Managing volume mounts for Tivoli Storage Manager client sessions

Diagnosing The Problem

Review of the activity log on the server may show multiple open/close activity for a volume for a single client session. In the following example the client is configured to backup directory data to disk, while file data is stored directly to sequential media.

There may be hundreds, or more, of the open/close sequence shown in the example below:

... 10:40:28 ANR0406I Session 5555 started for node TESTND (WinNT)
(Tcp/Ip TESTNODE.company.pvt(1559)). (SESSION: 5555)
... 10:40:55 ANR8337I 3592 volume V55123 mounted in drive DRIVE4
(mt0.0.0.1). (SESSION: 5555)
... 10:40:55 ANR0511I Session 5555 opened output volume V55123.
(SESSION: 5555)
... 10:42:29 ANR0514I Session 5555 closed volume V55123. (SESSION:
5555)
... 10:43:07 ANR0511I Session 5555 opened output volume V55123.
(SESSION: 5555)
... 10:43:08 ANR0514I Session 5555 closed volume V55123. (SESSION:
5555)
... 10:43:10 ANR0511I Session 5555 opened output volume V55123.
(SESSION: 5555)
... 10:43:12 ANR0514I Session 5555 closed volume V55123. (SESSION:
5555)

If the session is for a scheduled client backup, the client schedule log can be reviewed and the following pattern may be seen - that, after a directory has been backed up, a file or number of files will be sent, this is followed by a wait for the mount of offline media, and the files are resent.

Each time a directory is backed up to the disk storage pool, the volume that is mounted for the client backup session is closed. When files are sent again, they fail to get backed up to the tape volume as it has been closed. The volume must be opened again and the files must be resent.

... 10:40:29 Normal File--> 366,592 \\testnd\testdir1\cMgmt.dd [Sent]
... 10:40:29 ANS1114I Waiting for mount of offline media.
... 10:41:33 ANS1898I ***** Processed 3,980,500 files *****
... 10:41:39 ANS1898I ***** Processed 3,981,000 files *****
... 10:41:39 Retry # 1 Normal File--> 366,592 \\testnd\testdir1\cMgmt.dd [Sent]
... 10:42:28 ANS1898I ***** Processed 3,985,000 files *****
... 10:42:30 Directory--> 0 \\testnd\testdir2 [Sent]
... 10:43:06 ANS1898I ***** Processed 3,988,000 files *****
... 10:43:07 Normal File--> 311,296 \\testnd\testdir2\Statn.dd ** Unsuccessful **
... 10:43:07 ANS1114I Waiting for mount of offline media.
... 10:43:09 Retry # 1 Normal File--> 311,296 \\testnd\testdir2\Statn.dd [Sent]
... 10:43:09 Directory--> 0 \\testnd\testdir3 [Sent]
... 10:43:09 Normal File--> 261,120 \\testnd\testdir3\TSM.dd [Sent]
... 10:43:09 Normal File--> 357,888 \\testnd\testdir3\Wyndows.dd [Sent]
... 10:43:09 Normal File--> 261,120 \\testnd\testdir3\62455.dd [Sent]
... 10:43:09 ANS1114I Waiting for mount of offline media.
... 10:43:10 Retry # 1 Normal File--> 261,120 \\testnd\testdir3\TSM.dd [Sent]
... 10:43:10 Retry # 1 Normal File--> 357,888 \\testnd\testdir3\Wyndows.dd [Sent]
... 10:43:10 Retry # 1 Normal File--> 261,120 \\testnd\testdir3\62455.dd [Sent]