Thanks to Thiha, I stand somewhat corrected.  :-)

The B-A client does use the API for image backup. I was thinking of just
the traditional file backup-restore functions when I made my original
statement about the client not using the API.

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

The only dumb question is the one that goes unasked.
The command line is your friend.
"Good enough" is the enemy of excellence.
----- Forwarded by Andrew Raibeck/Tucson/IBM on 12/03/2001 12:25 -----
Andrew Raibeck
Andrew Raibeck
12/03/2001 11:50


        To:     adsm-l AT vm.marist DOT edu
        cc:
        From:   Andrew Raibeck/Tucson/IBM@IBMUS
        Subject:        Re: API / Client compatible?






The regular Backup-Archive client is not a user of the TSM API. The
low-level internal mechanisms that allow the both the API and the regular
client to communicate with the server are essentially the same, but at a
higher level of abstraction, there are differences. For example, an API
application can store objects using whatever path information it wants; it
doesn't even have to be particularly meaningful outside of the API
application. Another issue is that objects stored by the API are not
necessarily standard files; only the API application would understand how
to restore such objects.

The API was not developed strictly as an alternative to the regular client
per se, although one could create their own backup-archive client from the
API;  in fact, SSSI's Archive Backup Client for OpenVMS uses the API. But
as a rule, most API applications are written for database backup and
restore.

Interoperability between the backup-archive client and API has been a
requirement since ADSM first came out. At one time, the API and
backup-archive client were not interoperable at all. However, the
backup-archive command-line interface has since been enhanced so that you
can perform some operations against data backed up by the API. These
enhancements do not exist in the GUI or Web client, and I am not aware of
any plans for that to change. The API can not be used to restore data
backed up by the regular client, and I am not aware of any planned changes
for that, either.

For more information, the "Using the Application Programming Interface"
manual contains a section on interoperability.

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

The only dumb question is the one that goes unasked.
The command line is your friend.
"Good enough" is the enemy of excellence.




Dave Cramer <davec AT fastcrypt DOT com>
Sent by: "ADSM: Dist Stor Manager" <ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU>
12/03/2001 08:46
Please respond to davec


        To:     ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU
        cc:
        Subject:        Re: API / Client compatible?



Andy,

Well, that was succinct. Perhaps you could indulge me one more question.


Why not, presumably the client would be written using the same api
library?

Dave