Data flow in a Tivoli Storage Manager for z/OS Media environment

When using z/OS® storage for backup-archive client data, the Tivoli® Storage Manager server directs data flow over the LAN by communicating with the z/OS media server.

About this task

The z/OS media server provides read and write access to z/OS media tape and FILE volumes, requesting mounts based on information received from the Tivoli Storage Manager server. A typical backup operation to z/OS storage consists of the steps outlined in Figure 1:

Figure 1. Data flow from the backup-archive client to z/OS media server storage

1. The Tivoli Storage Manager backup-archive client contacts the Tivoli Storage Manager server.
2. The Tivoli Storage Manager server selects a library resource and volume for the backup operation.
3. The Tivoli Storage Manager server contacts the z/OS media server to request a volume mount.
4. The z/OS media server mounts the FILE or tape volume.
5. The z/OS media server responds to the Tivoli Storage Manager server that the mount operation is complete.
6. The backup-archive client begins sending data to the Tivoli Storage Manager server.
7. The Tivoli Storage Manager server stores metadata in the database and manages the data transaction.
8. The Tivoli Storage Manager server sends the backup-archive client data to the z/OS media server.
9. The z/OS media server writes the data to z/OS storage.