Tivoli Storage Manager for Windows: Administrator's Guide


Overview of Selecting Device Drivers

If you manage a mixture of devices, some controlled by the TSM device driver and others controlled by the Windows device driver, set up the appropriate device driver. The TSM device driver is recommended, because it allows TSM to maintain a volume inventory and to assist with some media management tasks. In some cases, when using Windows Removable Storage Manager (RSM) for example, the Windows device driver must be used and in these cases TSM continues to use the devices but with limited TSM media management. For devices not currently supported by the TSM device driver, the Windows device driver may be suitable.

Table 2 lists devices and the device driver needed for that device. Also listed are the library types associated with the devices.

Table 2. Device Drivers for Windows

Device Type Device Driver Device Class Library Type
4MM drive TSM Device Driver 4MM External, Manual, SCSI
8MM drive TSM Device Driver 8MM External, Manual, SCSI
DLT drive TSM Device Driver DLT External, Manual, SCSI, ACSLS
DTF drive TSM Device Driver DTF External, Manual, SCSI
QIC drive TSM Device Driver QIC External, Manual, SCSI
STK SD3, 9840, 9490, 9940 drive TSM Device Driver ECARTRIDGE External, Manual, SCSI, ACSLS
IBM 3570 drive TSM Device Driver 3570 External, Manual, SCSI
IBM 3590, 3590E drive TSM Device Driver 3590 External, Manual, SCSI, 349X, ACSLS
IBM LTO 3580 drive RMSS NT 4.0/Windows 2000 Device Driver LTO External, Manual, SCSI
Optical (See Devices Supported URL) TSM Device Driver OPTICAL External, Manual, SCSI
WORM (See Devices Supported URL) TSM Device Driver WORM External, Manual, SCSI
IBM MP 3570, 3575 Library TSM Device Driver 3570 SCSI
IBM LTO 3581, 3583, 3584 Library RMSS NT/Windows 2000 Device Driver LTO RSM
IBM LTO 3581, 3583, 3584 Library TSM Device Driver LTO SCSI
IBM 3494, 3495 Library IBMATL CARTRIDGE, 3590 349X
Note:
All other libraries (see http://www.tivoli.com/support/storage_mgr/tivolimain.html) use the TSM device driver.

When the operating system is started, the Windows device driver tries to acquire the devices it supports before the TSM device driver can acquire devices. To ensure that device drivers control devices in a predictable manner, see "Selecting the Appropriate Device Driver for Tivoli Storage Manager Devices".


Table 3. Device Types and Recommended Device Drivers

Device Type Recommended Device Driver
Automated Library Devices TSM Device Driver (required)

See Adding Automated Library Devices.

Manual Library Devices TSM Device Driver (preferred)

See Adding Manual Devices.

Manual Library Devices Windows Device Driver (must meet TSM requirements)

See Adding Devices Not Supported by the Tivoli Storage Manager Device Driver.

Optical Devices TSM Device Driver (required)

See Adding Removable Media Devices.

Removable Media Devices (attached as local file systems) Windows Device Driver (required)

See Adding Removable Media Devices.

The Tivoli Storage Manager Device Driver

TSM provides a device driver called ADSMSCSI. The TSM driver allows you to exclude devices that are reserved for other applications. Some automated library devices require the TSM device driver, and some manual devices can use the Windows device driver with TSM.

Windows Device Drivers

Windows device drivers provide basic connectivity for devices using native Windows backup tools using Remote Storage Manager (RSM) or native Windows backup tools. Occasionally, you can use devices that are not yet supported by the TSM device driver by using the Windows device drivers. TSM cannot use all of the devices that Windows device drivers support because some devices do not have all the functions that TSM requires. See Adding Devices Not Supported by the Tivoli Storage Manager Device Driver for more information.

When starting Windows, the Windows device driver tries to acquire the devices it supports before the TSM device driver can acquire devices. To ensure that device drivers control devices in a predictable manner, see "Selecting the Appropriate Device Driver for Tivoli Storage Manager Devices".

Limitations of Using Windows Device Drivers

Using Windows device drivers for TSM devices limits TSM functionality:

Controlling Windows Device Drivers

Windows device drivers can be manually started or automatically set to start when the operating system starts. Procedures for controlling the device drivers are described in Selecting the Appropriate Device Driver for Tivoli Storage Manager Devices.


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