Re: TSM Express - need to change default policy which is 14 days

Hi Andrew,

I know this is a delayed response, just now going through the list to find
info on this question.

Frankly, I think IBM is making a critical mistake in not allowing TSM
Express to change the number of days that backups are kept for.   Out of all
the things that could be chosen to 'leave out' of TSM Express in the name of
simplicity, this is the wrong one to do so with.

While it probably isn't wise to give people the full range of retention
policies available to full TSM users, they should, at a minimum, be able to
say they want to keep their data for 7, 14, 21, days etc.  or something
along those lines.

I have several clients for whom TSM Express would have otherwise been an
excellent choice of backup product who have chosen to go with other products
(such as Backup Exec) for the simple reason that they can't control how long
their backups are being kept for.  The idea that a 'simple' TSM precludes
being able to answer the simple question of "How long do i keep my backups
for" is extremely shortsighted on the part of the developers (Or marketing
folk if they made the decision).

In my initial testing of TSM Express, it appears to have promise, and with a
few improvements would be an excellent product for small businesses who
can't afford to go to Enterprise level backups.  I cannot, however, give it
a wholesale recommendation to my clients without the ability to define how
long backups are kept for.

Don't quote me on this, but I'd be very surprised if there is another backup
product in existence which doesn't have this feature. (At least not one that
has any foot in the marketplace).

I notice that there seems to be very little discussion on TSM Express going
on.   That's unfortunate as it could fill an important niche.   I'm hoping
that IBM will listen to the few cries for help out there that we can make to
give us a small business backup solution that they can both afford and use
effectively.

regards,

Paul Fielding
Anisoft Group Inc.


-- Original Message --

Subject:  Re: TSM Express - need to change default policy which is 14 days
From:  Andrew Raibeck <storman AT US.IBM DOT COM>
To:  ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU
Date:  Sun, 18 Jun 2006 08:31:27 -0600

Wira,

The policy settings in TSM Express cannot be changed. This is one of the
trade-offs that we made in creating an "easy" TSM.

Regards,

Andy

Andy Raibeck
IBM Software Group
Tivoli Storage Manager Client Development
Internal Notes e-mail: Andrew Raibeck/Tucson/IBM@IBMUS
Internet e-mail: storman AT us.ibm DOT com

IBM Tivoli Storage Manager support web page:
http://www-306.ibm.com/software/sysmgmt/products/support/IBMTivoliStorageManager.html

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