Hi Neil,

We have seen certain user situations where terribly slow enumeration of VSS
writer metadata can cause the TSM client on Windows to take a long time to
start up, e.g., the time it takes for you to see the "tsm>" prompt after
typing "dsmc". This is a situation that should be properly sorted at the OS
level (something going haywire in the OS), but in the mean time, if you
need to do a file restore, or maybe a backup of a user file (not operating
system related), then the test flag bypasses this enumeration and thus
avoids the delay.

It is inadvisable to include it in the dsm.opt file in normal practice, so
I would suggest you not use it.

If you think this Windows system is subject to the "slow VSS writer
metadata enumeration" issue, you can validate that by running the
diskshadow utility's "list writers detailed" command. If the slow
enumeration issue exists, you will see this command take a very long time
to return information, in which case it should be addressed by the Windows
system administrators. On the other hand, if diskshadow returns the data
quickly, but you still see slow TSM client startup, then you should open a
ticket with IBM support, and we'll see what is going on.

Best regards,

- Andy

____________________________________________________________________________

Andrew Raibeck | Tivoli Storage Manager Level 3 Technical Lead |
storman AT us.ibm DOT com

IBM Tivoli Storage Manager links:
Product support:
http://www.ibm.com/support/entry/portal/Overview/Software/Tivoli/Tivoli_Storage_Manager

Online documentation:
http://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/SSGSG7/welcome
Product Wiki:
https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/community/wikis/home/wiki/Tivoli%20Storage%20Manager

"ADSM: Dist Stor Manager" <ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU> wrote on 2015-09-01
12:13:03:

> From: "Schofield, Neil (Storage & Middleware, Backup & Restore)"
> <Neil.Schofield AT LLOYDSBANKING DOT COM>
> To: ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU
> Date: 2015-09-01 12:21
> Subject: SKIPSYSTEMEXCLUDE test flag - what's the worst that could
happen?
> Sent by: "ADSM: Dist Stor Manager" <ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU>
>
> For historic reasons that I've yet to track down, the following
> option was added to the client options file on one of our Windows
> 2008 R2 servers:
>
> TESTFLAG SKIPSYSTEMEXCLUDE
>
> Now as a result of us using this test flag the Boot Configuration
> Data in C:\BOOT is backed up as part of both the system state and
> the C: drive backup. During a recent recovery test of the server
> both were restored and the server didn't boot. The symptoms (and a
> probable cause) are exactly as described in the following MS KB article:
> https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2261423
>
> So I was wondering if anyone else had had cause to use this
> particular test flag and whether it had impacted on your ability to
> do a full system restore?
>
> Regards
>
> Neil Schofield
> Tivoli Storage Manager SME
> LLOYDS BANKING GROUP
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