Tivoli Storage Manager for Windows Administrator's Guide


Overview of Tivoli Storage Manager Storage Objects

TSM storage objects are logical constructs containing information that represents manual and automated library devices, and media. The storage objects allow TSM to communicate with devices and to manage media. TSM storage objects are listed here:

Device Classes

Device classes are TSM storage objects that contain information about the device type and the way the device manages its media. Each device is associated with one TSM device class. See Overview of How TSM Device Classes Represent Devices and Chapter 7, Defining Device Classes.

For devices that access data randomly, TSM provides a pre-defined device class named DISK that cannot be modified.

For devices such as tape drives that access data sequentially, device classes must be defined when the devices are configured.

Tape devices, optical devices, and removable media devices are associated with libraries. The libraries are required for sequential devices because of the variations in media type (for example, 4mm, 8mm, and QIC) and because of the need to manage multiple drives and automation.

Devices that access data sequentially also include FILE and SERVER device types. For FILE device classes, data resides in files on the server's disk storage. For SERVER device classes, data resides in the storage of another TSM server.

Libraries

Libraries are TSM storage objects that are defined when devices are configured, and contain information about one or more drives that share similar media mounting requirements. The library can include an automated mounting mechanism. Each device that has removable media (for example, tape) must be associated with a TSM library.

A TSM library can contain more than one physical device and can contain different types of devices. Use different libraries to identify devices that are mounted by different means (for example, an operator instead of robotics). Administrators can define these types of libraries:

See Chapter 6, Defining Drives and Libraries for more information about TSM libraries.

Drives

Drives are TSM storage objects that are defined when devices are configured, and they represent individual physical drives. For devices with multiple drives, including automated library devices, each drive is separately defined to TSM. Each drive is associated with a TSM library. See Chapter 6, Defining Drives and Libraries for more information about drives.

Storage Pools

Storage pools are TSM storage objects that are defined when devices are configured, and are a named collection of storage volumes that are associated with one device class. Each storage pool represents a collection of volumes that are the same media type. For example, a storage pool that is associated with a device class for 8mm tape contains only 8mm tape volumes. Administrators can control the characteristics of storage pools. See Chapter 8, Managing Storage Pools and Volumes.

Storage Pool Volumes

Storage pool volumes are TSM storage objects that are defined when devices are configured, and they represent space on media that is available for storing client data. Storage pool volumes are associated with a storage pool. For example, 8mm tapes and QIC tapes become storage pool volumes when they are assigned to a TSM storage pool. See Chapter 8, Managing Storage Pools and Volumes.

Server

To store data in the storage of another TSM server, use a SERVER device type in the device class. Administrators define a server object to communicate with the target server (where data is actually stored).

When defining a server object to one TSM server (a source server), specify the communication attributes necessary for establishing a connection to another TSM server (a target server). The source server can then use the target server as a sequential device for storing data. This data on the target server is one or more archived files that are stored on behalf of the source server.


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