IC88903: TIVOLI STORAGE MANAGER CLIENT IGNORES CTIME CHANGE

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• The Tivoli Storage Manager client ignores files during
  incremental backup when only the CTIME has changed. This may
  lead to problems with applications
  which check for CTIME change, like "GPFS mmbackup".
  
  Customer/L2 Diagnostics:
  You can recreate the issue as follows:
  ls -al /some/file
  -rw-r--r--    1 root     system        32768 Nov 28 15:04
  /some/file
  1) backup the file:
  "dsmc incr /some/file"
  2) change the file access permissions, e.g.:
  "chmod o-r /some/file"
  3) restore them back, e.g.:
  "chmod o+r /some/file"
  4) perform the incremental again:
  "dsmc incr /some/file"
  
  The last "dsmc incr" command should update the file CTIME
  attribute on the Tivoli Storage Manager server (as e.g. MMBACKUP
  expects) but it does not.
  
  Tivoli Storage Manager Versions Affected:
  All Tivoli Storage Manager client versions on UNIX/Linux
  
  Initial Impact:
  Middle
  
  Additional Keywords:
  ctime, attribute, update, mmbackup, SONAS, GPFS, TSM
  

Local fix

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED: Backup-archive clients version 5.4 to 6.4    *
  *                 running on AIX and Linux platforms backing   *
  *                 up GPFS file systems.                        *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: See ERROR DESCRIPTION.                  *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION: Apply fixing level when available. This      *
  *                 problem is currently projected to be fixed   *
  *                 in levels 6.3.2 and 6.4.1. Note that until   *
  *                 these levels are available, this             *
  *                 information is subject to change at the      *
  *                 discretion of IBM.                           *
  ****************************************************************
  dsmc incremental command didn't update object's attributes on
  the server if only the last changed time and date (ctime
  attribute) has been changed.
  

Problem conclusion

• Upon the fix, during incremental backup, if the only attribute
  that is changed is the last changed time and date (ctime
  attribute), the last changed time and date (ctime attribute)
  is updated on the server.
  Note: the fix is effective for GPFS file systems only.
  The "Backing up your data" chapter of the IBM Tivoli Storage
  Manager for UNIX and Linux Backup-Archive Clients Installation
  and User's Guide has been updated appropriately.
  

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

• APAR is sysrouted FROM one or more of the following:

• APAR is sysrouted TO one or more of the following:

Modules/Macros

• DSMC
  

Publications Referenced

SC23979105

SC23979106

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  TSM CLIENT

• Fixed component ID

  5698ISMCL

Applicable component levels

• R63A PSY

     UP

• R63L PSY

     UP

• R64A PSY

     UP

• R64L PSY

     UP