Hi guys,

We just started a project around consolidated backup of WAN-connected branch 
offices to a central TSM server. As always distant nodes, the first problem to 
cope with is how to get the first full backup of the node without waiting for 
days, weeks or months. We usually do that by sending a small TSM server to the 
branch office, do a first full backup, send it back to HQ and import the 
node(s) to the production TSM server.

However, export/import is sooo ridiculously slow so the export often takes 
days. So we have discussed upgrading the temp server to v6.3.4 and use node 
replication to "copy" the nodes. Lots of advantages, it can be put in a 
set-and-forget configuration until the nodes are fully replicated so switching 
the nodes to the prod server is pretty easy, but how fast is node replication 
actually?

Is node replication faster or slower than exports in a setup like this? Any 
thoughts or real-life experience?

- Bent