RE: iSeries and Windows Network cloud backup

We do use a bunch of tapes. For instance on our main production lpar it
takes 2 tapes. Domino is backed up separately from DB2 stuff. Two tapes
times four nights a week times two different weeks (week 1 and week 2) is
sixteen tapes. Monday is different. It also takes two tapes but we keep
those for 5 weeks instead of two weeks so 2 tapes times 5 weeks is ten
more tapes for 26 tapes we need for normal backups. Now we also do full
system saves six times a year and we keep those for a year so add another
two tapes times six saves and you have twelve additional tapes for a total
of 38 tapes.

Then you add additional lpars and the beast known as Tivoli Storage
Manager and you'll find out that we have a lot of tapes. Most of them are
offsite at any one time.

Trying to do this using one or two sets of tapes and juggling them from
onsite to offsite would be difficult at best. And wouldn't give you
enough to cover the request I had just today: "I think I deleted a
program a week or so ago that I'd like to restore". Reply: "Either use
the tape that's loaded in the drive for tonight's backup - it's two weeks
old, or the Monday tape comes in with the courier today - it will be 5
weeks old." Reply back: "Thank you, that will be perfect." Last reply:
"If that doesn't work, let us know and we can request the downtime tape
that's almost a year old a couple of weeks earlier than scheduled for our
next downtime."

Rob Berendt