I had the same problem.  I am running ADSM AIX server and NT Clients.  The following worked for me.

define clientopt unixoptionset inclexcl "exclude /tmp"

----------
From:   Karen Krowzack[SMTP:Karen.M.Krowzack AT UCM DOT COM]
Reply To:       ADSM: Dist Stor Manager
Sent:   Wednesday, August 12, 1998 7:52 AM
To:     ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU
Subject:        client option sets and exclude lists

I hate to ask a dumb and simple question, but has anyone used a client
option set to use include/exclude options?  I am trying to set this up on my
ADSM AIX server for the UNIX clients it is backing up.  I cannot seem to do
this from the command line "define clientopt unixoptionset exclude /tmp"
(doesn't work - syntax error) The GUI in the WEB browser or win95 admin
client won't let me point to an include/exclude list or cite individual
excluded files.  What am I doing wrong?  Neither the admin guide or the
admin reference talk about this in any detail.

Besides wishing to setup a generic include/exclude list, I am also seeking
to 'test' that my client option set really is in effect.  Since so many of
the parameters that one puts in this file are performance related, does
anyone have an idea of how to really test if a newly defined client option
set really "works".  Thanks.

Karen Krowzack
IBM Global Services
Tieline 461, x7309
Outside phone - 312-394-7309
Pager:  800-759-8888, PIN 1967096
email:  Karen.M.Krowzack AT ucm DOT com
PROFS:  krowzack(isscvm)