Registering a repository server as a backup storage provider

Add and register a repository server to enable IBM Spectrum® Protect Plus to copy data to the server.

Before you begin

Configure the key and certificate that are required for the repository server. For instructions, see Adding an access key and Adding a certificate.

For the current release of IBM Spectrum Protect Plus, the repository server must be an IBM Spectrum Protect server.

Configure IBM Spectrum Protect Plus as an object client to the IBM Spectrum Protect server. The object client node transfers and stores copied data. After you complete the setup procedure, the wizard provides you with the endpoint for communicating with the object agent on the server, and the access ID, secret key, and certificate for connecting securely.

Important: Each IBM Spectrum Protect Plus server must be registered as its own object-client node in the IBM Spectrum Protect server.

Certificates can be obtained from the IBM Spectrum Protect server Operations Center by navigating to the following pane: Server > Object Agent > Agent Certificate. Alternatively, the certificate can be obtained from the IBM Spectrum Protect Plus appliance by running the following command: openssl s_client -showcerts -connect <ip-address>:9000 </dev/null 2>/dev/null | openssl x509

Copy retention settings are fully controlled through associated SLA policies in IBM Spectrum Protect Plus. IBM Spectrum Protect server copygroup retention settings are not used for copy operations.

Procedure

To add and register an IBM Spectrum Protect server as a backup storage provider, complete the following steps:

  1. In the navigation panel, click System Configuration > Storage > Repository servers.
  2. Click Add repository server to open the Add repository server wizard.
  3. Complete the fields on the Repository server details page, and then click Next:
    Name
    Enter a meaningful name to identify the repository server.
    Hostname
    Enter the high-level address (HLA) of the repository server object agent.
    Tip: To retrieve the HLA, run the following command from the IBM Spectrum Protect server:

    query server server_name format=detailed

    where server_name specifies the object agent.

    Port
    Enter the communications port of the repository server.
    Use existing key
    Enable to select a previously entered key for the repository, and then select the key from the Select a key list.
    If you do not select this option, complete the following fields to add a key:
    Key name
    Enter a meaningful name to identify the key.
    Access key
    Enter the access key.
    Secret key
    Enter the secret key.
    Certificate
    Select a method of associating a certificate with the resource. If copying the certificate, the BEGIN and END lines of text must be included.
    Upload
    Select and click Browse to locate the certificate, and then click Upload.
    Copy and paste
    Select to enter the name of the certificate, copy and paste the contents of the certificate, and then click Create.
    Use existing
    Select to use a previously uploaded certificate.
  4. Review your selections, and then click Submit.
    The repository server is added to the servers table.

What to do next

After you add a repository server, complete the following action:
Action How to
Associate the repository server with the SLA policy that is used for the backup job. To create an SLA policy, see Creating an SLA policy for databases and file systems.

To modify an existing SLA policy, see Editing an SLA policy.