HP Reference Information Storage System v1.6 Administrator Guide (T3559-96073, July 2007)

Preparing the backup server for disaster recovery
The following steps and procedures describe how to restore the backup server (not the entire RISS system)
in case the server itself or storage volumes are lost or destroyed. Restoring the backup server involves
performing backups of the primary storage pools a nd the backup server database and configuration,
and then storing this data off-site.
Familiarize yo urself with chapter 24, “Protecting and Recovering Your Server,” and chapter 25, “Using
Disaster Reco
very Manager,” in the Tivoli Storage Manager Administrator’s Guide. Those chapters
contain more complete instructions than does this document, which is intended as an introduction to
disaster recovery. (See "Tivoli Storage Manager" on page 99 for information about how to obtain
acopyoftheguide.)
Things to back up
In order to protect the backup server, the following information has to be backe d up and stored off-site:
1. Backups of storage pools, so that entire storage pools or individual volumes can be recovered.
2. A backup of the TSM database a nd re covery log. The database contains information about
the client data that is stored in storage pools. The recovery log contains changes that have
been made to the database.
3. A backup of the TSM configuration, including all of these components:
• A copy of the Volume History File: Volume history information is stored in the database, but
is not available during a database restore. Among other things, this file contains information
about database backups and volumes that have been added, removed, or reused.
• AcopyoftheDeviceConfiguration File: This file contains information that is required to read
backup data, such as library, path, device, and device class definitions.
• A copy of the Server O ptions File: This file contains general settings for the server. For more
details about these components, please consult the TSM Administrator’s Guide, particularly
pages 707 to 709 and pages 721 to 729.
TSM Dis
aster Recovery Manager
The Dis
aster Recovery Manager (DRM ) is a function of the TSM Extended Edition. The DRM generates
arecov
ery plan and automates some of the steps that prepare the server for a disaster and help it
recover afterward.
The recovery plan file is a set of macros and instructions that can be broken down into individual files to
autom
ate the recovery process and guide administrators through it. The file contains the Volume History,
Devic
eConfigu ration, and Server Options files, among others.
Perfo
rm frequent (for example, daily) backups of the storage pools and the database. Then generate
the r
ecovery p lan file and store this data off-site. The DRM also helps to keep track of the media that is
stored off-site. After the data on the media has expired, the media can be brought on-site a g ain and
used in the next backup cycle.
The f
ollowing example provides a backup scenario.
Example: Preparing the backup server for a disaster
The followi ng steps show how to gather all of the necessary data to be able to restore the backup server
and its volumes. Replicate the entire cycle at least once in order to become familiar with the tasks.
In this example, the RISS system is configured to b ack up smart cell group data. The b ackup server
contains four tapes; the first one holds the backup of the smart cell data.
Details and a further explanation of how to automate these tasks can be found in the TSM Administra tor’s
Guide, pages 749 and 780.
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