BRMS and Tape Library on iSeries (AS/400) with concurrent backup of LPARs
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Soma
65 pts.
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BRMS and Tape Library on iSeries (AS/400) with concurrent backup of LPARs
iSeries, Logical partitions, V5R3, BRMS, iSeries backup, IBM TS3500 Tape Library, LPARs, iSeries 870
Hi,

I have a TS3500 Tape Library which has four LTO-3 drives. The system that I am running on is iSeries 870 with OS version V5R3. The 870 system has a total of 6 LPARs (Logical Partitions), each running the same OS V5R3.

Recently, the BRMS for this version of V5R3 was implemented. Now, the following are the requirements:

First Option:
I would like to have at least four LPARs to start the Backup job concurrently (simultaneously). If I configure the four Tape Drive (LTO-3) installed on TS3500 as one Logical Library, then if I start the backup job on first LPAR, BRMS is not allowing me to start the backup job on the Second LPAR - in other words, I cannot start the job concurrently on more than one LPAR because I need to VARY OFF the Logical Library from the First LPAR before it can be assigned to Second LPAR.

Alternative option:
Hence, I had to define each Tape Drive as a Logical Library and assign it to each LPAR so that I can start the jobs concurrently i.e., I have Four Logical Library one based on each drive. The jobs can start concurrently on more than one LPAR and is fine. However, the problem with this method is that, I have to manually mount the Tapes for each LPAR everyday. So, four times I have to mount it. If I could make use of the first method, I need to mount the tapes for all LPARs only once.

My question is, how do we go about in getting the first scenario (Option) to work? Any help please.

Thank you.

Soma
ASKED: Sep 11 2008  8:13 AM GMT
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I assume you have the 6 LPARs set up each with their own fiber tape card going to a fiber san switch and each system is zoned in that san switch to have system A, tape 1, 2, 3, 4 then system B, tape 1, 2, 3, 4 then system C tape 1, 2, ,3 4 and so on.

If you are using the tape drive TAP01, TAP02, TAP03, TAP04 and not the tape library in BRMS then you will have to maually vary one at a time to each LPAR you want to use. You need to configure BRMS to use the tape library and then each tape drive will show up under the tape library TAPMLB01 with device TAP01, TAP02, TAP03 and TAP04 as Unprotected for the status. In my case my TAPMLB01 is called TAPLTO because we renamed it to distinquish it from the 3570 tape library that we had in place before.

This will allow BRMS ot look at each drive and determine if it is in use, it will move on to the next one under that library. This works great in our environment which sounds similar.

Work with Media Library Status
System: EUROPE
Type options, press Enter.
1=Vary on 2=Vary off 3=Reset resource 4=Allocate resource
5=Allocate unprotected 6=Deallocate resource 8=Work with description

Device/ Job
Opt Resource Status Allocation name
TAPLTO VARIED ON
TAP08 OPERATIONAL UNPROTECTED
TAP09 OPERATIONAL UNPROTECTED
TAP10 OPERATIONAL UNPROTECTED
TAP11 OPERATIONAL UNPROTECTED
TAP3570LIB VARIED OFF




Bottom
Parameters or command
===>
F3=Exit F4=Prompt F5=Refresh F9=Retrieve F12=Cancel F17=Position to
F23=More options
(C) COPYRIGHT IBM CORP. 1980, 2002.
Last Answered: Sep 15 2008  5:56 AM GMT by Soma   65 pts.
Latest Contributors: Lovemyi   1470 pts.
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Soma   65 pts.  |   Sep 15 2008  5:55AM GMT

Hi Lovemyi,

Thank you for the answer. Yes, your assumtpions in the first paragraph are perfectly right. But if you were to add the Tape Drives to the Tape Library i.e., TAPMLB01 and VARY ON that Library to one LPAR, say for instance, LPAR 1, I am unable to Start my backup job on my Second LPAR. It says, TAPMLB01 is being held by LPAR1.
In other words, I am unable to start two concurrent backup jobs simultaneoulsy. Any comments, please.

Thank you.

Soma

 

Lovemyi   1470 pts.  |   Sep 15 2008  3:04PM GMT

Soma,

Maybe my example was not clear. The tape library which is TAPLTO (same as TAPMLB01) is varied on on all systems and the underlying tape devices TAP08, TAP09, TAP10, TAP11 all apear under TAPTLO in a Operational Unprotected status (this means the actual tape devices are varied off and controlled by the TAPLTO tape libary.)

You should be able to at a minimum have all TAPMLB01, or what every each of your systems calls the resource, varied on with the tape devices shown below in a varied off status that the tape library controls.

It works fiine for me. I wish I had a better answer for you.

Best of luck

Lovemyi

 

Soma   65 pts.  |   Sep 16 2008  2:23AM GMT

Hi Lovemyi,

OK. If I were to do this, I should be able to start my backup job on more than one LPAR concurrently right? In other words, I can start the backup jobs on LPAR1, LPAR2, LPAR3 at the same time while the resources (tapes & drives) are managed by BRMS - is it correct?

Thank you, once again for all the kind help.

Soma

 

Lovemyi   1470 pts.  |   Sep 16 2008  4:09PM GMT

Soma,

Yes, that is how I function in a multi LPAR environment with each LPAR having its own fiber tape card. The backups from each system run at night and each one picks an available tape device when it needs a resource. It works great to have the BRMS software not care about which tape device to use. Let the library device TAPMLB01 decide what tape device is available.

Lovemyi

 

Soma   65 pts.  |   Sep 18 2008  1:33AM GMT

Hi Lovemyi,

Thank you. Let me try it out. I presume this option would need things such as TSM (Tivoli).

Regards,

Soma

 

Lovemyi   1470 pts.  |   Sep 18 2008  4:41PM GMT

Soma,

No there is no need to Tivoli to help manage this. The tape library and the BRMS product on all LPARs is all you need. You should have everything you need based upon your inital information.

Lovemyi

 
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