Restoring data from tape to S3 client

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You can restore data that was copied from object client to IBM Storage Protect for storage on physical tape media or in a virtual tape library (VTL). The data will be restored to object client.

About this task

When object client sends cold data, the data is written to directories on disk and then moved to tape storage. The directories on disk make up a cold-data-cache storage pool, which is linked to the primary sequential-access storage pool that represents the tape device or VTL.

Similarly, during a restore operation, the object data is restored temporarily to the cold-data-cache storage pool so that the data can be read by an object client. To initiate a restore operation, object client must issue an Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3) request to the IBM Storage Protect server.

Procedure

  1. The object client user issues a request to restore data from tape. The request is queued by the IBM Storage Protect server until one of the following conditions is met:
    • The data is copied from tape and temporarily stored in the cold-data-cache storage pool.
    • The data is determined to be unrecoverable.

    Until one of the conditions is met, the IBM Storage Protect server continually attempts to copy the data from tape. During this time, the restore request remains in the queue and cannot be canceled. For example, if the required tape drive is offline, the IBM Storage Protect server continually attempts to copy the data. When the tape drive becomes available, the IBM Storage Protect server copies the data and temporarily stores it in the cold-data-cache storage pool. From there, the data is retrieved by object client.

    When the restore operation is completed, the restored data copy remains in the cold-data-cache storage pool for the length of time that is specified in object client.

  2. Optionally, you can remove a restored data copy before it is due to expire by specifying the REMOVERESTOREDCOPYBEFORELIFETIMEEND parameter on the DEFINE STGPOOL or UPDATE STGPOOL command.
    If the cold-data-cache storage pool is nearing capacity, by specifying REMOVERESTOREDCOPYBEFORELIFETIMEEND=YES, certain restored data copies (that are eligible for early deletion according to defined conditions) are removed.

    For more information about the REMOVERESTOREDCOPYBEFORELIFETIMEEND parameter, see Define a primary storage pool for copying data to tape or Update a primary storage pool for copying data to tape.

Results

After a successful restore operation, the restored data copy remains in the cold-data-cache storage pool for the length of time that is specified in object client, unless the REMOVERESTOREDCOPYBEFORELIFETIMEEND parameter was set to delete the copy before it was due to expire.

After the restored data copy is deleted, the primary copy of the data remains in tape storage.