Tivoli Storage Manager for Windows Using the Backup-Archive Client


Chapter 4. Archiving and Retrieving Files

Note:Unless otherwise specified, references to Windows 95 also include Windows 98. References to Windows NT also include Windows 2000.

Archiving and retrieving files is similar to backing up and restoring files. Many of the windows and concepts are similar. This chapter discusses the primary archive and retrieve tasks. See Do You Want to Back Up or Archive Files? for a discussion of the difference between backups and archives.

An Estimate function is provided on the Backup and Restore windows, which are accessible from the main TSM window. Use this function if you want TSM to estimate the amount of time it takes to process your files and directories. The estimated transfer is a rough calculation of the time it takes TSM to transfer your data. It is based on previous transfers of data between your workstation and the current server. The actual transfer time could be longer or shorter than the estimate due to factors such as network traffic, system load on your workstation, or system load on the server.

See Table 6 for a list of tasks.

Table 6. Archiving and Retrieving Files

Task Page
"Assign Archive Descriptions" "Assign Archive Descriptions"
"Create Archive Packages" "Create Archive Packages"
"Archive Files by Name" "Archive Files by Name"
"Archive Files Using a Directory Tree" "Archive Files Using a Directory Tree"
"Filter a Directory Tree to Archive Files" "Filter a Directory Tree to Archive Files"
"Archive Files Using Commands" "Archive Files Using Commands"
"Delete Archive Data" "Delete Archive Data"
"Retrieving Archive Copies" "Retrieving Archive Copies"
"Retrieving Archive Files Using a Filter" "Retrieving Archive Files Using a Filter"

Using the Web Client for Archive and Retrieve

All client archive and retrieve procedures in this chapter also apply to the Web client, except those procedures listed in "Using the Web Backup-Archive Client".

See "Starting A Web Client Session" for information on starting the Web client.


Archiving Files

To archive files, select the files you want to archive. You can select the files by name or description, or select them from a directory tree. Your administrator might have set up schedules to automatically archive certain files on your workstation. See Chapter 5, "Automating TSM Tasks" for information about checking and running the schedules available to you. The following sections discuss how to archive files without using a schedule.

Assign Archive Descriptions

TSM requires that you assign an archive description for all archived files. An archive description identifies data through a meaningful description that you can use later to identify files and directories. You can enter as many as 255 characters to describe your archived data. If a description is not entered, TSM assigns a default archive description.

When you select the archive function from the backup-archive GUI, TSM displays a list of all previously used archive descriptions. You can use these displayed archive descriptions on future archives.

Create Archive Packages

An archive package is a group of files and directories archived with a unique description. Archiving files and directories in such a way makes retrieval easier. You can archive and retrieve files or directories as one entity, retrieve individual files, add files to an existing package using the archive description, or delete files from a package.

To create a new package, specify a unique archive description. The default description is:

   Archive Date: mm/dd/yyyy
 
where mm/dd/yyyy is the current date. 

The TSM GUI Retrieve function displays files hierarchically in a collapsible directory tree. On a TSM Version 3 or higher server, the files are grouped according to their archive descriptions. On a Version 2 server, files are grouped by file space. Expanding the collapsible description tree displays the individual directories and files of which the archive package consists.

Archive Files by Name

Note:For help in performing any task presented in a GUI, place your cursor on the field or option in question, and press F1.

You can archive a file or a group of files with similar names. Specify the file name or path in the Find Files window. Assign a unique description for each archive package. To archive a file:

  1. Click the Archive button in the TSM main window. The Archive window is displayed.
  2. Expand the directory tree by clicking the plus sign (+) or folder icon next to an object in the tree.
  3. Select the object you want to work on.
  4. Click the Search tool on the tool bar.
  5. Enter the search criteria in the Find Files window.
  6. Click the Search button. The Matching Files window is displayed.
  7. Click the selection boxes next to the objects you want to archive. Selections appear in the Archive by Tree window.
  8. Enter a description, accept the default description, or select an existing description for your archive package in the Description combination box.
  9. Click Archive to archive the files. The Archive Status window displays the progress of the archive.

Archive Files Using a Directory Tree

You can archive specific files or entire directories from a directory tree. You can also assign a unique description for each group of files you archive (archive package). To archive your files:

  1. Click the Archive button in the TSM main window. The Archive window is displayed.
  2. Expand the directory tree by clicking the plus sign (+) or the folder icon next to an object in the tree.
  3. Click the selection boxes next to the objects that you want to archive.
  4. Enter a description, accept the default description, or select an existing description for your archive package in the Description combination box.
  5. Click the Archive button. The Archive Status window displays the progress of the archive.

Filter a Directory Tree to Archive Files

You can filter the directory tree to display only those files that match your criteria. You can then select the files you want to archive from the filtered directory tree. You can assign a unique description for each group of files you archive (archive package). To archive your files:

  1. Click the Archive button in the TSM main window. The Archive window is displayed.
  2. Expand the directory tree by clicking the plus sign (+) next to an object in the tree.
  3. Select the object you want to work with.
  4. Click the Search tool on the tool bar.
  5. Enter your criteria in the Find Files window.
  6. Click the Filter button and close the window. The directory tree displays only those directories that contain the files matching your criteria.
  7. Click the selection boxes next to the files or filtered directories that you want to archive.
  8. Enter a description, accept the default description, or select an existing description for your archive package in the Description combination box.
  9. Click the Archive button. The Archive Status window displays the progress of the archive.

If you want to change the options for an archive, click the Modify Archive Options button. The options are effective only during the current TSM session. If you want to select a different management class, see "Selecting a Management Class for Files" for questions to consider.

See online Help for the Modify Archive Options button to assist you in the selection of modification options.

Archive Files Using Commands

Use the archive command to archive files. Use wildcards to archive more than one file at a time. If you archive a directory of files, use the subdir=yes option to include all the subdirectories under that directory in the archive. For example, to archive the files in the d:\proj directory and the files in its subdirectories, you would enter:

   dsmc archive d:\proj\ -subdir=yes

You can enter more than one file name on the archive command. For example, to archive the a:\h2.doc and a:\test.doc files, you would enter:

   dsmc archive a:\h2.doc a:\test.doc

Use the description option to assign a description to the archive:

   dsmc archive a:\h2.doc -description="Chapter 2, first version"

For more information about the archive command, see Archive.

For information about how to handle duplicate file names, see "Duplicate File Names".

Archive Directories

TSM permits you to archive and retrieve directories and their attributes.

Delete Archive Data

You can delete archive data if your administrator has given you authority to do so. See the Delete Archive Files field in the Connection Information window.

To delete archive copies:

  1. Select Delete Archive Data from the Utilities menu.
  2. Expand the Directory tree by clicking the plus sign (+) or folder icon next to the object you want to expand. If you are connected to a Version 3 server, objects on the tree are grouped by archive package description.
  3. Click the selection boxes next to objects that you want to delete.
  4. Click the Delete button. The Archive Delete Task List window displays the progress of the delete.
  5. If you want TSM to estimate the amount of time it takes to process your files and directories, click the Estimate button.

Retrieving Archive Copies

Select the retrieve function to recover an archive copy of a file or a directory. You can also retrieve archive copies from the directory tree, filter the directory tree, and retrieve archive copies of someone else. To do any of these, click the Retrieve button on the TSM main window and follow the directions provided in the task help of the GUI.

For information about how to resolve conflicts between duplicate file names, see "Duplicate File Names".

Retrieving Archive Files by Name

You can retrieve archive files by name using the following procedure.

  1. Click the Retrieve button on the TSM main window. The Retrieve window is displayed.
  2. Expand the directory tree by clicking the plus sign (+) or the folder icon next to an object you want to expand. If you are connected to a Version 3 server, the objects on the tree are grouped by archive package description.
  3. Select an object in the tree that you want to work with.
  4. Click Search on the tool bar. The Find Files window is displayed.
  5. Enter the search criteria in the Find Files window. The Matching Files window is displayed.
  6. Click the selection boxes next to objects you want to retrieve. Selections appear in the Retrieve window.
  7. Click Retrieve. The Retrieve Destination window is displayed.
  8. Enter the information in the Retrieve Destination window.
  9. Click Retrieve. The Retrieve Status window displays the processing status.

Retrieving Archive Files Using a Filter

You retrieve a file when you want to return an archive copy from the server to your workstation. To retrieve archive copies using a filter, perform the following steps:

  1. Click the Retrieve button on the TSM main window. The Retrieve window is displayed.
  2. Expand the directory tree by clicking the plus sign (+) or the folder icon next to an object you want to expand. If you are connected to a Version 3 server, the objects on the tree are grouped by archive package description.
  3. Select an object in the tree that you want to work with.
  4. Click Search on the tool bar. The Find Files window is displayed.
  5. Enter search criteria in the Find Files window.
  6. Click Search. The Matching Files window is displayed.
  7. Click the selection boxes next to objects you want to retrieve.
  8. Click Retrieve. The Retrieve Destination window is displayed.
  9. Enter the information in the Retrieve Destination window.
  10. Click Retrieve. The Retrieve Status window displays the processing status.

Retrieving Archive Files by Directory Tree

You retrieve a file when you want to return an archive copy from the server to your workstation. To retrieve archive copies using the directory tree, perform the following steps:

  1. Click the Retrieve button on the TSM main window. The Retrieve window is displayed.
  2. Expand the directory tree by clicking the plus (+) or the folder icon next to an object you want to expand. If you are connected to a Version 3 server, the objects on the tree are grouped by archive package description.
  3. Click the selection boxes next to objects you want to retrieve.
  4. Click Retrieve. The Retrieve Destination window is displayed.
  5. Enter the information in the Retrieve Destination window.
  6. Click Retrieve. The Retrieve Status window displays the processing status.

Retrieving Files Using Commands

Use the retrieve command to retrieve files. Indicate the file you want retrieved and a destination. If you do not indicate a destination, the files are retrieved to their original location. For example, to retrieve the c:\doc\h2.doc file to its original directory, you would enter:

   dsmc retrieve c:\doc\h2.doc

To retrieve the file under a new name, you would enter:

   dsmc retrieve c:\doc\h2.doc c:\doc\h3.doc

You can use the pick option to obtain a list of archive copies from which you can pick files. See Pick

If you are retrieving a file to a disk that has a different label other than the disk from which the file was archived, use the file space name (label) of the archive disk rather than the drive letter. For example, if you archived a file from the diskette, workathome on the a: drive, and you are retrieving it to a diskette in the a: drive labeled extra, you would enter:

   dsmc retrieve {workathome}\doc\h2.doc a:\doc\h2.doc

For information about how to retrieve files when the machine name is part of the file name, see ***. The information is presented in the context of the restore command but applies equally to the retrieve command.


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