

 

[comtec17]

yes

 

[EGR]

Hi again,

more and more I understand this thing.
I am quite used to Veritas BE so excuse my questions.

But another one:

When I want to put tapes from a storagepool offsite is it really necessary to

1. checkout the volumes and additionally
2. mark the volumes offsite (access=offsite)

And one more about libary handling:

I configure a copypool on tape and copy my primary diskppol to that tapecopypool.
After that I'd like to put my tapes offsite every business day and kepp them for 2 weeks.
UInfortunately we only got a 10 slot autoloader.

If I got it right during that copy of my primary pool only changed data will be written.
Furthermore I do not know which version of which file is on what tape or volume.

Now in the case that my primary stgpool fails for some reason an I have to restore data from copypool (tapes)how do I know which tapes I have to checkin and/or put onsite?

Does the TSM request those tapes even though they are marked checked out and offsite?

Is there a way just to check which volumes are needed to restore data?

Thank you very much.

Regards
/egr