Andy, the V5.3 manual does make a statement that OFS will be supported for 
Windows 2003 in a patch.  Now, I saw the (yet) and I figure you don't want to 
go out on a limb and say when it will be available but...  I have a number of 
customers asking for it.  Can you give us an idea of when an anoucement might 
be that would set a date.  I'm hoping it isn't one of those things where we 
will just find out when the patch comes out.  Reason being if we knew it was 
going to be out in say two patches we might wait instead of starting testing on 
the base V5.3 code now.

Andrew Raibeck <storman AT US.IBM DOT COM> wrote:You are correct: OFS is not 
(yet) supported on Windows 2003.

Some clarification on other details you mentioned:

- OFS (Open File Support) is not the same as LVSA (Logical Volume Snapshot
Agent). The LVSA is the underlying mechanism for implementing both OFS and
online image backup.

- "Open File Support" is actually a bit of a misnomer. TSM does not, nor
has it ever, had problems backing up open files, per se. The real problem
has been in backing up locked files; that is, files that are locked by the
application that uses them, so that TSM (or other applications) cannot
read the files. For example, you can open a .doc file in Microsoft Word,
and TSM can back up that file just fine -- even though it is open by Word.
This is because Word does not lock the file to prevent read access by
other applications. On the other hand, a Microsoft Outlook/Exchange *.pst
file cannot be backed up by TSM when the Microsoft software is running
since that software locks the file from any kind of access by other
applications. What OFS provides is not only a mechanism for backing up
locked files, but also a "crash-consistent" file-level backup of the disk,
even as you continue to access and modify those files.

> I've also read the TSM Client version 5.2.3
> does backup opened files without the OFS
> feature.

Only in the context I've described above, which is applicable to any TSM
version: you can back up open files; but *locked* file backup still
requires OFS.

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.

"ADSM: Dist Stor Manager" wrote on 2005-01-26
17:05:51:

> I'm looking at any tips to install OFS (Open File Support) also I
> believe referred to as LVSA. In reading some of the 'readme' files it
> looks like this isn't supported under the 2003 Windows server platform.
> I've attempted to install this and when I do I get the following error:
> ANS3010E - 'The Logical Volume Snapshot Agent failed. I've also read the
> TSM Client version 5.2.3 does backup opened files without the OFS
> feature. Has anyone worked on this?
>
> Melinda Cooper
> Senior Information Center Analyst


                
---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
 Yahoo! Search presents - Jib Jab's 'Second Term'