Re: Tape format compatibility between platforms?

Many moons ago, I asked why there was not an option to just export the database 
info for a node and allow the storage pool tapes to be used from the new server 
after an import. A much speedier method then the practice of exporting all the 
data from the database and storage pools. Followed by and import of all the 
data. 
 
I was told that it was not possible. I am not sure if it was the format of the 
data on the tapes and/or that a number of the data fields in the database are 
sequenced numbers and it would be hard to have the values required for the data 
on the tape not to match values already in the dest database.  

I would think that it could be a TSM  goal to make the data format on removable 
media os/platform agnostic. And to make the database field values seq only 
within a node. Maybe something like a Ethernet mac number.   It would make 
server/platform migration so much faster.  
Of course it could be something with storage pool numbers or something else 
along these lines. 

Of course this brings up the question of how much data is on the storage pool 
tapes other then the containers of client data. I had assumed very little if 
any, as the answer to question of rebuilding a lost database from the storage 
pool tapes has always been "not possible". 

len

-----Original Message-----
From: ADSM: Dist Stor Manager [mailto:ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU] On Behalf Of 
Richard Sims
Sent: Monday, February 20, 2006 7:36 PM
To: ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU
Subject: Re: [ADSM-L] Tape format compatibility between platforms?

On Feb 20, 2006, at 6:17 PM, Robert Clark wrote:

> Folks I talk to occasionally ask about reading TSM tapes written by a 
> TSM server on a differing platform.
>
> For example: TSM server that wrote tape runs on Windows 2003.
> In DR exercise, TSM server runs on AIX 5.2, and attempts to read tape 
> written on Windows 2003.
>
> As long at the TSM version is the same, can they expect to read tapes 
> across platforms?
>
> Is there a table of OS/platforms that can read each other's tapes?
> If not,
> how does storage agent handle this situation?

Robert - Topic "Tape labels" in http://people.bu.edu/rbs/ADSM.QuickFacts
          and the TSM Wiki summarizes the fundamentals.
The product utilizes standardized recording for server-written tapes.
IBM Technotes 1154357 and 1193760 addresses the label issue.
And the product's Export/Import functions obviously demand consistency of 
format.  I don't recall any customer postings over the years where a server 
tape could not be read on another platform.
Obviously, fully utilizing a tape across platforms requires that the TSM server 
database associated with those volumes be in place on the hosting system.

    Richard Sims