AFS/DFS Backup Clients


Chapter 1. Overview

Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM) AFS/DFS backup clients system support consists of the following programs:

Each program is described in more detail below.

For AFS/DFS file backup: This book must be used with Tivoli Storage Manager for UNIX Using the Backup-Archive Clients, SH26-4105.

For AFS/DFS volume/fileset backup: This book must be used with the AFS/DFS manuals.


AFS File Backup GUI and Command-Line Clients

The AFS file backup GUI and command-line clients back up, restore, archive, and retrieve AFS files, directories and AFS access control lists (ACLs) for directories. Backup clients also recognize AFS volume mount points.


DFS File Backup GUI and Command-Line Clients

The DFS file backup GUI and command-line clients back up, restore, archive, and retrieve DFS files, directories and DFS access control lists (ACLs) for files and directories. Backup clients also recognize DFS fileset mount points.


AFS Volume Backup Agent

The AFS volume backup agent is an interface program between the AFS volume backup system (backup, buserver, and butc commands) and a TSM server. Functionally, it replaces the BackUp Tape Coordinator (butc), the tape-device interface program of the volume backup system. This replacement program, called BackUp To TSM (buta), serves as an interface program to a TSM server.

The AFS backup command starts the backup and restore operations that direct the operations to buta instances. System administrators should become familiar with the AFS volume backup system (backup and buserver commands) located in the AFS manuals. The buta program is part of that system and works like a special version of butc. See the chapters on backup system commands in your AFS manuals.


DFS Fileset Backup Agent

Similar to the AFS volume backup agent, the DFS fileset backup agent is an interface program between the DFS fileset backup system and a TSM server. Fileset in DFS is equivalent to volume in AFS. The DFS fileset backup system consists of the bak, bakserver, and butc commands.

The TSM application client program functionally replaces the BackUp Tape Coordinator (butc) program, the tape-device interface program of the fileset backup system. This replacement program, called BackUp To TSM (buta), serves as an interface program to a TSM server.

The DFS bak command starts the backup and restore operations that direct the operations to buta instances. System administrators should become familiar with the fileset backup system of DFS. The buta program is used as part of that system and performs like a special version of butc. See the chapters on backup configuration, and backup and restoring data discussed in IBM Distributed Computing Environment 2.1 for AIX: DFS Administration Guide and Reference.


Benefits of Using the AFS/DFS Buta Programs

The AFS/DFS buta programs offer more benefits than Transarc's butc program to back up or restore volumes and filesets. Table 3 below compares the characteristics of the butc and the buta programs.

Table 3. Comparing the butc and the buta Programs

Characteristics of butc Characteristics of buta

  • Each butc instance requires a tape device. It is not always practical to run butc on each file server.

  • There is no disk buffering.

  • It is not practical to use high-performance tape libraries.

  • The buta program provides a single point of control through the TSM server for all tapes.

  • Disk buffering permits multiple incoming buta streams per tape drive.

  • The number of buta instances you start is limited only by network constraints, thereby providing a possibility of increased performance.

  • You can create backup copies using the TSM copy storage pool function.


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