We're wrestling with this same question now. 

Our Oracle guys know, when they say "media server," in our environment, they 
really mean "TSM server," using an IP connection.

Given the size of our projected Oracle DB, 7 TB, we're encouraging them to have 
rman write directly to a backup appliance like a DataDomain or an HP D2D 
appliance. Both have deduplicating functions, and both support NFS mounts over 
1 GB or even 10 GB connections. That's not as fast as Infiniband, apparently, 
but maybe it's enough. The Oracle reps are pooh-poohing using NFS, especially 
for restores, but since they won't let us put fiber interfaces into their 
hardware, it's either NFS or write all the data twice: once to the media 
server, and once to the media itself. 

Since they need enough storage to fill a good sides storage appliance all by 
themselves, why inject into it a server whose function is to manage sharing 
resources among clients? TSM is overkill in this situation, unless you have a 
pathological hatred of NFS. 

Nick


On Apr 4, 2011, at 8:52 AM, Sachin Chaudhari wrote:

> HI Guys,
> 
> Any one in this forum are using TSM on Exadata for backup/recovery?
> Pl share what kind of backup methodology are you using?
> 
> One of my customer is evaluating Exadata, with OEL-5 64 as OS w Oracle 11i DB 
> in RAC, expected data size to be around 5 TB.
> 
> As per the TSM support matrix TDP for Oracle supports the mentioned OS where 
> as TSM for SAN is not supported on OEL.
> 
> I have 2 options in my mind
> 1) use Infiniband network (i.e 10 Gbps)for backup/recovery
>   In this case Backup server, Exatdata Oracle DB (OEL5) server will connect 
> with Infiniband switch for LAN based backup (by installing TDP & BA client on 
> OEL5)
> 
> 2) Use multiple clients backup through single storage agent : Feature 
> available in TSM for SAN v 6.x)
> where the TDP for Oracle agent running on OEL will transfer the backed up 
> data to media server through 10 Gbps network where the TSM storage agent was 
> installed & then the data gets stored on central tape library via FC.
> 
> Pl share your thoughts and best possible way of backing up Exadata through TSM
> FYI : Oracle has also suggested customer to do not put the Tivoli Agent on 
> OEL5 DB Server. They have suggested to use RMAN only to dump the backed up 
> data on media server & from Media Server use BA client to take the backup of 
> dump data.
> 
> Thanks,
> Sachin C.