I think that a lot of people who are contemplating TSM believe this is what
Server-to-server offers them. I know I just did an install where the
customer really believed this. The question gets asked "Can one TSM server
backup another?" The short answer is yes. The customer then imagines the
perfect backup solution which is the one described in the original note
here: a client can restore his data from either server, directly, without
trouble.
The complexity of keeping two separate databases accurately identical is
difficult. Further ensuring that data is accurate on both systems makes the
job even tougher. However, with the transactional techniques available in
the technology today, this should be possible.
Attending the Oxford symposia two years ago, I spoke with a developer about
this. In fact this kind fellow withstood a barrage of such questions about
engineering futures. I believe this is one of those "We're thinking about
it, but where is it on the overall to do list for TSM?"
How far ahead on the list would we, the paying customers, put this feature?
Remember, this is a backup of a file that already exists on a RAID5 set on
client. Two bad things have to happen for you to have the problem: the
client must lose its data AND the TSM server must be down. I know this
happens in a disaster, but then all bets are off. You've got much larger
problems than a simple three hour TSM server restore. If either of the two
bad things described above happen often to you then you should be
redesigning your solution anyway.
I love the idea of this on paper, but I don't know what I would give up to
have it.
Kelly J. Lipp
Storage Solutions Specialists, Inc.
PO Box 51313
Colorado Springs CO 80949-1313
(719) 531-5926
Fax: (240) 539-7175
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] or [EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.storsol.com
www.storserver.com
-----Original Message-----
From: ADSM: Dist Stor Manager [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of
Caffey, Jeff L.
Sent: Monday, June 04, 2001 8:56 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: Wouldn't it be nice if...
Christo,
I would definitely like to have that same capability, but I'd prefer that my
mirrored server be offsite somewhere. We have a Distribution Center that is
about 20 miles from our Data Center. I'd really like it to be there.
In my spare time (what's that?), I'm looking into possibilities, but I
haven't gotten very far. I'd be interested in your findings, and I will
share mine as well.
Thank you,
Jeff Caffey
Enterprise Systems Programmer
(AIX & Storage Administrator)
Pier 1 imports, Inc. - Information Services
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Voice: (817) 252-6222
Fax: (817) 252-7299
-----Original Message-----
From: Christo Heukr [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Monday, June 04, 2001 5:20 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Wouldn't it be nice if...
Hi Everyone,
Does anybody have the requirement to mirror/replicate the Tsm server. I'm
not just talking about on the same machine as in when you create mirrors of
db and log volumes but a server geographically seperate from the production
Tsm server.
Surely development must have thought of the requirement - not just for high
availability but also for doing DR tests on some of the clients from your
replicated TSM db. Quite a few of us are sitting with Tsm databases in
excess of 25Gig. When you have a catastrophic disaster where your TSM server
is dead you need to restore the DB from your off-site tapes. On a 20Gig or
bigger database you are going to have at least 3 hours downtime before being
able to start restoring some of your clients that were located in the same
place as your Tsm server. If you had a replicated Tsm server - all you had
to do is point the dead clients and start restores off the DR Tsm server.
This would at least save 3 hours or more apart from the added bonus of
having a proper TSM DR server ready willing and able to receive restore
requests at a moments notice...
Does this make sense to others on the list or do you think my requirement
are unique?
Cheers
Christo Heuer
ABSA Bank
==================================================
