DEVICE_CLASS parameters for dynamic target allocation

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The device class parameters for dynamic target allocation are defined in the DEVICE_CLASS section of the IBM® Storage Protect Snapshot profile. These parameters configure IBM Storage Protect Snapshot to use dynamic target allocation with IBM Storwize® family or IBM System Storage® SAN Volume Controller storage systems.

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.
GENERIC
Specify the GENERIC option when the storage system is SAN Volume Controller or Storwize family and you require the target volumes to be dynamically allocated during the backup process.
Default
None
Advanced mode only
No
COPYSERVICES_SERVERNAME
Defines the TCP/IP host name of the storage system where the application data to protect is allocated.
Default
None
Advanced mode only
No
COPYSERVICES_USERNAME
Identifies the user name. Specify the user name that is used to log on to the SAN Volume Controller cluster. For Storwize family, specify the Storwize family user name.
Default
superuser
Advanced mode only
No
SVC_SSHKEY_FULLPATH
Specifies the path and the file name to the private SSH key file. The key file is used to authenticate to the storage system with the user name specified for the COPYSERVICES_USERNAME parameter. In an Oracle SAP environment, both the Oracle and sidadm users can start Snapshot operations. The private SSH key must be located in the home directory <$HOME>/.ssh for both users.
Default
<$HOME>/.ssh/svc_sshkey
Advanced mode only
Yes
SVC_REMOTE_SSHKEY_FULLPATH
This parameter specifies the second SSH key file to be used for authentication on the remote site storage device. The key file is used to authenticate to the storage system with the user name that is specified for the COPYSERVICES_REMOTE_USERNAME parameter. If you do not want to create a new key pair for the remote site, one key can be shared for both storage sites.
Default
<$HOME>/.ssh/svc_sshkey
Advanced mode only
Yes
SSH_DIR
Specifies the path to the Secure Shell protocols and executable files.
Default
/usr/bin
Advanced mode only
Yes
SVC_COPY_RATE
Specifies the priority that the storage system gives to the FlashCopy® background process for the current backup or restore operation. Enter a value from the range 0 to 150.

The SVC_COPY_RATE parameter applies only for full copy backups (FLASHCOPY_TYPE COPY). For space-efficient backups (FLASHCOPY_TYPE NOCOPY), the copy rate is implicitly set to 0.

A value of 150 indicates the highest priority, but places the greatest burden on the responsiveness of the storage system. A value of 0 indicates the lowest priority, but suppresses the background copy process and forces the FLASHCOPY_TYPE parameter to have the NOCOPY option.

Default
0
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.
FLASHCOPY_TYPE
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. 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.
  • A fast snapshot restore of a backed-up database is required.
  • 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.
Default
NOCOPY
Advanced mode only
No
SVC_GRAIN_SIZE

Specifies the grain size, in KB, for FlashCopy mapping for space-efficient virtual disks on SAN Volume Controller or Storwize family. The grain size of the space-efficient virtual disk must match the grain size of the FlashCopy. The options for this parameter are 64, and 256.

After the parameter is set, the value cannot be changed until the backup is deleted with the option -F to remove the mappings.

Note: When you are migrating from the SVC adapter with static target allocation, you must ensure that the grain size for the new SVCDTA device classes is set to the same value as it was for the device classes for SVC.
Default
256
Advanced mode only
Yes
SVC_POOLNAME
This parameter specifies the name of the storage pool that is used to create target volumes for the FlashCopy backups. A value must be assigned if a source volume has two copies in the SVC, and these copies are in two different storage pools. If the DEVICE_CLASS is configured for remote site backup COPYSERVICES_REMOTE YES, the specified pool name is related to the remote site storage device.
Default
Name of the storage pool where the source volume is located.
Advanced mode only
Yes
SVC_IOGROUP
Specifies the name of the input and output (IO) group, which is used to create target volumes for the FlashCopy backups. If the DEVICE_CLASS is configured for remote site backup COPYSERVICES_REMOTE YES, the specified IO group is related to the remote site storage device.
Default
Name of the IO group on the source volume where the FlashCopy relationship is established.
Advanced mode only
Yes
SVC_MOUNT_POOLNAME
Specifies the name of the storage pool that is used to create temporary duplicates of the target volumes of a FlashCopy backup, which then mounts to a host. If the DEVICE_CLASS is configured for remote site backup COPYSERVICES_REMOTE YES, the specified pool name is related to the remote site storage device.
Default
Name of the storage pool that is used to create target volumes.
Advanced mode only
Yes
SVC_MOUNT_IOGROUP
Specifies the name of the IO group, which is used to create duplicate volumes for the mount operation. If the DEVICE_CLASS is configured for remote site backup COPYSERVICES_REMOTE YES, the specified IO group is related to the remote site storage device.
Default
Name of the IO group on the storage system that is used to create target volumes.
Advanced mode only
Yes
SVC_TARGET_VOLUME_REAL_SIZE
Specify the percentage of the source volume size to allocate, which is used to create the actual target volumes during the backup operation.

The SVC_TARGET_VOLUME_REAL_SIZE parameter applies only to FLASHCOPY_TYPE NOCOPY.

Default
10
Advanced mode only
Yes
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