Using the Backup-Archive Clients


Chapter 1. Introducing the Backup-Archive Client

The TSM backup-archive client helps you protect information on your workstation. Using TSM, you can maintain backup versions of your workstation files that you can restore quickly and easily 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 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 TSM tasks:

Primary TSM 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 Backups Using a GUI" "Performing Backups Using a GUI"
"Restoring Files or Directories" "Restoring Files or Directories"
"Archiving Files" "Archiving Files"
"Retrieving Archives" "Retrieving Archives"
Chapter 7, "Creating an Include-Exclude File" Chapter 7, "Creating an Include-Exclude File"
"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 identified in the table below.

Previously Known As Now Known As
ADSM backup-archive client TSM backup-archive client or backup-archive client
ADSM backup-archive Web client or Web client TSM backup-archive Web client or Web client
ADSM HSM Tivoli Space Manager or HSM client
ADSM AFS/DFS backup clients TSM AFS/DFS backup clients
ADSM server TSM server or server

Processing Virtual Mount Points

Use the AFS/DFS backup clients to process virtual mount points for AFS/DFS filesystems. Version 3 and higher backup-archive clients do not process virtual mount points specified for AFS/DFS filesystems. Using Version 3 or higher backup-archive clients to process virtual mount points for AFS/DFS filesystems will expire the AFS/DFS filesystems backed up by the Version 2 backup-archive client and back up the data under the root directory.

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 all client platforms except Macintosh and NetWare. Version 3.7 does not include a native GUI administrative interface. Version 3.1 for Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows NT included a native GUI administrative interface that can be used with Version 3.7. The primary intended interface to the server is the Web administrative interface and requires a Web browser. The Web administrative interface has enhanced functionality such as server-to-server communication, more device classes, and enhanced libraries and drives compared to the Version 3.1 administrative interface.

TSM Version 3.7 clients restore or retrieve backup or archive data from previous Version 3 clients. However, previous Version 3 clients cannot access a Version 3.7 client's backup or archive data, regardless of the TSM server version. This is because Version 3.7 backup-archive clients store files with different attributes than previous version clients. After installing a Version 3.7 client, TSM may update the attributes only (not data) for active Version 3 files on the TSM server during the first incremental backup.

Version 3.7 clients can perform backup, archive, restore, and retrieve functions with a Version 2 OS/2 server or a Version 3.1 ADSM server. However, many client features added with Version 3.7 are only available when using a TSM Version 3.7 server.

You cannot use the Version 3.7 TSM Web backup-archive client with a Version 2 server.


Using Storage Management Policies

Storage management policies are a set of rules that govern how and when your data is backed up and archived. Your administrator defines these policies, and a TSM 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 the storage management policy you use for a group of files specifies that they can be backed up only once a week, your administrator can schedule automatic backup services to occur for those files on a particular day each week.

For more information about storage management policies, see Chapter 6, Understanding Storage Management Policies.


Setting Processing Options

TSM 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, and the include-exclude options file, and are in effect for an entire session.

Setting Options in the Client System Options File- A client system options file is used 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, copy the sample client system options file in your installation directory and modify the required options in 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 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 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 Chapter 7, "Creating an Include-Exclude File" 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 or any other files to which another user grants you access.

There are five types of backup:

TSM provides backup and archive services for the following file systems:

TSM backs up regular 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 TSM to back up AFS or DFS access control lists, you must use the AFS or DFS version of TSM (see Using the AFS/DFS Backup Clients).

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 or 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.

For more information about backing up and restoring, see Chapter 3, Backing Up and Restoring Files.


Archiving and Retrieving Files

You request archive services when you want to save files at a specific point, or when you want to place copies of files on 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 or a group of files, or all files in a directory.

When you archive a file, you can 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 Chapter 4, 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 machine, or platform that supports a Java 1.1.6-capable browser, 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. Do not perform such actions simultaneously on the same browser, or you may unintentionally destroy data that you need. The Web client is available on the AIX, HP-UX, Solaris, NetWare, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000, and Windows NT 4.0 client platforms. The Web client is supported only on a server that is Version 3 or higher.

The following functions are not supported by the Web client:

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


Automating Tasks

TSM 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 the desired 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 Chapter 5, Automating TSM Tasks.


Root and TSM Authorized User Tasks

Tasks that can only be performed by root users and TSM authorized users are identified by the phrases, root user and TSM authorized user. An administrator assigns the authority to delete obsolete backup and archive files from storage.

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

A root user is not restricted by file access permissions.

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


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