Windows: System requirements for Windows systems

The Tivoli® Storage Manager server can require a large amount of memory, network bandwidth, and processor resources. In many cases, the server performs best when other applications are not installed on the same system.

Hardware and software requirements for the Tivoli Storage Manager server installation

These tables list the minimum hardware and software requirements for the installation of a Tivoli Storage Manager server. Use these requirements as a starting point. You can find the most current information about system requirements at Tivoli Storage Manager Supported Operating Systems.

See IBM Tivoli Storage Manager Optimizing Performance (V7.1.1) for server configuration guidelines and best practices.

Hardware requirements

Table 1 describes the minimum hardware requirements that are needed for your Tivoli Storage Manager Windows system. The installation fails if you do not have the minimum requirements. For more details about planning disk space, see Windows: Capacity planning.

Table 1. Hardware requirements
Type of hardware Hardware requirements
Hardware An AMD64 or Intel EMT-64 processor

Disk Space

 The following minimum values for disk space:
  • At least 5 GB of free disk storage (for a typical installation)
  • 60 MB in the temporary directory space
  • 2 GB partition size in the C:\ drive
  • 300 MB in the instance directory
  • 2 GB for the shared resources area

Significant additional disk space is required for database and log files. The size of the database depends on the number of client files to be stored and the method by which the server manages them. The default active log space is 16 GB, the minimum that is needed for most workloads and configurations. When you create the active log, you need at least 64 GB in size to run replication. If replication and data deduplication are both being used, create an active log of 128 GB in size. Allocate at least three times the default active log space for the archive log (48 GB). Ensure that you have sufficient resources if you are using data deduplication or expect a heavy client workload.

For optimal performance and to facilitate I/O, specify at least two equally sized containers or Logical Unit Numbers (LUNs) for the database. See IBM Tivoli Storage Manager Optimizing Performance (V7.1.1) for more information about the configuration of directories for the database. In addition, each active log and archive log should have its own container or LUN.

Ensure that you see the capacity planning section for more details about disk space.
Memory The following minimum values for memory:
  • 12 GB.
  • 16 GB if you are using data deduplication.
  • At least 32 GB for heavily used servers. Using 32 GB or more of memory enhances performance of the Tivoli Storage Manager server database inventory.
  • If you plan to run multiple instances, each instance requires the memory listed for one server. Multiply the memory for one server by the number of instances planned for the system.
  • If you plan to use node replication without data deduplication, the system requires 32 GB of memory. Node replication with data deduplication requires a minimum of 64 GB of memory.

Software requirements

Table 2 describes the minimum software requirements that are needed for your Tivoli Storage Manager Windows system.

Table 2. Software requirements
Type of software Minimum software requirements
Operating system One of the following operating systems:
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2: Standard, Enterprise, or Datacenter Edition (64-bit)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2012 (64-bit)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 (64-bit)
Communication protocol At least one of the following communication protocols (installed by default with the current Windows operating systems):
  • Named Pipes
  • TCP/IP Version 4 or Version 6
Device drivers

The Tivoli Storage Manager passthru device driver that is required for non-IBM® drives and tape libraries. The Windows native device driver is recommended for tape drives and tape libraries. Otherwise, the Tivoli Storage Manager kernel device driver can be used.

For the IBM 3590, 3592, or the Ultrium tape library or drives, the IBM device drivers are required. Install the most current device drivers. You can locate IBM driver packages at the Fix Central website: http://www.ibm.com/support/fixcentral/.

Configure the device drivers before you use the Tivoli Storage Manager server with tape devices.
Other software

Windows 2012 and Windows 2012 R2 require that .NET Framework 4.5 is installed and enabled.

The following User Account Control policies must be disabled:
  • User Account Control: Admin Approval Mode for the Built-in Administrator account
  • User Account Control: Run all administrators in Admin Approval Mode