These is a TDP Informix backup tape(s). The DBA runs the onbar backup with
3-streams direct to tape over the SAN. He wants to be able to restore the
database in the case of a disaster using those same 3-streams. If TSM copies
the data to a copypool, then the data will probably be combined onto a
single tape and he says that the recovery time will be a lot more. That's
why they elected to vault the primary pool.

But if the MOVE MEDIA command has an option WHERESTATUS=EMPTY I'm assuming
that if the tapes are managed via MOVE MEDIA then they will go to EMPTY
state and stay there. According the the MOVE MEDIA in the admin reference,
doing the MOVE MEDIA WHERESTATE=MOUNTABNOTINLIB, if the tape is EMPTY it
will be returned to scratch status with this command. I'm just asking if
anyone uses this command and if that's how it really does work.

Bill Boyer
DSS, Inc.

-----Original Message-----
From: ADSM: Dist Stor Manager [mailto:ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU]On Behalf Of
Stapleton, Mark
Sent: Thursday, April 01, 2004 11:10 PM
To: ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU
Subject: Re: vaulting primary storage pool volumes


From: ADSM: Dist Stor Manager on behalf of Bill Boyer
I have a client that wishes to vault a primary storage pool volumes on a
daily basis. Unfortunately they didn't have Autovault <grin>. So for the
DBbackup and copypool tapes I configured a script that uses MOVE DRMEDIA and
for the primary storage pool, I got a list of tapes in the library for that
storage pool and then did a CHECKOUT on each volume and the UPD VOL
ACC=UNAVAIL LOC="Vault". This works just fine, but when these tapes have all
their data expired and they go empty, TSM scratches the tapes. All this
before I can get a list of tapes with STATUS=EMPTY.

Doing some research I found the MOVE MEDIA command. Now the question is will
tapes that are MOUNTABLENOTINLIB processed with the MOVE MEDIA and they go
empty, will TSM leave them in this status=empty until I issue another MOVE
MEDIA command to bring them back?

The reports haven't been showing any tapes to come back. The empty tapes are
immediately returned to scratch even though they are UNAVAIL and LOC=Vault.
Right now the operators are comparing todays full vault list with yesterdays
to figure out which tapes need to come back.
========================

I'm reminded of the fellow that was always breaking wooden pegs when he used
them to nail together 2x4s...

Your client is working directly against one of the strengths of TSM. Why
would anyone want to vault their primary storage pool? That prevents using
TSM to restore accidently deleted files. Further, primary pool tapes *will*
go immediately to scratch status when they're no longer members of a storage
pool.

--
Mark Stapleton