"ADSM: Dist Stor
> Hi TSM-ers!
> At this moment we are using a diskpool with a VTS-like (DL4106 by EMC)
> storage pool as nextpool.
> I too am looking at a FILE pool to replace this in the future, just to
> prevent a vendor lock-in for our TSM environment and of course the
> possibility to use de-dup.
> The only problem I see for using large FILE (100 Tb +) pools is the size
> of the filesystems on the host running the TSM server. Now it's AIX, but
> in the future we are likely to migrate to Linux.

It would be interesting to know if the VTL vendors (which are basically
implementing FILE type volumes inside the VTL) use a filesystem, raw
logical vlumes, raw disk . . . or whatever.

> Does anyone have experience with 100+ Tb FILE storagepools?
> Thanks for any reply in advance!

We keep looking at big pool of FILE devices vs VTL for our next
big purchase down the road - whether for the initial pool where
backups go directly, or are later migrated to.

We keep hitting our heads against a wall in trying to come up
with a way to make widespread use of a BIG FILE device pool:

- dedup: IBM has solved this one with v6.1!!!

- compression: To replace tape drive compression we need TSM server side
compression (or should I say FILE device pool compression).
We can't just push the job onto the clients.  VTL's
support hdwr compression via compression cards.  I wonder if IBM
will ever support server side hdwr compression via
add-on cards for FILE devices (http://www.aha.com).

- lanfree:  Provide good lanfree with FILE devices that is not
Sanergy.

We've got a couple years yet on our tape systms, but as of
today, we really don't see much way to effectively implement
a large scale FILE pool to replace our current TAPE drives.
FILE pools may be IBM strategic direction for TSM, but I think
they have a lot more work to make it a true reality.

Rick


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