Copying directory-container storage pools to tape

You can protect data in a directory-container storage pool by copying the data to container-copy storage pools.

Before you begin

Define at least one tape library to the server by using the DEFINE LIBRARY command. Provision enough tape drives and scratch volumes to meet your storage requirements.

Restriction: Virtual tape libraries are not supported, regardless of which library type is defined. Only physical tape is supported.

About this task

A container-copy storage pool protects data in a directory-container storage pool by storing a copy of the data on tape volumes. The tape copy is used to repair damage to a directory-container storage pool.

To copy the data in directory-container storage pools to tape, the Operations Center creates a schedule to run the PROTECT STGPOOL command. When the protection schedule runs, one tape copy is created. At least one volume must be available when the protection schedule runs. Otherwise, the operation fails.

If you created a container-copy storage pool as part of the Add Storage Pool wizard, you do not have to use this procedure. When you completed the wizard, the Operations Center configured the container-copy storage pool and a protection schedule.

Restrictions:

Container-copy storage pools can be used to repair minor to moderate storage pool damage, which includes damaged containers or directories. However, replication is the only way to provide complete disaster recovery protection for directory-container storage pools. With replication, you can directly restore client data from the target server if the source server is unavailable.
It is not recommended to use container-copy storage pools for disaster recovery protection, even if your storage environment is based on a small blueprint configuration. Repairing an entire directory-container storage pool, even for a small blueprint configuration, can take several days. Adding more drives or using the latest generation of tape technologies does not decrease the time that is required for the repair activity.
Tip: For information about using container-copy storage pools to protect and recover a server environment in a disaster, and for using container-copy storage pools in storage environments that are based on medium or large blueprint configurations, see technote 7048653.
You cannot create container-copy storage pools if you are using replication.
You cannot use the following procedure if the directory-container storage pool already has an associated container-copy storage pool.

Procedure

To configure storage pool protection to tape for an existing directory-container storage pool, complete the following steps:

On the Operations Center menu bar, click Storage > Storage Pools.
On the Storage Pools page, select the directory-container storage pool that you want to protect to tape.
Click More > Add Container-Copy Pool.
Follow the instructions in the Add Container-Copy Pool window to schedule protection to tape.
Tip: Alternatively, to add a container-copy storage pool by using the command-line interface, complete the following steps:
1. Create a container-copy storage pool by issuing the DEFINE STGPOOL command.
2. Assign the container-copy storage pool to the directory-container storage pool by issuing the UPDATE STGPOOL command for the directory-container pool.

Results

After you complete the configuration, data in the directory-container storage pool is copied to a container-copy storage pool based on the defined protection schedule.

What to do next

To change the protection schedule for a directory-container storage pool that has an associated container-copy storage pool, use the UPDATE SCHEDULE command. The schedule that is created by the Operations Center is named CONTAINER_COPY.
By default, tape volume reclamation is enabled for a new container-copy storage pool. Volume reclamation occurs when the reclamation threshold for the container-copy storage pool is less than 100%. However, tape volumes are not a candidate for reclamation until they are 75% full. The Operations Center sets the reclamation threshold at 60%.

For instructions about changing the reclamation threshold, see Changing the volume reclamation threshold for container-copy storage pools.