Tivoli Storage Manager for UNIX Using the Backup-Archive Clients


Introducing the Backup-Archive Client

The Tivoli Storage Manager backup-archive client helps you protect information on your workstation. Using Tivoli Storage Manager, you can maintain backup versions of your workstation files that you can restore if the original files are damaged or lost. You can also archive workstation files that you do not currently need, or preserve them in their current state, and retrieve them when necessary.

You can use the graphical user interface, commands, or the Web client to perform tasks. The command line client is also useful if you run client commands in batch mode.

As a quick reference, the following could be considered primary tasks:

Primary Tivoli Storage Manager tasks Page
Migrating from Earlier Versions "Migrating from Earlier Versions"
Setting Environment Variables "Setting Environment Variables"
Starting a GUI Session "Starting a GUI Session"
Starting a Command Line Session "Starting a Command Line Session"
Starting a Web Client Session "Starting a Web Client Session"
Ending a Session "Ending a Session"
Performing a GUI Backup "Performing a GUI Backup"
Restoring Files or Directories "Restoring Files or Directories"
Archiving Files "Archiving Files"
Retrieving Archives "Retrieving Archives"
Creating an Include-Exclude List "Creating an Include-Exclude List"
Setting Options in a File "Setting Options in a File"

Migrating from Earlier Versions

Terminology Changes

Previous versions of this product were known as ADSTAR Distributed Storage Manager (ADSM). ADSM is now known as Tivoli Storage Manager. Other terminology changes within this book are as follows:

Previously Known As Now Known As
ADSM backup-archive client Tivoli Storage Manager client, backup-archive client, or client
ADSM backup-archive Web client or Web client Tivoli Storage Manager Web client or Web client
ADSM HSM Tivoli Space Manager or HSM client
ADSM server Tivoli Storage Manager server or server

Processing Virtual Mount Points

Use the AFS/DFS backup clients to process virtual mount points for AFS/DFS file systems. Version 3 and higher backup-archive clients do not process virtual mount points specified for AFS/DFS file systems.

ACL Support

See "Supported UNIX File Systems and ACL Support" for a complete list of file systems for which Tivoli Storage Manager provides ACL support.

Changes to Client-Server Communications

Tivoli Storage Manager no longer supports the SNA LU6.2 (APPC) communication method for the AIX clients. Therefore, these clients no longer support the following options:

We recommend TCP/IP as the replacement communication method for former SNA LU6.2 (APPC) users of the AIX clients.

For more information about the communication methods supported for your Tivoli Storage Manager client, see "Communication Options".

Upgrade Path for Clients and Servers

As part of a migration plan from Tivoli Storage Manager Version 4.1 to Tivoli Storage Manager Version 4.2, clients and servers may be upgraded at different times. To ensure that you can continue your backup and archive activities during the migration, please note the following:

Tivoli Data Protection for NDMP Version 4.2.1 Requirements

Tivoli Storage Manager supports backup and restore of network attached storage (NAS) file system images to tape drives or libraries that are locally attached to NAS file servers. Tivoli Data Protection for NDMP enables backup and restore support on the Tivoli Storage Manager Windows NT and Windows 2000 servers for NAS file servers from Network Appliance. Tivoli Data Protection for NDMP is a separately priced and licensed product.

Tivoli Data Protection for NDMP requires the following hardware and software:

See Appendix B, "Backing Up NAS File Systems" for further information, including how to back up and restore NAS file system images using the Web client and command line client.

Additional Migration Information

When you install the Web client, you must install the client for the language you want to use.

A command line administrative client is available on client platforms. The primary intended interface to the server is the Web administrative interface and requires a Web browser. The Web administrative interface is packaged and installed with the server.


Using Storage Management Policies

Storage management policies govern how and when your data is backed up and archived. Your administrator defines these policies, and an Authorized User on your workstation associates them with your data.

Your administrator can coordinate scheduled services with the storage management policies you use for your files. For example, if your storage management policy for a group of files requires that they are backed up once a week, your administrator can schedule automatic backup services for those files on a particular day each week.

For more information about storage management policies, see Understanding Storage Management Policies.


Setting Processing Options

Tivoli Storage Manager includes options that control processing for user sessions. For example, you can use options to specify what communications methods to use, or to restrict or permit access to your data. These options reside in the client system options file, the client user options file (dsm.opt), and the include-exclude options file and are in effect for an entire session.

Setting Options in the Client System Options File - Use the client system options file (dsm.sys) to specify one or more servers and communications options for backup-archive services. The file can also include authorization options, backup and archive processing options, scheduling options, and Tivoli Space Manager options.

If you are a root user, you can copy the sample client system options file (dsm.sys.smp) in your installation directory and modify the new copy according to your needs. Required options are those that provide information the client programs need to establish communication with a server. See "Creating and Modifying a Client System Options File" for more information.

Setting Options in a Client User Options File - If you are a root user, you can create a default client user options file (dsm.opt) that can be used by all users on your workstation. If you are a user and want to use different options than those specified in the default client user options file, you can create your own client user options file. See "Creating and Modifying a Client User Options File" for more information.

In addition, you can override an option in a client user options file file by entering a different value for the option with an appropriate command. See "Entering Options with a Command" for more information.

Setting Options in an Include-Exclude Options File - You can create an include-exclude options file to include or exclude specific files, directories (or both) from backup services. See "Creating an Include-Exclude List" for more information.

For detailed information about individual options, see "Client Options Reference".


Backing Up and Restoring Files

You request backup services when you want to save copies of files that you can restore if the original files are lost or damaged. These copies are called backup versions or backups.

A root user can back up any file on your system. As a user, you can back up any files you own.

You can perform the following types of backups:

See "Supported UNIX File Systems and ACL Support" for a complete list of supported UNIX file systems and ACL support by platform.

Tivoli Storage Manager backs up regular files, sparse files, character special files, block special files, FIFO special files (named pipe files), and directories. If you are using an AIX workstation, and you want to back up AFS or DFS access control lists, you must use the AFS or DFS version of Tivoli Storage Manager (see "Backing Up and Restoring Files").

A root user can restore any file from storage. As a user, you can restore any files you back up and any other files to which another user grants you access. You can restore a single file, a group of files, or all files in a directory. You can restore files to the same directory from which you backed them up or to a different directory.

Note:
Sparse files are restored as sparse files; they are not inflated. For more information about backing up and restoring sparse files, see Backing Up and Restoring Files.

Archiving and Retrieving Files

You request archive services when you want to save files at a specific point, or place copies in long-term storage and erase them from your workstation. These copies are called archive copies or archives. Archives are never replaced with more current versions, but are preserved exactly as you store them.

A root user can archive any file on your system. As a user, you can archive any file to which you have read access. You can archive a single file or a group of files, or all files in a directory.

When you archive a file, enter a description of the file that you can use later to retrieve it from storage to your workstation. A root user can retrieve any file from storage. As a user, you can retrieve any files you archive and any other files to which another user grants you access. You can return an archived file to the same directory from which you archived it, or to a different directory.

For more information about archiving and retrieving, see Archiving and Retrieving Files.


Using the Web Backup-Archive Client

The Web backup-archive client (Web client) permits an authorized administrator, help desk person, or end user to perform backup, restore, archive, and retrieve services on any workstation or platform that supports a Java 1.1.6-capable browser. This includes browsers such as Netscape Navigator 4.06 or higher or Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 or higher. You can perform multiple Web client sessions simultaneously. For example, you can perform a backup, archive, restore, and query on separate Web browsers.

The Web client is available on the following client platforms:

Only a server that is Version 3 or higher supports the Web client.

The Web client does not support the following functions:

See "Starting a Web Client Session" for information about starting and using the Web client.


Automating Tasks

Tivoli Storage Manager provides central scheduling to automatically perform tasks. Your administrator defines schedules. For example, you might have files that you want backed up daily, weekly, or monthly. After defining your schedules, your administrator associates your client node with those schedules. Then, when you run the client scheduler, it tells the server to include your node when running the appropriate schedule. For more information about scheduling, see Automating Tasks.


Root and Authorized User Tasks

The phrases root user and Authorized User identify tasks that only root users and Authorized Users can perform. An administrator assigns the authority to delete obsolete backup and archive files from storage. An Authorized User is any user running with a real user ID of 0 (root) or owns an executable whose owner execution permission bit is set to s.

As a root user, you can perform the following tasks:

File access permissions do not restrict a root user.

As a root user or an Authorized User, you can perform the following tasks:


[ Top of Page | Previous Page | Next Page | Table of Contents | Index ]