Verifying the LAN-free configuration

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To ensure LAN-free data movement, you must verify that the hardware and software components are configured correctly.

Windows operating systems

Before you begin

Before you verify the LAN-free configuration, ensure that the correct device driver is installed if you use non-IBM devices and if you are running IBM Storage Protect on Windows:

  64–bit
Windows Server tsmscsi.sys64

Procedure

Verify the LAN-free configuration by completing the following steps:

  1. Linux operating systemsAIX operating systems Start the storage agent by changing to the storage agent directory and issuing the DSMSTA command.
    Tip: When the storage agent starts, it contacts all available shared libraries, including those libraries that do not have a defined path. As a result, a delay might occur during startup processing. The storage agent also determines if the IBM Storage Protect server is a library client or library manager. If the server is a library client, the storage agent attempts to define itself to the library manager if it is not known to the library manager. When the storage agent communicates with the IBM Storage Protect server, Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) information is displayed in the activity log to indicate whether SSL is in use.
  2. Windows operating systems Start the storage agent:
    1. Change to the storage agent directory.
    2. Issue the DSMSTA command.
    3. Click Start.
    Tip: When the storage agent starts, it contacts all available shared libraries, including those libraries that do not have a defined path. As a result, a delay might occur during startup processing. The storage agent also determines if the IBM Storage Protect server is a library client or library manager. If the server is a library client, the storage agent attempts to define itself to the library manager if it is not known to the library manager. When the storage agent communicates with the IBM Storage Protect server, Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) information is displayed in the activity log to indicate whether SSL is in use.
  3. Run a backup operation from the client.
  4. Log on to the IBM Storage Protect server and storage agent by using a IBM Storage Protect administrative command-line client.
  5. Verify that the backup is LAN-free and the sessions are established by issuing the QUERY SESSION command.

    In the command output, look for information about bytes sent and bytes received. If LAN-free data movement is occurring:

    • Querying a session on the storage agent shows bytes received for the node that increases to the total amount of data that is backed up.
    • Querying a session on the IBM Storage Protect server shows a few bytes (metadata) received for the same node.

    If the node's session has these characteristics, and you receive a message that states that the backup was successful, you configured your system correctly.

    There are several ways to use the QUERY SESSION command. If the storage agent is running in the foreground, it is started in the command-line window. The window is the storage agent console, and you can issue the command on the console. Alternatively, you can use a command-line client to connect to the storage agent on the administration port of the storage agent. Use the same administrator ID and password for this command that you use on the server.

  6. If you receive a message that states that the backup failed, ensure that the following conditions exist:
    • The IBM Storage Protect server is running. If the IBM Storage Protect server is not running, the storage agent does not start.
    • The client, storage agent, and server are communicating with each other as expected.
    • Windows operating systemsThe device driver on the storage agent is running.
    • The mount and message is displayed on the storage agent console.

    If you try the backup operation again after the first failure, the client attempts to use the LAN connection for data movement. To force LAN-free data movement, stop and restart the client.