Tivoli Storage Manager for Windows Administrator's Guide


Using Removable Media Managers With Tivoli Storage Manager

Administrators can use external removable media management software to help manage TSM tape and optical media. Removable media managers provide extended media control and automation to TSM, which primarily specializes in managing data.

Supported removable media managers include:

Removable Storage Manager (RSM) (Windows 2000 only)
RSM includes a Microsoft Management Console snap-in that provides administrators with a common interface for tracking removable storage media, and managing storage devices.

Tivoli Removable Media Manager (TRMM) (Windows NT only)
TRMM is a standalone Tivoli product that provides a Web-based interface for tracking removable storage media, and managing storage devices.

The principal value of using these media managers with TSM is the improved capability to share multiple devices with other storage management applications. Both RSM and TRMM require some additional administrative overhead, which may be justified by the savings from sharing expensive hardware like automated library devices.

Note:The tasks used for setting up TSM to interact with RSM are the same as those for TRMM. Therefore, the tasks and configuration discussions have been combined. Minor differences between RSM and TRMM are noted, where applicable.

Concepts:
"Overview of TSM Media Manager Support"
Tasks:
"Setting Up RSM or TRMM to Manage Tivoli Storage Manager Media"
"Deleting Tivoli Storage Manager Storage Pools from Media-Managed Libraries"
"Removing Tivoli Storage Manager Devices from Media Manager Control"
"Troubleshooting Database Errors"

Overview of TSM Media Manager Support

TSM works cooperatively with removable media managers like RSM or TRMM to control the various elements of a storage management system. RSM and TRMM help TSM make effective use of the media resources in an RSM or TRMM system. While TSM tracks and manages client data, the removable media manager, operating entirely outside of the I/O data stream, labels, catalogs, and tracks physical volumes. The media manager also controls library drives, slots, and doors.

To use a media manager with TSM, administrators must define a TSM library that represents the media manager. Defining these libraries is similar to defining any other type of library to TSM, except that in this case, the library does not represent a physical device. Media manager libraries are not device-based, but are instead based on media type. After an administrator defines a media manager library, the media manager will assume control of all volumes that match the specified media type when the volumes are injected into a library device controlled by the media manager. See Setting up RSM or TRMM Device Control.

Note:For specific information about installing and configuring RSM, see the Windows 2000 online help. For TRMM information, see the Tivoli Removable Media Manager for Windows NT documentation set.

Setting Up RSM or TRMM to Manage Tivoli Storage Manager Media

Administrators set up media management when they define RSM or TRMM libraries to TSM. Library devices to be controlled by RSM or TRMM must also be defined to the Windows RSM or TRMM service. Normally, this will occur at system boot time when RSM or TRMM will claim all supported removable media devices.

The following tasks are required to set up RSM or TRMM media management:

Task Required Privilege Class
"Setting up RSM or TRMM Device Control" System
"Defining RSM or TRMM Libraries Using the Device Configuration Wizard" System
"Adding Media to RSM or TRMM Libraries" System

Setting up RSM or TRMM Device Control

When the RSM or TRMM service is started, it will automatically take control of all eligible storage devices. For a device to be eligible for RSM or TRMM control:

Both RSM and TRMM rely on native device drivers for drive support. TRMM, however, uses the TSM device driver, ADSMSCSI, for device support. This requires that administrators explicitly control the acquisition of devices by device drivers to use these media managers with TSM. Administrators must either disable the TSM device driver or add devices to be controlled by the media manager to the TSM Device Exclude List before starting the RSM or TRMM service. See Overview of Selecting Device Drivers.

Defining RSM or TRMM Libraries Using the Device Configuration Wizard

It is recommended that administrators use the TSM Device Configuration Wizard to define RSM or TRMM libraries. For example:

  1. Double -click the Server Utilities IconTSM Server Utilities icon on the desktop. The TSM Server Utilities window opens.
  2. Click Device Configuration IconDevice Configuration in the TSM Server Utilities tree (left pane). The Device Configuration tab appears in the right pane.
  3. Click Device Configuration in the right pane to select it.
  4. Click Start. The TSM Device Configuration Wizard appears.
  5. Follow the instructions in the wizard.

This procedure creates the following TSM storage objects:

Creating Media Pools

When you create and configure an RSM or a TRMM library, typically with the TSM Device Configuration Wizard, TSM directs RSM or TRMM to create:

Under the Tivoli Storage Manager media pool, TSM creates two storage pools that are media-type specific. The first pool is associated with the physical changer device and the second pool with an import media pool.

An RSM or TRMM media pool is analogous to a directory or folder. The names of the volumes in the pool are listed in the folder. The volumes contain TSM data. RSM or TRMM retains information that maps physical media to devices.

Adding Media to RSM or TRMM Libraries

To add media to an RSM-controlled library device, administrators must activate the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in for RSM, open Removable Storage, and then request door access. Normally, the library door is locked by RSM.

To add media to a TRMM-controlled library device, administrators must access the TRMM administrative Web interface and then request door access.

On RSM:

  1. Click Start> Programs > Administrative Tools > Computer Management.
  2. In the console tree under Storage, double-click Removable Storage.
To request door access:
  1. Double-click Physical Location.
  2. Click on the applicable library, and then select Door Access.
  3. When prompted, open the door.


On TRMM:
  1. Click Start> Programs > Administrative Tools > Tivoli >TRMM Web Admin.
To request door access:
  1. Click Operation View in the left pane of the interface.
  2. Click Work with Libraries and Slots.
  3. Click Access Library Door.

You can use the library door to insert and remove media. After media is injected and the library door is closed, RSM or TRMM automatically inventories the device. If the new media matches the media type for a defined RSM or TRMM library, RSM or TRMM labels the media and adds it to one of the following media pools in that library:

Free Pool for RSM (Scratch Pool for TRMM)
This pool is used to track previously unlabeled media. Free or scratch pool media is assumed to be empty or to contain invalid data. Media in free or scratch pools are available for use by any application. Administrators must provide an adequate supply of media in the free or scratch pool to satisfy mount requests. When TSM needs media, RSM or TRMM obtains it from the import pool. RSM or TRMM manages the media from that point.

Import Pool
This pool is used to track previously labeled media that is recognized by a particular application in the RSM-controlled storage management system. Media in import pools can be allocated by any application, including the application that originally labeled it. To safeguard data, it is recommended that administrators move these volumes to the application-specific import pool.

You can use the Properties dialog to view the attributes of any volume in the Import Pool.

Unrecognized Pool
This pool is used to track previously labeled media that is not recognized by any application in the RSM or TRMM-controlled storage management system. Unrecognized Pool volumes cannot be allocated by any application, and require administrator intervention to correct labeling or program errors. Normally, volumes in the Unrecognized Pool would be moved to the Free Pool for later application use.

Labeling Media for the RSM or TRMM-Managed Device

Administrators need not concern themselves with tape-labeling issues because RSM or TRMM automatically labels tapes. However, an RSM or TRMM administrator must ensure that an adequate supply of blank tapes are available in the free (scratch) pool for the configured type of media.

Checking Media into RSM or TRMM-Managed Automated Library Devices

Administrators need not concern themselves with library check-in procedures because RSM or TRMM-managed media is not tracked in the TSM volume inventory.

Using DRM to Manage the Data on RSM or TRMM-Managed Media

Administrators protecting their data with DRM can exploit the benefits of RSM or TRMM. You can use the MOVE DRMEDIA command to issue an operator request to remove the media from the library. For more information, see Chapter 22, Using Tivoli Disaster Recovery Manager.

Defining RSM or TRMM Libraries Using Tivoli Storage Manager Commands

The following example defines an RSM or TRMM library for an 8mm autochanger device containing two drives:

  1. Define a library for the RSM or TRMM-managed device. For example:
    define library astro libtype=rsm mediatype="8mm AME"
    

    Notes:

    1. Specify the library type as libtype=rsm for both RSM or TRMM.

    2. Enclose the media type within quotation marks if it contains embedded blanks.
  2. Define a device class for the RSM or TRMM library with a device type of GENERICTAPE. The MOUNTLIMIT parameter specifies the number of drives in the library device.
    Note:For storage environments in which devices are shared across applications, MOUNTRETENTION and MOUNTWAIT settings must be carefully considered. These parameters determine how long an idle volume remains in a drive and the timeout value for mount requests. Because RSM or TRMM will not dismount an allocated drive to satisfy pending requests, you must tune these parameters to satisfy competing mount requests while maintaining optimal system performance.
    define devclass 8MMCLASS1 devtype=generictape library=rsmlib 
      format=drive mountretention=5 mountwait=10 mountlimit=2
    
  3. Define a storage pool for the device class.
    define stgpool 8MMPOOL1 8MMCLASS1 maxscratch=500
    

Migrating Media from Tivoli Storage Manager Control to RSM or TRMM Control

We strongly recommend that you not migrate media from TSM to RSM or TRMM. Instead, use RSM or TRMM on a new TSM configuration or when defining RSM or TRMM supported devices to TSM.

Controlling the Media Management Environment

Administrators using RSM or TRMM may occasionally need to modify the entire media management environment, for example when a company is acquired and the tape rotation schema is now that of the parent company.

Deleting Tivoli Storage Manager Storage Pools from Media-Managed Libraries

Deleting media-manged storage pools requires administrators to first delete a volume that is associated with the TSM library. When the library is deleted, the RSM or TRMM storage pool associated with that library is also deleted. For more information, see Deleting a Storage Pool Volume with Data.

Removing Tivoli Storage Manager Devices from Media Manager Control

TSM devices may be removed from media manager control by modifying the device configuration to allow the ADSMSCSI device driver to claim the devices before RSM or TRMM. For more information, see Overview of Selecting Device Drivers.

Troubleshooting Database Errors

It is possible that error conditions may cause the volume database and the media manager's volume database to be out of synchronization. The most likely symptom of this problem is the volumes in the RSM or TRMM database that are not known to TSM, and thus not available for data use. You should verify the volume list of the TSM and any disaster recovery media. If volumes not identified to TSM are found, use the media manager interface to deallocate and delete the volumes.


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