This is not a TSM issue it is a FC issue.  Are you running your tape on the
same HBAs as the Disk containing the Oracle database.  This is a no-no if
you are running random I/O to the Oracle database at the same time.  You
will need dedicated HBAs for the tape from the Oracle database client if
that is the case.

-----Original Message-----
From: Jin Bae Chi [mailto:Jbaechi AT CSCC DOT EDU]
Sent: Thursday, February 27, 2003 4:39 PM
To: ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU
Subject: Fibre Channel Loop Disk and Tape device


Hi, experts,

We run 2 TSM 4.2 on AIX 4.3.3; clients are AIX, Netware, Win2K;

We plan to buy 3584 LTO2 FC tape drives and FastT700 FC 2GB disk drives. I
heard that they can be directly connected to 2109 SAN switches. but when I
try to do LAN-free backup, which will be sequential I/O from each AIX node,
any random I/O for disk will be timing out and give error message and then,
Oracle will crash.

Some recommended to have an additional HBA on each server for backup only,
through proper zoning on switch. but this will cost too much for me. Talking
about pure fibre connection between host and disk, tapes, LAN free concept
wouldn't have much meaning (to me). TSM should have some options for backup
strategies for SAN servers and devices. I can' t find one so far.

As most of SAN disk storage offer 'flash copy' options, should I redesign
TSM env. to use this option or wait for server-free backup from TSM for AIX
platform? Any suggestion will be appreciated.




Jin Bae Chi (Gus)
System Admin/Tivoli
Data Center, CSCC
614-287-5270
614-287-5488 Fax
jbaechi AT cscc DOT edu