ADSM-L

Re: [ADSM-L] Recommendations/suggestions for moving a TSM server

2008-02-15 15:24:16
Subject: Re: [ADSM-L] Recommendations/suggestions for moving a TSM server
From: Zoltan Forray/AC/VCU <zforray AT VCU DOT EDU>
To: ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU
Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:23:39 -0500
Thanks for all the suggestions/ideas.  However, I seem to be missing
something (e.g. the "lightbulb" hasn't come on yet.

I am ready to actually try this, expecially since the old server is
starting to experience hardware problems and really, really needs to be
put out of it's misery.

I was checking the book for various examples of the DSMSERV RESTORE DB
command.  But no matter what example I found, I seem to be missing how the
restore process finds the shared tape library (the old and new servers are
library clients).  Given that I have both a copy of the devconfig and
volhist, how does this new, virgin TSM server know where to get the tape
with the DBBackup on it, from?

Do I need to fully configure the new server with cross communications with
the library manager server ?




Wanda Prather <wprather AT JASI DOT COM>
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02/06/2008 02:03 PM
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Re: [ADSM-L] Recommendations/suggestions for moving a TSM server






Thanks for the tips. I wasn't sure about the mis-matched release, but
suspected as much.

Unfortunately, we can't upgrade the existing server to anything higher due
to OS requirements, which is the main reason we want to move it (besides
being underpowered), so we will have to downgrade the replacement server.

The tape drives are already connected via SAN.

Can I assume the disk LZ needs to be completely empty since the target
system would have a completely empty storagepool

==> Good catch! I left that out my original post.  UNLIKE a true DR, you
want to empty your disk pools out to tape before doing your DB backup, so
nothing is orphaned on the disk of the old server.  After you do your
DSMSERV RESTOREDB, and your server comes up, it will complain that it
can't
find any disk volumes.  Since they will be empty, you just delete them and
define new ones.

I assume you mean a standalone DSMSERV RESTOREDB for which I need the
volhistory/devconfig file from the existing server (so I need to do a
"backup volhist" and "backup devconfig" first).

==> Yes, a RESTOREDB.  Whether you use the deconfig & volhist is up to
you;
I don't, I just configure the devices myself and run the RESTORE DB
specifying what volume to use.  (You'll find in the ADMIN REF at the back
under SERVER UTILITIES different versions of RESTORE DB, and how to do
them
with and without the devconfig and volhist.)

If you use the devconfig, remember to check it to make sure your new
devices
are the same dev special names as the old ones, or modify the devconfig
accordingly (usually more of an issue on Windows than *IX).

Many ways work; Do it whichever way you plan to do it at DR..

Just let me know if you have more questions.  The nice thing here, you can
do it many times, many ways as long as you have a "new" clean server,
without breaking your old one.  Great opportunity to test!

Wanda






Wanda Prather <wprather AT JASI DOT COM>
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02/06/2008 12:22 PM
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Re: [ADSM-L] Recommendations/suggestions for moving a TSM server






Just think of it as an opportunity for a DR test.

First, TSM does not SUPPORT restoring a TSM DB from a lower level TSM to a
higher level server.  ("does not support" means they don't test it.  I'm
sure some people have gotten it to work, but the recommended way is quick
anyway.)

But the recommended procedure is to

1) upgrade your old TSM in place from 5.3 to 5.5.   I haven't done it on
Linux, but on Windows and AIX the 5.3 to 5.5 upgrade is very quick and
straightforward.

2) run a DB backup  (not unload)

3) move your tape drive connections to your new TSM box & configure

4) RESTORE the TSM db to your new box.

5) Switch your IP addresses/DNS alias or whatever so your clients point to
the new box.

Your DR recovery is complete!

There are other things you can do, like running the backup to disk instead
of tape if you have SAN connections to the disk, or import the disk with
the
DB to the new system, depending on your hardware config.

But I prefer to do it as a DR drill, if only to give the instructions a
workout.  Especially good exercise if you have junior admins that have
never
done it...



-----Original Message-----
From: ADSM: Dist Stor Manager [mailto:ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU] On Behalf Of
Zoltan Forray/AC/VCU
Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2008 10:58 AM
To: ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU
Subject: [ADSM-L] Recommendations/suggestions for moving a TSM server

I need to completely replace my old RH3 Linux TSM server (5.3) by moving
the contents to a newer, beefier, RHEL4 box. I also want to upgrade the
server to 5.5.

Of course, the replacement process needs to be completely transparent.
Basically a push-pull.

Can someone point me to docs/references/cookbooks to perform such a task?

Is a DSMSERV UNLOADDB/LOADFORMAT/RESTOREDB the way to do this?

Currently, the replacement machine is up and fully running with V5.5
server running.