IBM Support

Linux x86_64 Server Requirements and Support

Preventive Service Planning


Abstract

IBM Spectrum Protect Server and Storage Agent for Linux x86_64 minimum requirements and support information.

Content


Minimum Hardware and Software Requirements

Tip: The product now known as IBM Spectrum Protect™ was named IBM Tivoli® Storage Manager in releases earlier than Version 7.1.3. To learn more about the rebranding transition, see http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21963634.
Note: This document describes system requirements for IBM Spectrum Protect 8.1.12 and earlier.  Links to system requirements for more recent IBM Spectrum Protect server levels can be found here.

Versions that are End of Support:
  • IBM Spectrum Protect 7.1
 
IBM Spectrum Protect Version 8.1 and
IBM Spectrum Protect Storage Agent V8.1
Minimum Hardware Requirements
Hardware
 An AMD64 or Intel EMT-64 processor
Disk Space
 The following minimum values for disk space:
  • 512 MB for the /var directory
  • 5 GB for the installation directory
  • 2 GB for the /tmp directory
  • 128 MB in the home directory for the root user
In version 8.1.2 and later, the minimum values are:
  • 7.5 GB for the installation directory
  • 4 GB for the /tmp directory
  • 2.5 GB for the /var directory

Tip: Expect to use more space for problem determination.
  • 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 to run replication. If replication and data deduplication are both being used, create an active log of 128 GB. Allocate at least three times the default active log space for the archive log (48 GB). If you are using data deduplication or expect a heavy client workload, ensure that you have sufficient resources.

For optimal performance and to facilitate I/O, specify at least two equally sized containers or Logical Unit Numbers (LUNs) for the database. In addition, set up each active log and archive log to have its own container or LUN.


You must format the disk device to have a disk sector size of 512 bytes.

Ensure that you see the capacity planning section for more details about disk space.
Memory
 The following are the minimum system memory requirements for servers with databases up to 500 GB, with daily ingestion of no more than 200 GB per day:
  • 16 GB for standard server operations without data deduplication and node replication.
  • 24 GB for data deduplication or node replication.
  • 32 GB if you plan to use node replication with data deduplication.

For more specific memory requirements for larger databases and higher ingestion capability, see the IBM Spectrum Protect server memory tuning table.

For more specific memory requirements, see the IBM Spectrum Protect Blueprint.
IBM Spectrum Protect Version 8.1 and
IBM Spectrum Protect Storage Agent V8.1
Minimum Software Requirements
Operating System
 The IBM Spectrum Protect server on Linux X86_64 requires one of the following operating systems:
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6, Fix pack 7 or later*
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7, Fix pack 6 or later
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8, Fix pack 1 or 2**
  • SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11, Service Pack 4 or later***
  • SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12, Service Pack 4
  • SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15, Service Pack 1**
  • Ubuntu 16.04.2 LTS, all updates are supported (starting with IBM Spectrum Protect 8.1.3)
  • Ubuntu 18.04 LTS (starting with IBM Spectrum Protect 8.1.12)
*Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 is not supported starting with IBM Spectrum Protect 8.1.11
**Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.1 and 8.2, and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15.1 support starts with IBM Spectrum Protect 8.1.11 on Intel X86_64
***SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 is not supported starting with IBM Spectrum Protect 8.1.11
Libraries
 GNU C libraries, Version 2.3.3-98.38 or later that is installed on the IBM Spectrum Protect system.

For SUSE Linux Enterprise Servers:

  • libaio
  • libstdc++.so.6 at version 4.3 or later (32 and 64-bit packages are required)
For Red Hat Enterprise Linux Servers:
  • libaio
  • libstdc++.so.6 (32 and 64-bit packages are required)
  • numactl.x86_64

To determine whether SELinux is installed and in enforcing mode, do one of the following tasks:
  • Check the /etc/sysconfig/selinux file.
  • Run the sestatus operating system command.
  • Check the /var/log/messages file for SELinux notices.
To disable SELinux, complete one of the following tasks:
  • Set permissive mode by issuing the setenforce 0 command as a superuser.
  • Modify the /etc/sysconfig/selinux file and restart the machine.
Communication Protocol
  • TCP/IP Version 4 or Version 6, which is standard with Linux
  • Shared memory protocol (with IBM Spectrum Protect Linux X86_64 client)
Processing
 Asynchronous I/O must be enabled. On Linux kernels at 2.6 or later, install the libaio library to enable Asynchronous I/O.
Device Drivers
 The IBM Spectrum Protect passthru device driver is used for non-IBM® devices. It uses the SCSI passthru interface to communicate with tape devices and tape libraries. The Linux SCSI Generic (sg) device driver is required for tape drives and tape libraries. The IBM Spectrum Protect device driver package contains device driver tools and ACSLS daemons.

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 Fix Central.

Configure the device drivers before you use the server with tape devices.
Other
 Korn Shell (ksh)
You must have the I/O completion ports (IOCP) configured on the operating system.

LDAP
To authenticate IBM Spectrum Protect users with a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) server, you must use one of the following directory servers:
  • Microsoft Active Directory (Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2012)
  • IBM Security Directory Server V6.3
  • IBM Security Directory Server V6.4
 
Version 7.1 has reached End of Support (EOS)
Minimum Hardware and Software Requirements for
IBM Spectrum Protect Server V7.1 and
IBM Spectrum Protect Storage Agent V7.1
Hardware
 An AMD64 or Intel EMT-64 processor
Disk space
 The following minimum values for disk space:
  • 512 MB for the /var directory
  • 5 GB for the installation directory
  • 2 GB for the /tmp directory
  • 128 MB in the home directory for the root user
Tip: Expect to use more space for problem determination.
  • 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. Allocate at least three times the active log space for the archive log (48 GB). If you are using data deduplication or expect a heavy client workload, ensure that you have sufficient resources.

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


You must format the disk device to have a disk sector size of 512 bytes.

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 40 GB for heavily used servers. Using 40 GB or more of memory enhances performance of the IBM 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.
  • Node replication processing requires additional memory. Use a minimum of 32 GB of memory for node replication without data deduplication. Node replication with data deduplication requires a minimum of 64 GB of memory.
  • When you create the active log, you need at least 64 GB of memory to run replication. If replication and deduplication are both being used, create an active log of 128 GB.
Operating system
 The IBM  Spectrum Protect Server on Linux X86_64 requires one of the following operating systems:
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 (starting with IBM Tivoli Storage Manager v7.1.1.100)
  • SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11, Service Pack 2
  • SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 (starting with v7.1.4)
Libraries
 GNU C libraries, Version 2.3.3-98.38 or later that is installed on the IBM Spectrum Protect system.
For SUSE Linux Enterprise Servers:
  • libaio
  • libstdc++.so.5 at version 3.3 or later (32 and 64-bit packages are required)
  • libstdc++.so.6 at version 4.3 or later (32 and 64-bit packages are required)
For Red Hat Enterprise Linux Servers:
  • libaio
  • libstdc++.so.6 (32 and 64-bit packages are required)
  • numactl.x86_64
To determine whether SELinux is installed and in enforcing mode, do one of the following tasks:
  • Check the /etc/sysconfig/selinux file.
  • Run the sestatus operating system command.
  • Check the /var/log/messages file for SELinux notices.
To disable SELinux, complete one of the following tasks:
  • Set permissive mode by issuing the setenforce 0 command as a superuser.
  • Modify the /etc/sysconfig/selinux file and restart the machine.
Communication protocol
  • TCP/IP Version 4 or Version 6, which is standard with Linux
  • Shared memory protocol (with IBM Spectrum Protect Version 7.1.3 Linux X86_64 client)
Processing
 Asynchronous I/O must be enabled. On Linux kernels at 2.6 or later, install the libaio library to enable Asynchronous I/O.
Device drivers
 The IBM Spectrum Protect passthru device driver is used for non- IBM® devices. It uses the SCSI passthru interface to communicate with tape devices and tape libraries. The Linux SCSI Generic (sg) device driver is required for tape drives and tape libraries. The IBM Spectrum Protect device driver package contains device driver tools and ACSLS daemons.

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 IBM Spectrum Protect server with tape devices.
Other software
 Korn Shell (ksh)

To authenticate IBM Spectrum Protect users with a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) server, you must use one of the following directory servers:
  • Microsoft Active Directory (Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2012)
  • IBM Security Directory Server V6.3
  • IBM Security Directory Server V6.4
       

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Document Information

Modified date:
28 March 2022

UID

swg21204361

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