File-level backup and restore for NDMP operations

When you back up data by using NDMP, you can specify that the IBM Spectrum® Protect server collects and stores file-level information in a table of contents (TOC).

If you specify this option at the time of backup, you can later display the TOC of the backup image. By using the IBM Spectrum Protect backup-archive client GUI, you can select individual files or directories to restore data directly from the generated backup images.

Collecting file-level information requires extra processing time, network resources, storage pool space, temporary database space, and possibly additional storage device interaction. For instructions about configuring storage devices, see Configuring storage devices. You must consider dedicating more space in the IBM Spectrum Protect server database. You must set up policy so that the IBM Spectrum Protect server stores the TOC in a different storage pool from the one where the backup image is stored. The TOC is treated like any other object in that storage pool.

You can also complete a backup operation by using NDMP without collecting file-level restore information.

To allow creation of a TOC for a backup by using NDMP, you must define the TOCDESTINATION attribute in the backup copy group for the management class to which this backup image is bound. You cannot specify a copy storage pool or an active-data pool as the destination. The storage pool that you specify for the TOC destination must have a data format of either NATIVE or NONBLOCK, so it cannot be the tape storage pool that is used for the backup image.

If you choose to collect file-level information, specify the TOC parameter in the BACKUP NODE server command. Or, if you initiate your backup by using the client, you can specify the TOC option in the client options file, client option set, or client command line. You can specify NO, PREFERRED, or YES. When you specify PREFERRED or YES, the IBM Spectrum Protect server stores file information for a single NDMP-controlled backup in a TOC. The TOC is placed into a storage pool. After that, the IBM Spectrum Protect server can access the TOC so that file and directory information can be queried by the server or client. Use of the TOC parameter allows a TOC to be generated for some images and not others, without requiring different management classes for the images.

For more information about the BACKUP NODE command, see BACKUP NODE (Back up a NAS node).

To avoid mount delays and ensure sufficient space, use random access storage pools (DISK device class) as the destination for the TOC. For sequential access storage pools, no labeling or other preparation of volumes is necessary if scratch volumes are allowed.

For more information, see Managing tables of contents.