Best Practice Importing/restoring data on tape

[beckohbeck]

Hi everyone

I have a TSM Server V6.2. The whole backup was configured by my forerunner which didn't document anything at all. So I am working on a documentation which will make the whole backup/recovery tasks a bit easier for me. I'm not really talented when it comes down to TSM , but I'm learning as i go on.

The TSM server is exporting all active data to a HP tape library once a week. The following command is used to do this:
export server filedata=alla devcl=lto
After the export task is completed successfully, I check the tapes (normally 2 or 3 tapes) out and remove them from the library.

Now if I want to restore data which was exported one or two months ago to those tapes, what is the easiest, fastest or best practice way to do this for a file server or for an exchange server?
I guess the first step would be to check the tape into the library and make sure it is write protected.
In a second step I would check on which tape the data is located (q con <NameOfTape>)
3d Step and here comes the question: To restore a single file, do I first have to import the whole node or is there a possibility to access these backup files over the client agent "backup/archive gui" or "cli" installed on the file server? Do I have to keep other things in mind, such as the retention time?

Thank you for helping me out on this one.

[moon-buddy]

It looks like you need a lot to know about basic TSM Operation.

I suggest reading Rebooks from IBM's website or get some basic training.

TSM does not work like other backup software. Data backed up should remain in the Library - called on-line tape pool - and copied to an offsite pool for DR purposes. Thus, restoring data would be as simple as launching the Client GUI, selecting the file to restore, and click Restore. No need to import all of the node's data!