Creating a client options file for Automated System Recovery

Before you can recover a Windows computer by using Automated System Recovery (ASR), you must create an options file. The options file is unique for each computer.

1. Find a copy of the client options file.
   You can find the file in several places:

   • There is an options file in the installation directory of an installed IBM Spectrum Protect client. The default installation location is C:\Program Files\Tivoli\TSM\baclient\dsm.opt. If you have the options file for the computer that you want to restore, this options file requires the fewest modifications.
   • There is a sample options file in the client installation package. The path in the package is TSM_BA_Client\program files\Tivoli\TSM\config\dsm.smp. Rename the file to dsm.opt.
2. Edit dsm.opt.
   1. Enter a writable location for the error log.
      The backup-archive client creates several log files. Use the option errorlogname to specify the log file location. For example, in the dsm.opt file, specify errorlogname x:\dsmerror.log.

      Note: This example uses x: because in WinPE mode, the default system drive is x:.
   2. Enter the client node name with the nodename option.
   3. Optional: If you plan to restore the system state from files that are stored on the IBM Spectrum Protect server, enter the server connection information.
      Enter appropriate values for the commmethod and tcpserveraddress options.
   4. Optional: If you know the password for the node, enter the password with the password option.
3. Copy the dsm.opt file to media that the target computer can read during Automated System Recovery.
4. Optional: Copy IBM Spectrum Protect client registry information to media that the target computer can read during Automated System Recovery. Use the regedit.exe utility to export IBM Spectrum Protect client registry entries from the HKLM\SOFTWARE\IBM key.
   For example, from a command prompt window, run this command:

   regedit /e tsmregistry.out "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\IBM"

   Copy the tsmregistry.out file to media that the target computer can read during ASR.
   During ASR, you can import the registry entries from the tsmregistry.out file. The backup-archive client can use the registry entries in the WinPE environment to access backup copies on the IBM Spectrum Protect server.

   Note: Saving registry entries is optional because there are other ways to get access to the password-protected IBM Spectrum Protect server. You can access the server with the following methods:

   • If you know the node password, you can type the password when prompted during recovery.
   • Request the IBM Spectrum Protect administrator to change the node password and provide you with the new password at the time of recovery.
   • Provide the password information in the dsm.opt file.

   If the files you want to restore are included in a backup set on tape or on a CD or DVD, then you do not need to access the IBM Spectrum Protect server.