Choosing a backup options file

When files are backed up before migration, you can specify a backup options file, or you can let the backup-archive client determine the options file.

If you do not specify a backup options file for a backup before migration, the backup-archive client will determine the options file. The backup-archive client uses four methods to find an options file. The precedence of the methods is as follows:

1. An options file in a path specified by an environment variable
2. An options file in the directory from which the backup-archive client is invoked
3. An options file in the backup-archive client installation directory

If a file is regularly backed up with the backup-archive client default options file, then backing it up before migration with the backup-archive client default options file maintains a consistent set of backups. However, if a file is regularly backed up with an options file other than the default, you can specify this other options file for backups before migration. Using one options file for regular backups and a different options file for backups before migration can result in backup copies of the same file on two different IBM® Storage Protect servers.

If you specify a backup options file during the initial configuration of the HSM for Windows™ client, that options file is the default for all backups before migration. The backup-archive client does not determine the options file. You can specify different options files when you configure migration jobs and threshold migration. You can also specify a backup options file when you start migration using a HSM for Windows client command on the Command Prompt window.