Tivoli Storage Manager for Sun Solaris Administrator's Guide


Overview of Scheduling Modes

One component of every client is the TSM Scheduler. The TSM Scheduler is a module that performs operations on a schedule created by the administrator and stored on the server. TSM provides two scheduling modes: client-polling and server-prompted. The entire issue of modes pertains to how client nodes interact with the server for scheduling operations. With client-polling scheduling, client nodes poll the server for a schedule. With server-prompted scheduling, the server contacts the nodes with scheduling information.

There are two types of scheduling modes: server-prompted and client-polling. When you use server-prompted, the server contacts client nodes for scheduling operations. With client-polling, client nodes query the server for scheduled operations. The scheduler must be started on the client node's machine before either scheduling mode can begin. For information, see Setting Server-Prompted Scheduling Mode on the Server and Setting Client-Polling Scheduling Mode on the Server.

By default, the servers supports both scheduling modes. The default allows nodes to define either scheduling mode in their client options file. The default is specified as ANY. You can modify this scheduling mode. If the you modify the default to support only one scheduling mode for the server, the client nodes must specify the same scheduling mode in their client options file or the scheduled operations are not processed. The default mode for client nodes is client-polling.

Setting Client-Polling Scheduling Mode on the Server

Client polling is a scheduling mode where clients poll the server for a schedule. The client-polling scheduling mode can be useful when a high percentage of clients start the scheduler manually on a daily basis, for example when their workstations are powered off nightly. Client-polling mode supports randomization, which is the random distribution of scheduled start times. The administrator can control randomization. By randomizing the start times, TSM prevents all clients from attempting to start the schedule at the same time. Client-polling scheduling mode is available with all communication methods.

How client-polling scheduling mode works:

  1. A client node queries the server at prescribed time intervals to obtain a schedule. This interval is set with a client option. For information about client options, refer to the appropriate Using the Backup-Archive Client.
  2. The client node performs the scheduled operation and sends the results to the server when the scheduled start time begins.
  3. The client node then queries the server for its next scheduled operation.

To have clients poll the server for scheduled operations, enter:

set schedmodes polling
Note:When the scheduling mode on the server is set to polling, the mode on the client node also must be set to polling for scheduled work to be processed.

Setting Server-Prompted Scheduling Mode on the Server

Server-prompted is a scheduling mode where the server contacts clients at the scheduled start time. The server-prompted scheduling mode can be useful if you change the schedule start time frequently. The new start time is implemented without any action required from the client node. The server-prompted mode is also useful when a high percentage of clients are running the scheduler and are waiting for work. This mode does not allow for randomization of scheduled start times. You can use the server-prompted scheduling mode only with client nodes that communicate with the server by using the TCP/IP communication method.

How server-prompted scheduling mode works:

  1. The server contacts the client node when scheduled operations need to be performed and a session is available.
  2. When contacted, the client node queries the server for the operation, performs the operation, and sends the results to the server.

To have the server prompt client nodes when operations need to be performed, enter:

set schedmodes prompted
Note:When the scheduling mode on the server is set to prompted, the scheduling mode on the client node also must be set to prompted for scheduled work to be processed.

Setting the Any Scheduling Mode on the Server

To let the server support both client-polling and server-prompted scheduling modes, enter:

set schedmodes any

In this case, the client node may choose the scheduling mode and scheduled work will begin as specified.


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