You must meet certain requirements when you use NDMP (network
data management protocol) for operations with network-attached storage
(NAS) file servers.
- IBM® Tivoli® Storage Manager Extended
Edition
- Licensed program product that includes support for the use of
NDMP.
- NAS File Server
- A NAS file server. The operating system on the file server must
be supported by Tivoli Storage
Manager.
Visit http://www.ibm.com/support/entry/portal/Overview/Software/Tivoli/Tivoli_Storage_Manager for
a list of NAS file servers that are certified through the "Ready
for IBM Tivoli software."
Note: Vendors on the"Ready
for IBM Tivoli software" list follow guidelines
to implement NDMP as specified by Tivoli Storage
Manager. If a file
server is on the list, it has run tests to ensure that it is compatible
with Tivoli Storage
Manager.
The
combination of file server model and operating system must be supported
by the NAS file server. For more specifics, consult the product information
for the NAS file server.
- Tape Libraries
- This requirement is only necessary for a backup
to a locally attached NAS device. The Tivoli Storage
Manager server supports
three types of libraries for operations that use NDMP. The libraries
that are supported are SCSI, ACSLS (automated cartridge system library software),
and VTL (virtual tape library). 349X tape libraries can also be used
with certain NAS file servers.
- SCSI library
- A SCSI library that is supported by the Tivoli Storage
Manager server.
This type of library can be attached directly either to the Tivoli Storage
Manager server or
to the NAS file server. When the library is attached directly to the Tivoli Storage
Manager server,
the Tivoli Storage
Manager server
controls the library operations by passing the SCSI commands directly
to the library. When the library is attached directly to the NAS file
server, the Tivoli Storage
Manager server
controls the library by passing SCSI commands to the library through
the NAS file server.
- ACSLS library
- An ACSLS library can be directly connected only to the Tivoli Storage
Manager server.
The Tivoli Storage
Manager server
controls the library by passing the library request through TCP/IP
to the library control server.
Note: The Tivoli Storage
Manager server does
not include External Library support for the ACSLS library when the
library is used for NDMP operations.
- VTL library
- A virtual tape library that is supported by the Tivoli Storage
Manager server.
This type of library can be attached directly either to the Tivoli Storage
Manager server or
to the NAS file server. A virtual tape library is essentially the
same as a SCSI library but is enhanced for virtual tape library characteristics
and allows for better mount performance.
Note: If you are defining
a VTL library, your environment must not include any mixed-media.
Paths must be defined between all drives in the library and all defined
servers, including storage agents, that use the library. If either
of these characteristics are not true, the overall performance can
degrade to the same levels as the SCSI library type; especially during
times of high stress.
- 349X library
- A 349X library can be directly connected only to the Tivoli Storage
Manager server.
The Tivoli Storage
Manager server
controls the library by passing the library request through TCP/IP
to the library manager.
Library Sharing: The Tivoli Storage
Manager server running
NDMP operations can be a library manager for either an ACSLS, SCSI,
VTL, or 349X library, but cannot be a library client. The Tivoli Storage
Manager server can
also be a library client, in a configuration where the NAS filer sends
data to a Tivoli Storage
Manager server using
TCP/IP rather than to a tape library attached to the NAS filer. If
the Tivoli Storage
Manager server
that runs NDMP operations is a library manager, that server must control
the library directly and not by passing commands through the NAS file server.
- Tape Drives
- One or more tape drives in the tape library. A tape drive is only
necessary for backup to a locally attached NAS device. The NAS file
server must be able to access the drives. A NAS device is not supported
in a mixed device library. The drives must be supported for tape backup
operations by the NAS file server and its operating system. For complete
NDMP device support, refer to the NAS file server product documentation.
Drive Sharing: The tape drives can be shared
by the
Tivoli Storage
Manager server
and one or more NAS file servers. Also, when a SCSI, VTL, or a 349X
library is connected to the
Tivoli Storage
Manager server and
not to the NAS file server, the drives can be shared by one or more
NAS file servers and one or more
Tivoli Storage
Manager:
- Library clients
- Storage agents
Verify the compatibility of specific combinations of
a NAS file server, tape devices, and SAN-attached devices with the
hardware manufacturers.
Attention: Tivoli Storage
Manager supports
NDMP Version 4 for all NDMP operations. Tivoli Storage
Manager continues
to support all NDMP backup and restore operations with a NAS device that
runs NDMP version 3. The Tivoli Storage
Manager server negotiates
the highest protocol level (either Version 3 or Version 4) with the
NDMP server when it establishes an NDMP connection. If you experience
any issues with Version 4, you might want to try Version 3.