Re: Virtual Tape Process

FTP is one method yes and that would work.

Another option, as you mentioned NFS, is that once the backup is completed use NFS to copy them to the SAN that way.

With either method I would absolutely come up with a way to verify that the transfer is complete and correct or you could find yourself with 'half a backup' which is approximately equal to 'no backup at all.'

You are correct that the images for any catalog must exist on the system where the catalog itself exists. (Exceptions for NFS Based optical disks being READ) We hold out hope that on future releases this restriction will be lifted (anybody at IBM reading this?? :-) )

A word of caution is that you *MUST* Still maintain proper tape based saves of the system (SAVE option 22) because you'll need that to put the system back together far enough to be able to return the virtual tape images to the system in order to restore from them.

- Larry "DrFranken" Bolhuis


On 12/1/2011 3:41 PM, Jason Taylor wrote:

Hi Everyone,

We are investigating using virtual tapes for our backups and I am wondering
what the best method would be to transfer the data off the box once the
backup is complete. I was initially thinking of a tape for each day of the
week and then FTP'ing the file to our SAN/NAS device and from there it will
be replicated offsite to a datacenter. (This step appears to be necessary
because I can't mount the image catalog on an NFS mount.) I know I can FTP
the files I have tested that but I am wondering if there is a better way.
Since I am a mere fledgling iseries admin I am turning to the experts. What
would be the best approach for this? TIA...

-Jason