DEVICE_CLASS DS8000 Storage System parameters

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The parameters that are defined in the device class section of the IBM® Storage Protect Snapshot profile, configure IBM Storage Protect Snapshot for use with the IBM System Storage® DS8000®.

BACKUP_HOST_NAME
This parameter specifies the name of the backup host that is used during offloaded tape backups only. The following list identifies the possible options:
PREASSIGNED_VOLUMES
Specify this option when the target volumes are preassigned to a specific backup server.
None
This option is used if you do not have a backup server.
Default
None.
Advanced mode only
No.
CLONE_DATABASE
This parameter indicates whether the device class is used for cloning. The following list identifies the possible options:
YES
Use the device class for cloning. When the parameter is set to YES, the device class is unavailable for non-cloning backup or restore operations. The device class is ignored during backup expiration and reconciliation processing.
NO
Do not use the device class for cloning.
Default
No
Advanced mode only
No
COPYSERVICES_HARDWARE_TYPE
This parameter is required. Only one device can be specified.
DS8000
Specify the DS8000 option, when the database is stored on any supported IBM DS8000 storage device.
Default
None.
Advanced mode only
No.
COPYSERVICES_USERNAME
This parameter identifies the user name, use the cim user of the CIM Agent for DS Open API. The CIM Agent for DS Open API manages the primary and secondary copy services servers of the DS8000 cluster.
Default
superuser
Advanced mode only
No.
RECON_INTERVAL
This parameter specifies the interval, in hours, between two subsequent reconciliation operations. The options are whole numbers between 0 and 24 inclusive.
Default
12
Advanced mode only
Yes
LVM_MIRRORING

Set this parameter to YES if your volume groups use AIX Logical Volume Manager mirroring.

Default
No.
Advanced mode only
Yes.
COPYSERVICES_COMMPROTOCOL
This parameter identifies the protocol to be used for communication with the CIM Agent. The options are HTTP, for communication in a non-secure mode, and HTTPS, for communication in a secure mode.
Default
HTTPS
Advanced mode only
Yes.
COPYSERVICES_CERTIFICATEFILE
When COPYSERVICES_COMMPROTOCOL is set to HTTPS, there are two options:
certificate_filename
Name of a certificate file that is created for secure communication between the CIM Client and the CIM Agent.
NO_CERTIFICATE
Select for null trust provider mode.

By default, the CIM Agent for DS8000, which is preinstalled on the HMC, requires communication in secure mode. For this scenario, clients such as IBM Storage Protect Snapshot must connect by using HTTPS instead of HTTP. This connection requires that the CIM Client obtain the public key that is used for encryption from the truststore certificate in the CIM Agent. After the client obtains the public key, the CIM Client is authenticated by using the user name and password.

To enable the HTTPS protocol, the IBM Storage Protect Snapshot profile parameter COPYSERVICES_COMMPROTOCOL must specify HTTPS. For this scenario, the COPYSERVICES_CERTIFICATEFILE parameter can define a certificate file name, and IBM Storage Protect Snapshot exports the certificate by using this file.

The CIM Agent also provides another communication mode that is known as null trust provider. In this scenario, the CIM Agent does not verify that the certificate passed by the client matches a known certificate. Rather, it accepts any certificate from the client, including a null string for the file name. To enable this mode, the value of COPYSERVICES_CERTIFICATEFILE must be NO_CERTIFICATE. This mode should not be used unless the production and backup systems, and the storage system, are protected by a firewall. If NO_CERTIFICATE is used, the cimom.properties parameter DigestAuthentication must be set to false.

Default
NO_CERTIFICATE
Advanced mode only
Yes.
COPYSERVICES_PRIMARY_SERVERNAME
This parameter identifies the server name or address that defines the TCP/IP address of the host that is running the CIM Agent for DS Open API. This host manages the primary and secondary copy services servers of the DS8000 cluster.
Default
localhost
Advanced mode only
No.
COPYSERVICES_SECONDARY_SERVERNAME
This parameter identifies the name of the backup Copy Services server that is located within a snapshot devices cluster. Specify either the IP address or the server DNS name. This parameter can be used only in environments with DS8000 in combination with the proxy CIM Agent.
Default
None
Advanced mode only
Yes.
COPYSERVICES_SERVERPORT
This parameter identifies the server port number of the host that is running the CIM Agent for DS Open API.
Default
The default port number depends on the settings of COPYSERVICES_HARDWARE_TYPE and COPYSERVICES_COMMPROTOCOL: 
COPYSERVICES_HARDWARE_TYPE   COPYSERVICES_COMMPROTOCOL    Default Port
DS8000                       HTTPS                        6989
                             HTTP                         6988
Advanced mode only
Yes.
COPYSERVICES_TIMEOUT
This parameter identifies the maximum length of time, in minutes, that the CIM Client waits for a response to a call sent to the CIMOM (CIM Agent). If the CIM Client does not receive a response within this time, an error message is sent.
Default
6
Advanced mode only
Yes.
FLASHCOPY_TYPE
This parameter specifies whether the storage solution does a bit-level copy of data from one logical volume to another. This parameter applies to any FlashCopy® storage system. The following options are available:
COPY
Directs the storage system to run a bit-level copy of the data from one physical volume to another. Specify this value when the following conditions are true:
  • A fast snapshot restore of a backed-up database is required.
  • A complete copy of the database data on the target volume is required.
NOCOPY
Directs the storage system to run a bit-level copy of a track if the data is modified after the initial FlashCopy request. This technique is typically referred as copy-on-write. This option applies only to FlashCopy devices. Specify this value when the following conditions are true:
  • A complete copy of the source volumes that contain the database files is not required on the target volumes.
  • Backup time constraints are a concern.
INCR
This option is similar to the COPY option but the INCR option copies only those tracks that were modified since the previous incremental FlashCopy was created. This option applies only to FlashCopy devices. Specify this value when the following conditions are true:
  • IBM Storage Protect backups are taken from disk copies. This type of backup creates less burden on the storage system than for the COPY option.
  • A snapshot restore operation of the backed up database is to be completed.
  • More frequent backups for the database are scheduled.

There must be only one target set specified in the target volumes file (.fct) for incremental snapshots. CIM errors might occur when more than one target set is specified. A successful backup of the database to the IBM Storage Protect server is possible even if the parameter is set to NOCOPY.

Default
COPY
Advanced mode only
No.
RESTORE_FORCE
This parameter specifies whether to force a restore. During a rerun of a snapshot restore, the message FMM0200E can be generated. This problem occurs if the background copy process of the previous snapshot restore is still running and the RESTORE_FORCE parameter is set to NO. There are two ways to resolve the issue that is identified by the message:
  • Wait until the background copy process ends.
  • Set the RESTORE_FORCE parameter to YES in the profile and try the snapshot restore again. This option withdraws all existing source and target relationships, and creates new source and target relationships. A full copy is completed. If you want to set RESTORE_FORCE to YES for a specific restore, you can create a temporary profile.
Default
NO
Advanced mode only
Yes
TARGET_SETS
This parameter indicates how target volumes are specified. The following list identifies the possible options:
VOLUMES_FILE
Specify VOLUMES_FILE if the BACKUP_HOSTNAME is set to PREASSIGNED_VOLUMES. The actual file name of the target volumes file (.fct) is specified in parameter VOLUMES_FILE.
Default
None.
Advanced mode only
No.
VOLUMES_FILE

This parameter specifies the name of the target volumes file (.fct). Specify the fully qualified file name.

Default
None.
Advanced mode only
No.