Dean said, in part..
> Points 3 and 4 are just as valid in the mainframe environment, which
does very
> well with version numbers.

   !  NOT.  "Point-in-time-restore" is a vital part of SYBACK (our mainframe
backup) and VMBACKUP.

   No matter the platform, IMHO when you are interested in restoring a
FILE, managing FILE VERSIONS is appropriate and sufficient.  But my
clients have directories and file systems that need to be managed at the
level of DIRECTORY VERSIONS and FILE SYSTEM VERSIONS.

   I have some appreciation for Dean's point of view.  He sees different
problems and weighs problems differently.  Neither of us wants IBM to
waste time getting the real ADSM to market.  He apparently requires new
client support, whereas I am asking for something quite different.  It
would be a shame, IMHO, for us to try to decide in ADSM-L which will
bring in or lose more customers without lots more information.  I hope the
ADSM management team obtains that information and leads ADSM in a
direction we can support.

   Lest I have been unclear, I am quite happy with the number of clients
and communication mechanisms ... ADSM needs operational
improvements to be a product we will support.

Thanks for listening,

cheers,

Wayne T. Smith
Systems Group -- CAPS        internet: wts AT maine.maine DOT edu
University of Maine System   BITNET/CREN: WTS@MAINE