1. Yes, you can restore your TSM server with a single drive. Just the same procedures you would use at a DR site with a library. Install TSM server code on your machine Define a library with TYPE=MANUAL Define your 1 drive to that library Use the admin command line to open a tape console (or you can query the activity log every few minutes) Run your restore DB When the server needs a tape mount, you get a prompt on the tape console (or activity log) telling the human to insert tape xxxxxx in the manual drive. It will be tedious, and slow. But it works fine.
2. In theory yes, but not usually in practice. Backupsets were created originally with the idea that you could restore them using only the client, without a server. And that was done back in the day with the expectation that you would burn the backupset to a CD using the server, then read it using the client's CD reader. And it worked. DVD's, zip drives (remember those), and flat files are also supported. But these days most clients' backup data is too big to fit on a CD, and when are you going to have time to burn it? Better recreating the server and restoring the backupset that way. Gotcha: However TDP data isn't supported on backupsets. So usually you'll be better off just doing that extra periodic full backup, under a different client node name, and taking that set of tapes with you. -----Original Message----- From: ADSM: Dist Stor Manager [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Nicholas Rodolfich Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2010 12:14 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [ADSM-L] single drive restore possibilities Hello All, Thanks for your help!! I have a client that selected TSM to replace their CA/Brightstore product. When we showed up for the kickoff meeting, the IT manager said that he wants to be able to create full backups of his mission critical servers when a hurricane enters the gulf and wants to be able to take a single drive with him to an alternate location to do his restores. He is adiment about not having to have his full offsite copy pool with him to restore his mission critical systems. We tried to explain how TSM prevented the need for second guessing disasters but he wouldn't bite. He stated that he is willing to have someone feed tapes into the single drive for however long it takes. I have always been with large organizations that plan on restoring their TSM server first and then all of the clients during DR testing for the real thing. I don't know of any way to do this with since TSM wants a drive to be assigned to a library. I thought of exports but that also requires a TSM server. 1. How would one use a single drive to restore the TSM server first and then the clients? Is this possible at all? 2. Is a backupset a viable restore option without a server? I have read up on backupsets but the doc is not clear as to what is required on the client. I suppose an adapter of some sort (scsi or fiber) a cable, a drive, an installed OS and TSM client and then restore directly from the backupset tape using the TSM b/a client. Any light shed on this situation would be appreciated Regards, Nicholas Rodolfich
