Copying directory-container storage pools to tape

You can protect data in a directory-container storage pool by copying the data to container-copy storage pools, which are represented by tape volumes. The tape copy is used to repair damage to a directory-container storage pool.

Before you begin

Define at least one tape library to the server by using the DEFINE LIBRARY command. Provision enough tape drives and scratch volumes to meet your storage requirements. For more information about managing backup media and configuring disaster recovery manager (DRM), see Disaster recovery manager (V7.1.1).

About this task

To copy the data in directory-container storage pools to tape, the Operations Center creates a schedule to run the PROTECT STGPOOL command. When the protection schedule runs, one tape copy is created. At least one volume must be available when the protection schedule runs. Otherwise, the operation fails.

You can create up to two tape copies, but you must use the command-line interface to create a second container-copy storage pool. One tape copy can be taken to an offsite disaster recovery location. The other copy can be kept onsite to expedite recovery from less-critical failures.

Restrictions:

Virtual tape libraries are not supported, regardless of which library type is defined. Only physical tape is supported.
Container-copy storage pools can be used to repair minor to moderate storage pool damage, which includes damaged containers or directories. Container-copy storage pools can also be used for disaster protection, but you must ensure that recovery times meet your requirements. For more information, see Determining whether to use container-copy storage pools for disaster protection.
You cannot use replication to target a container-copy storage pool.
Tip: You can create a tape copy of the directory-container storage pool data at a disaster recovery site by using this procedure to create a container-copy storage pool on the target replication server. Then, schedule the PROTECT STGPOOL and REPLICATE NODE commands to run on the source replication server to protect your data to the target replication server.
You cannot use the following procedure if the directory-container storage pool already has an associated container-copy storage pool. To create a second container-copy storage pool, follow the instructions in step 5.

If you created a container-copy storage pool as part of the Add Storage Pool wizard, you do not have to use this procedure. When you completed the wizard, the Operations Center configured the container-copy storage pool and a protection schedule.

Procedure

To configure storage pool protection to tape for an existing directory-container storage pool, complete the following steps:

On the Operations Center menu bar, click Storage > Storage Pools.
On the Storage Pools page, select the directory-container storage pool that you want to protect to tape.
Click More > Add Container-Copy Pool.
Follow the instructions in the Add Container-Copy Pool window to schedule protection to tape.
After you complete the steps above, you can add a second container-copy storage pool using the command-line interface. Optionally, complete the following steps to add a container-copy storage pool:
1. Create a container-copy storage pool by issuing the DEFINE STGPOOL command.
2. Assign the container-copy storage pool to the directory-container storage pool by issuing the UPDATE STGPOOL command for the directory-container pool.

Results

After you complete the configuration, data in the directory-container storage pool is copied to a container-copy storage pool based on the defined protection schedule.

What to do next

If you created a tape copy to store offsite, enable the offsite container-copy storage pool for DRM operations by issuing the SET DRMCOPYCONTAINERSTGPOOL command. Ensure that the tape volumes are added to your offsite tape rotation schedules. If DRM is not configured, you must do so or use an alternate method to rotate tapes offsite. To verify that offsite container-copy storage pools are enabled for DRM, use the QUERY DRMSTATUS command.

For instructions about configuring DRM, see Disaster recovery manager (V7.1.1).
Confirm that the reclamation threshold for your container-copy storage pool meets your requirements.
By default, tape volume reclamation is enabled for new container-copy storage pools that are created by using the Operations Center. Volume reclamation occurs when the reclamation threshold for the container-copy storage pool is less than 100%. However, tape volumes are not a candidate for reclamation until they are 75% full. Be careful when you use reclamation with container-copy storage pools that have offsite volumes. When an offsite volume becomes eligible for reclamation, in effect the server moves the extents on the volume back to the onsite location. If a disaster occurs onsite, the server can obtain extents from the offsite volume if the restored database refers to extents on the offsite volume. To prevent volumes from being rewritten immediately after all extents are deleted, use the REUSEDELAY parameter to specify a value that is greater than 0. The Operations Center sets the reclamation threshold at 60% for onsite container-copy storage pools.

For instructions about changing the reclamation threshold, see Changing the volume reclamation threshold for container-copy storage pools.
Protect the metadata for your container-copy storage pool.
When the protection schedule runs, data extents in the container-copy storage pools are copied to tape volumes without the associated metadata. This metadata is required to restore the tape copies. To protect the metadata, you must separately back up the server database along with its volume history, server options, and device configuration files. If you use reclamation with container-copy storage pools that have offsite tape volumes, ensure that the following requirements are met to provide disaster recovery protection:
- Database backup operations run after storage pool protection schedules and DRM move schedules finish.
- All database backup volumes and DRM volumes are taken offsite together.
For instructions about backing up the server database and related files, see Defining schedules for server maintenance activities.
Optionally, change the protection schedule for a directory-container storage pool that has one or more associated container-copy storage pools by using the UPDATE SCHEDULE command. The schedule that is created by the Operations Center is named CONTAINER_COPY.