Upgrading from Tivoli Storage Manager Express to Tivoli Storage Manager: Frequently Asked Questions

Basics

• Where can I find instructions for upgrading?
• Can I use Tivoli Storage Manager to restore the data I backed up using Tivoli Storage Manager Express?
• Do I need to replace my backup clients?
• Will there be any interruption in my daily backup operations?
• Can I continue to deploy the backup client software to remote computers?
• What do I need to do if I am upgrading to Tivoli Storage Manager only for its larger database?

Administrative interfaces

• Can I continue to use the Tivoli Storage Manager Express administrative interface?
• What are the Administration Center and ISC?
• How do I get started using the Administration Center?

Tape-based storage

• Does Tivoli Storage Manager support media copies?
• Can I continue to use the "Grandfather-Father-Son" model for tape rotation?
• Which tape drives and libraries does Tivoli Storage Manager support?

Data Protection application clients

• Can I continue to use the Tivoli Storage Manager Express application clients (Microsoft SQL and Exchange) with Tivoli Storage Manager?
• Can I use a standard application client (not Express) to restore data that was backed up for a Tivoli Storage Manager Express application client?
• Can I create media copies for standard application clients (not Express)?

Additional information

• How do I get started using Tivoli Storage Manager?
• Are there any known problems for this Tivoli Storage Manager release?

Basics

Where can I find instructions for upgrading?
See the Tivoli Storage Manager Windows Installation Guide for upgrade instructions. The Installation Guide is available in the Tivoli Storage Manager information center at the following Web site: http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/tivihelp/v1r1/index.jsp.

Can I use Tivoli Storage Manager to restore the data that I backed up using Tivoli Storage Manager Express?
Yes. You can use Tivoli Storage Manager to restore any data backed up by Tivoli Storage Manager Express, whether it is stored on disk or in media copies.

Do I need to replace my backup clients?
The Tivoli Storage Manager Express backup client will work with a backup server that has been upgraded to Tivoli Storage Manager. However, the client's Web interface will not automatically switch to the enterprise view, which includes additional features (for example, data archiving). As a best practice, upgrade your backup clients to the version 5.4 or 5.5 backup-archive client. Versions 5.4 and 5.5 of the backup-archive client allow you to easily switch between the limited Tivoli Storage Manager Express client interface and the fully functional enterprise client interface.

Will there be any interruption in my daily backup operations?
The schedules that you used with Tivoli Storage Manager Express to automatically back up computers and applications will continue to run normally with Tivoli Storage Manager. If necessary, you can modify those schedules or create new ones.

Can I continue to deploy backup client software to remote computers?
With Tivoli Storage Manager Express, you had the option of deploying backup client software to a computer when you added the computer to the server. You could also deploy software updates automatically. The Administration Center does not support this feature. With Tivoli Storage Manager, backup-archive client software and updates must be installed manually. For details, see the Backup-Archive Client User's Guide. As with Tivoli Storage Manager Express, application client software (for example, Tivoli Data Protection for Microsoft SQL) can only be installed manually.

What do I need to do if I am upgrading to Tivoli Storage Manager only for its larger database?
If you are upgrading to Tivoli Storage Manager exclusively to take advantage of the larger database, you can continue to use the Tivoli Storage Manager Express administrative interface and reports. However, you must download and install the latest Tivoli Storage Manager Express interim fix for Version 5.3 before upgrading.

The interim fix is available at the following Web site: http://www.ibm.com/software/sysmgmt/products/support/IBMTivoliStorageManagerExpress.html.

Administrative interfaces

Can I continue to use the Tivoli Storage Manager Express administrative interface?
Yes, the Tivoli Storage Manager Express administrative interface is still available after an upgrade. However, if you want to take advantage of the additional features available in Tivoli Storage Manager, you should install the Integrated Solutions Console (ISC) and Administration Center interface. You should also configure Tivoli Storage Manager operational reporting.
Attention: If you use the Administration Center or command line to make any changes to your configuration, you cannot continue to use the Tivoli Storage Manager Express administrative interface. This administrative interface relies on a number of preset configuration settings. Using the Administration Center or command line to change any of these settings can cause errors in the administrative interface.

What are the Administration Center and Integrated Solutions Console?
The Administration Center is a Web-based interface for centrally configuring and managing Tivoli Storage Manager servers. The Integrated Solutions Console, or ISC, is a component framework that allows you to install plug-ins provided by IBM applications and access them from a single Web interface. The Administration Center is installed as an ISC plug-in.

How do I get started using the Administration Center?
Tutorials to help you use the Administration Center are available in the IBM Education Assistant at the following Web site:
http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/ieduasst/tivv1r0/topic/com.ibm.iea.tsm/plugin_coverpage.html
The tutorials are located in the V5.4 section, but the material also applies to version 5.5

Tape-based storage

Does Tivoli Storage Manager support media copies?
With Tivoli Storage Manager, media copies are called backup sets. Backup sets are typically used to create long-term archives, and not as a primary means of copying data to tape for offsite storage. Instead, copy storage pools are used to provide this function.

The Tivoli Storage Manager Administration Center does not provide the same level of support for creating and managing backup sets as Tivoli Storage Manager Express. For example, the Administration Center cannot be used to create media groups, and does not provide a single view of the backup sets that have been created for all client nodes. After upgrading to Tivoli Storage Manager, it is recommended that you begin using copy storage pools to create off-site media.

Can I continue to use the "Grandfather-Father-Son" model for tape rotation?
Technically, yes, although it is not recommended. With Tivoli Storage Manager Express, file versions were retained in disk storage for 14 days after becoming inactive or being deleted from a client system. With Tivoli Storage Manager, you can change this amount of time. This allows you to keep data long enough to avoid having to create daily, weekly, or monthly backup sets. For example, if you change these retention settings to 30 days, you can restore point-in-time file versions for at least a month after data was initially backed up. Among other benefits, this approach should allow you to use fewer tapes. These retention options, and others, can be changed by modifying management class settings.

Which tape drives and libraries does Tivoli Storage Manager support?
Information about supported storage devices for AIX, HP-UX, Sun Solaris, and Windows is available at the following Web site: http://www.ibm.com/software/sysmgmt/products/support/IBM_TSM_Supported_Devices_for_AIXHPSUNWIN.html
Information about supported storage devices for Linux is available at the following Web site:
http://www.ibm.com/software/sysmgmt/products/support/IBM_TSM_Supported_Devices_for_Linux.html

Data Protection application clients

Can I continue to use the Tivoli Storage Manager Express application clients (Microsoft SQL and Exchange) with Tivoli Storage Manager?
Yes. The Tivoli Storage Manager Express application clients will continue to work with the upgraded Tivoli Storage Manager server. Any data that was stored for these clients by the Tivoli Storage Manager Express backup server can still be restored.

Can I use a standard Data Protection application client (not Express) to restore data that was backed up for a Tivoli Storage Manager Express application client?
Yes, you can use the standard Microsoft SQL or Exchange application client to restore data previously backed up by a Tivoli Storage Manager Express application client, whether the data is stored on disk or in media copies. To do this, the Tivoli Storage Manager Express backup client or Tivoli Storage Manager backup-archive client software (version 5.3.3 or higher) must be installed on the same system as the Data Protection application client.

Can I create media copies for standard application clients (not Express)?
Media copies cannot be created for the standard application clients. However, after upgrading, you can continue to create media copies (now called backup sets) for Tivoli Storage Manager Express application clients.

Note: This function is only available for servers that have been upgraded from Tivoli Storage Manager Express. The standard Tivoli Storage Manager server does not allow application data in backup sets.

Additional information

How do I get started using Tivoli Storage Manager?
A special section of the online help in the Administration Center is available for users upgrading from Tivoli Storage Manager Express. The topics in this section describe key differences between Express and Tivoli Storage Manager, and how to perform important tasks. To access the online help, click Help in the Integrated Solutions Console window.

Are there any known problems for Tivoli Storage Manager releases?
Release notes for Tivoli Storage Manager Version 5.4 are available at the following Web site: http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/tivihelp/v1r1/topic/com.ibm.itsmreadme.doc/relnote_server540.html.
Release notes for Tivoli Storage Manager Version 5.5 are available at the following Web site:
http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/tivihelp/v1r1/topic/com.ibm.itsmreadme.doc_5.5/relnote_server550.html.