I think that a lot of people who are contemplating TSM believe this is what
Server-to-server offers them. I know I just did an install where the
customer really believed this.  The question gets asked "Can one TSM server
backup another?"  The short answer is yes.  The customer then imagines the
perfect backup solution which is the one described in the original note
here: a client can  restore his data from either server, directly, without
trouble.

The complexity of keeping two separate databases accurately identical is
difficult.  Further ensuring that data is accurate on both systems makes the
job even tougher.  However, with the transactional techniques available in
the technology today, this should be possible.

Attending the Oxford symposia two years ago, I spoke with a developer about
this.  In fact this kind fellow withstood a barrage of such questions about
engineering futures.  I believe this is one of those "We're thinking about
it, but where is it on the overall to do list for TSM?"

How far ahead on the list would we, the paying customers, put this feature?
Remember, this is a backup of a file that already exists on a RAID5 set on
client.  Two bad things have to happen for you to have the problem: the
client must lose its data AND the TSM server must be down.  I know this
happens in a disaster, but then all bets are off.  You've got much larger
problems than a simple three hour TSM server restore.  If either of the two
bad things described above happen often to you then you should be
redesigning your solution anyway.

I love the idea of this on paper, but I don't know what I would give up to
have it.

Kelly J. Lipp
Storage Solutions Specialists, Inc.
PO Box 51313
Colorado Springs CO 80949-1313
(719) 531-5926
Fax: (240) 539-7175
Email: lipp AT storsol DOT com or lipp AT storserver DOT com
www.storsol.com
www.storserver.com