Running BRMS Backups in a FlashCopy Environment

Answer

The BRMS FlashCopy function requires the BRMS Network Feature product 57XX-BR1 Option 1. In
order to use BRMS to perform a backup of the copy system, FlashCopy function must be
enabled on the production system. After you enable the BRMS FlashCopy function, all
backups that are performed on the backup system look like they were performed on the
production system.

To enable the FlashCopy function for BRMS, enter the following command:

• For BRMS V6R1 and later:

WRKPCYBRM *SYS
Then, choose 1. Display or Change system policy and select to enable FlashCopy
using:

Enable FlashCopy . . . . . . . . . . . . *YES

• Prior to BRMS V6R1:

QSYS/CALL PGM(QBRM/Q1AOLD) PARM('FLASHSYS ' '*YES')

Note: For all Q1AOLD program call commands in this document, you need to use all
uppercase letters for all parameters.

By using this interface, BRMS can perform a backup of the backup system as though it were
the production system. The backup history looks like a backup was performed on the
production system.

Preliminary notification of FlashCopy mode

You must notify BRMS that the system’s data is being copied using FlashCopy and the
backup is performed on the backup system. This step is required prior to performing the
FlashCopy function.

Enter the following command to set the BRMS system state to FlashCopy mode:

• For BRMS V6R1 and later:

QSYS/INZBRM OPTION(*FLASHCOPY) STATE(*STRPRC)

• Prior to BRMS V6R1:

QSYS/CALL QBRM/Q1AOLD PARM(‘FLSSYSSTS’ ‘*BEGIN’)

Enter the following command to display the BRMS FlashCopy state:

• For BRMS V6R1 and later:

WRKPCYBRM *SYS

Then, choose 4. Change network group and look for the FlashCopy state information.

• Prior to BRMS V6R1:

QSYS/CALL QBRM/Q1AOLD PARM(‘FLSSYSSTS’ ‘*DISPLAY ’)

When the system is in FlashCopy mode, the BRMS synchronization job does not run on the
production system.

Important: Do not perform BRMS activity on the production system until all post FlashCopy steps are complete.

Any updates to the BRMS database on the production system using any BRMS activity, such
as save, restore, BRMS maintenance, and so on, will be lost. When the system is in
FlashCopy state, all incoming BRMS communication from the BRMS networked system is
blocked. BRMS backup information about the current system might be outdated when a
backup is performed on the backup system.

You should verify that this production system owns enough media for the backup in order to
complete a successful backup. If a copy system can perform communication in a restricted
state by using specified TCP/IP interface, then BRMS can use media owned by another
system in the BRMS network.

Pre-backup step on backup system

To prevent a system name conflict in the network, in many situations, a default local location
name and system name value in the Display Network Attribute (DSPNETA) command cannot
be the same on the production system and backup system. To resolve a name conflict, a user
might need to change these attributes through an IPL startup program on the backup system.

Because the production system is enabled for FlashCopy, any backup performed on the
backup system uses the Display Network Attribute (DSPNETA) of the production system at
the time of enabling the BRMS FlashCopy function.

Setting the BRMS system state to backup system

The status of the backup system is also in FlashCopy mode after its IPL. This prevents a
BRMS synchronization job from sending an update to other systems in the BRMS network.
From a BRMS perspective, at this time, the backup system is the production system, and all
updates of the BRMS information should be sent to all systems in the network. In order to
allow an update to another system, the state should be changed to backup FlashCopy
system.

Enter the following command on the backup system to set the BRMS system state to backup
FlashCopy system:

• For BRMS V6R1 and later:

QSYS/INZBRM OPTION(*FLASHCOPY) STATE(*STRBKU)

• Prior to BRMS V6R1:

QSYS/CALL QBRM/Q1AOLD PARM(‘FLSSYSSTS’ ‘*BACKUPSYS’)

Enter the following command to display the BRMS system state:

• For BRMS V6R1 and later:

WRKPCYBRM *SYS

Then, choose 4. Change network group and look for the FlashCopy state information.

• Prior to BRMS V6R1:

QSYS/CALL QBRM/Q1AOLD PARM(‘FLSSYSSTS’ ‘*DISPLAY ’)

Setting the backup system to restricted state TCP/IP

When you are running SAVSYS backup procedures, the operating system must be in a
restricted state. In a shared media inventory, if the current system does not have any volumes
available, then BRMS needs to communicate with the remote systems for volume selection.
In order to do this while in a restricted state, BRMS needs to start the TCP/IP interfaces that
will be used to communicate with the remote systems. You need to specify those TCP/IP
interfaces to BRMS. A restricted state TCP/IP interface specified on the production system
might not be the same for the copy system.

See topic 'How do I setup to use TCPIP in a restricted state' on the BRMS wiki for information about setting up BRMS to use TCP in a restricted state, including removing invalid interfaces that existed on production and adding interfaces for the backup system.

https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/community/wikis/home?lang=en#!/wiki/IBM%20Backup,%20Recovery%20and%20Media%20Services%20(BRMS)%20for%20i/page/How%20do%20I%20setup%20to%20use%20TCPIP%20in%20a%20restricted%20state

Changing hardware resource names on the backup system

It is highly unlikely that the hardware resource names associated with the tape drives in the
production partition will match those on the backup partition. In this case, either change the
device descriptions on the backup system after you have done the FlashCopy or create a CL
program to perform this task automatically.

Performing the backup from the backup system

Because the BRMS system name is set on the production system and is stored in the BRMS
database, after a FlashCopy, the BRMS system name on the backup system is the same as
the BRMS system name on the production system.

Simply follow the backup procedure on the backup system as usual as you would on your
production system.

Post FlashCopy steps

The following sections describe the required post FlashCopy steps to ensure that the BRMS
database on the production system is updated with the BRMS backup information created by
the performed backup from the backup system.

Indicating that the BRMS backup activity is complete

During the post FlashCopy step, do not perform BRMS activity on the production system and
on the backup system. Enter the following command on the backup system to set the BRMS
system state to end backup mode:

• For BRMS V6R1 and later:

QSYS/INZBRM OPTION(*FLASHCOPY) STATE(*ENDBKU)

• Prior to BRMS V6R1:

QSYS/CALL QBRM/Q1AOLD PARM(‘FLSSYSSTS’ ‘*ENDBACKUP’)

Sending QUSRBRM to the production system

You must save the QUSRBRM library to allow the BRMS management information to be
transferred to the production partition. To save the QUSRBRM library, enter the following
command on the copy system:

SAVLIBBRM LIB(QUSRBRM) DEV(tape-media-library-device-name) MEDPCY(media-policy) OMITOBJ((*ALL *JRN) (*ALL *JRNRCV)) OBJDTL(*OBJ) SAVTYPE(*FULL) SEQNBR(1) ENDOPT(*REWIND)

The final step is to restore QUSRBRM, which you saved from the backup system. This
provides an accurate picture of the BRMS environment on the production partition, which
reflects the backups that were just performed on the backup system. To restore QUSRBRM,
use the media that was used to perform the backup of the QUSRBRM library and enter the
following command on the production system:

QSYS/RSTLIB SAVLIB(QUSRBRM) DEV(tape-media-library-device-name) VOL(volume-identifier) SEQNBR(1) ALWOBJDIF(*FILELVL *AUTL *OWNER *PGP) MBROPT(*ALL)

Note: The journal and journal receivers will not be an issue as they were omitted on the save.

Indicating that the FlashCopy function is complete on the production system

Enter the following command on the production system to indicate that the FlashCopy
function is complete:

• For BRMS V6R1 and later:

QSYS/INZBRM OPTION(*FLASHCOPY) STATE(*ENDPRC)

• Prior to BRMS V6R1:

CALL QBRM/Q1AOLD PARM(‘FLSSYSSTS' '*END‘)

This command starts the Q1ABRMNET subsystem if the system is not in a restricted state. It
also starts all BRMS synchronization jobs.

The information in this TechDoc was adapted from 'IBM System Storage Copy Services and IBM i: A Guide to Planning and Implementation (SG24-7103-02)' which is available in PDF format at the following URL:

http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/redbooks/pdfs/sg247103.pdf

and the Flashcopy section of the BRMS wiki located at the following URL:

https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/community/wikis/home?lang=en#!/wiki/IBM%20Backup,%20Recovery%20and%20Media%20Services%20(BRMS)%20for%20i/page/FlashCopy