TSM (Tivoli Storage Management) - A Remote Backup/Restore Service
ITS is now offering a service called TSM (Tivoli Storage Manager - formerly ADSM), which will allow data on your desktop PC or Mac to be backed up remotely to a robotic tape system located in the data center in ITS. Data files backed up using this service can be easily and quickly restored to your desktop in the event of an accidental loss, such as the inadvertent deletion of the file or corruption due to defective hardware. We have prepared the following information to answer some of the questions you may have. If you have additional questions or comments, please contact your desktop support staff.
What is TSM and how does it work?
TSM is software that runs on your PC or Mac and communicates through the network to a central computer (TSM server) in the ITS data center.; This computer is connected to a large robotic tape unit where the backed-up data resides. When you want to backup data from your desktop or restore data to the desktop, your PC or Mac communicates with the TSM server to accomplish the task.
TSM backups are incremental which means that means the first time that your computer is backed up, all files will be copied. After that, only changes to your files (additions, deletions, or modifications) will be recorded, so the procedure runs very quickly. The files are compressed, encrypted, and copied to the central tape library. Once backed up, files can be restored at any time. If you accidentally delete one file or destroy your entire disk, the files can be restored from the backups.
What is backed up and how many copies of my files are backed up?
Currently for most PCs and Macs all files located in the Documents folder are backed up as well as Eudora email and web bookmarks. We are gradually converting all backups so that all data on all disks are backed up. However, we have begun this effort recently and most computers have not yet been changed. At this time we are preparing a system upgrade for TSM which will increase the capacity to accommodate full backups for all machines.
The two most recent versions of each of your files will be saved. If you delete any of these files from your hard drive, the TSM server will keep the most recent copy of the file for 60 days, after which it will be deleted from the server also.
What do I have to do on my computer to make sure that my files are backed up?
ITS staff will install all the necessary software on your computer and schedule an automated backup. Backups occur between 6 PM and 10 PM, when the network traffic is low. Laptops will be scheduled for backup between 12 noon and 1 PM. It is important to leave your computer on when your computer is scheduled to be backed up. You do not need to leave your monitor on. If the computer is not on at the scheduled backup time, the backup will not run.
Can I do backup and restore myself?
We STRONGLY RECOMMEND that you learn to do manual backups and run them from time to time. A variety of problems can cause your TSM software to stop communicating with the TSM server. All Desktop Support Specialists receive a monthly report detailing when each computer in their area was last backed up, but it is still important to check it periodically to make certain it is still working properly.
When you need to restore files please contact your desktop support staff. For those who wish to learn how to restore files themselves, we strongly suggest that you contact our training coordinator to enroll in our 1-hour course on TSM to learn how to use the software before trying to use the software on your own.
What should I do if I don't want some of my personal documents backed up?
You can request that your computer be set up for a partial backup. A specific folder can be designated and only documents you place in that folder will be backed up.
How can I be sure that my scheduled backups are running every day?
You can check your backup status through your Employee Electronic Portfolio. Under Tools & Links, select Desktop Backup Status.
On this page, you will a section for each computer registered to you. It will show the results of the most recent SCHEDULED backup (Completed, Missed, or Failed). You will also see the date of the last completed backup for each disk backed up regardless of whether it was a manual or scheduled backup.
If my backup had a status of COMPLETED, does that mean that all of my files were backed up?
It is possible that some files may not have been backed up. Files left open are not backed up. This information appears in your backup log, but will still result in a successful backup. For example if you had created a new spreadsheet or document and not closed it prior to the backup, it would not be backed up. It is a good idea to close any files you have been updating prior to your scheduled backup time.
How can I tell whether or not specific files backed up?
For scheduled backups, complete information about every file backed up is recorded in your scheduler log file. To view this file on a PC, double click on My Computer, then double-click on each of the following in sequence:
- C: Drive
- Program Files
- Tivoli
- TSM
- baclient
- dsmsched.log
The log file will show you the details of all scheduled backup activities. Scroll to the bottom of the file (or press Ctrl + End to go directly to the end of the file) and look for the section that summarizes the most recent backup. It will look something like the text below:
01/26/2003 18:18:56 --- SCHEDULEREC STATUS BEGIN
01/26/2003 18:18:56 Total number of objects inspected: 69,672
01/26/2003 18:18:56 Total number of objects backed up: 2,428
01/26/2003 18:18:56 Total number of objects updated: 0
01/26/2003 18:18:56 Total number of objects rebound: 0
01/26/2003 18:18:56 Total number of objects deleted: 0
01/26/2003 18:18:56 Total number of objects expired: 19
01/26/2003 18:18:56 Total number of objects failed: 23
01/26/2003 18:18:56 Total number of bytes transferred: 243.82 MB
01/26/2003 18:18:56 Data transfer time: 153.08 sec
01/26/2003 18:18:56 Network data transfer rate: 1,630.94 KB/sec
01/26/2003 18:18:56 Aggregate data transfer rate: 302.51 KB/sec
01/26/2003 18:18:56 Objects compressed by: 41%
01/26/2003 18:18:56 Elapsed processing time: 00:13:45
01/26/2003 18:18:56 --- SCHEDULEREC STATUS END
01/26/2003 18:18:56 --- SCHEDULEREC OBJECT END DESKTOP-PC 01/26/2003 18:00:00
01/26/2003 18:18:56 Scheduled event 'DESKTOP-PC' completed successfully.
01/26/2003 18:18:56 Sending results for scheduled event 'DESKTOP-PC'.
01/26/2003 18:18:57 Results sent to server for scheduled event 'DESKTOP-PC'.
As long as you see the line indicated in bold above, your backup completed successfully on the date indicated. Depending on whether your computer is a PC, a Mac, or a Laptop, a category other than 'DESKTOP-PC' may appear in these messages.
Keep in mind that only new or updated files will be backed up, so 'objects inspected' will normally be much larger that 'objects backed up'. Also, do not worry when you see a total under 'objects failed'. Certain operating system files are in use by your computer at all times and cannot be backed up. Unless this number is extremely large, this is normal. To see which files failed, you can scroll up through the file to view the detail listing of every file that the system attempted to back up.
How can I be assured that the files that are saved on the TSM server are secure?
We have taken several precautions to make sure that the TSM server is secure. On your computer, TSM keeps an encrypted password that is changed very often and written to a file on your desktop. The files that are stored on the server are first compressed and encrypted on your PC or Mac prior to being sent to the server. If someone tries to access your files on the server, he/she has to uncompress them before they can read the file. This will involve a deep understanding of the compression algorithm used by IBM. Also, we have instructed the server that files backed up from your machine can ONLY be restored backed to your own machine. Of course, someone else can try to pretend to have your machine. In that case, they will be prompted for a password, which will be hard to guess, because as we mentioned above, this is an automatically generated and hard-to-guess password.
ITS system staff have access to these files in just the same way that they have access to your e-mail or files stored on the Netware file servers. However, ITS policy formulates strict guidelines that prevents the staff from accessing these files unless extreme circumstances warrant it, in which case permissions from several officers have to be obtained.
Can I choose not to take advantage of this service?
Yes. When the ITS staff member comes to install the TSM client software, please inform him that you do not wish to have the software installed. If you choose that option, you may want to backup your important documents yourself to a floppy disk or a zip disk, if you have one. Without backups, we may be unable to help you recover lost or damaged files.
|
