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Skipped Backups and Premature Backup Expiration with TSM 7.1 Linux Client Bind Mounts and Btrfs

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Abstract

Errors in the way IBM Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM) 7.1 Linux clients back up bind mounts and Btrfs file systems can cause backups to be silently skipped, and can cause premature expiration of backup copies. Some fixes are available.

Content

Tip: Beginning with Version 7.1.3, IBM Tivoli Storage Manager is now IBM Spectrum Protect™. Some applications such as the software fulfillment systems and IBM License Metric Tool use the new product name. However, the software and its product documentation continue to use the Tivoli Storage Manager product name. To learn more about the rebranding transition, see http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21963634.

Errors with the way the TSM 7.1 Linux clients back up bind mounts and Btrfs file systems can cause skipped backups and premature backup expiration.

1. Bind mounts of subdirectories of Linux file spaces (IT11207)
When a subdirectory of a Linux file system is mounted using a bind share mount on RedHat Enterprise Linux 7 (RHEL 7) or SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 (SUSE 12), subsequent incremental backup and archive operations will back up or archive the subdirectory and its contents from the new bind mount point as if it is a new mounted file system.

  • The backup or archive of that directory under the original (source) location is silently skipped, and the source directory is treated as if it has been deleted from its original location during backups and archives.
  • Backups of the directory under the original (source) file space can be prematurely expired.
Once the bind mount is unmounted, backups and archives of the directory and its contents will occur again under the original location.
APAR IT11207 was opened for this issue.

Release and platforms affected:
TSM 7.1 Linux x86, Linux pSeries, and Linux zSeries clients on:
  • TSM 7.1.1.0-7.1.4.0
Note: RHEL 7 is supported beginning with the TSM 7.1.1 clients, and SLES 12 is supported beginning with the TSM 7.1.2 clients

Fixes:
  • IBM Spectrum Protect 7.1.4.1 for the Linux x86 client (available now)
  • IBM Spectrum Protect 7.1.6 for the Linux pSeries and zSeries clients (target 2Q 2016)

2. Btrfs file system directories and subvolumes (IT08842, IT13933, and IT13998)
Btrfs file systems and subvolumes were first supported with TSM 7.1, but subvolumes were silently skipped during backup unless they were separately mounted. APAR IT08842 was opened for this issue, and fixed for non-root Btrfs file systems in TSM 7.1.2.3 for Linux x86 and in IBM Spectrum Protect 7.1.3 for all Linux clients.

When the Btrfs file system is defined as the root file system ('/'), two issues can occur with incremental backups, one involving subvolumes and one involving directories:
  1. Subvolumes of the Btrfs root file system can continue to be silently skipped, even if the fix for IT08842 has been applied. APAR IT13933 has been opened for this issue.
  2. When using 7.1.2.3, 7.1.3.x, or 7.1.4.0 Linux clients on SUSE Enterprise Linux Server 11 (SLES 11) (and on RedHat Enterprise Linux 6 (RHEL 6) Preview)
    • directories in the Btrfs root file system can be silently skipped for backup
    • backup copies of those directories created with the TSM 7.1.0.0-7.1.2.2 clients can be prematurely expired
    APAR IT13998 has been opened for this issue, and fixed in 7.1.4.1 for Linux x86.
    Note: Btrfs is the root file system by default with SLES 12, but SLES 12 and RHEL 7 are unaffected by this directory issue.

Release and platforms affected:
TSM 7.1 Linux x86, Linux pSeries, and Linux zSeries clients on:
  • TSM 7.1.0.0-7.1.2.2 for skipped backups of Btrfs non-root file system subvolumes
  • TSM 7.1.2.3-7.1.4.0 on SUSE 11 (or RedHat 6 Preview) for the skipped backups and premature expiration of backup copies of Btrfs root file system directories
  • TSM 7.1.x.x for skipped backups of Btrfs root file system subvolumes

Fix:
  • IBM Spectrum Protect 7.1.3 and higher 7.1.x.x levels (available now) for skipped backups of Btrfs non-root file system subvolumes (part of IT08842)
  • IBM Spectrum Protect 7.1.4.1 (available now) for Linux x86 and IBM Spectrum Protect 7.1.6 (targeted for 2Q 2016) for Linux pSeries and Linux zSeries for the SLES 11 and RHEL 6 skipped backups and premature expiration of backup copies of Btrfs root file system directories (IT13998)
  • There is no fix available at this time for the IT13933 issue of silently skipped backups of subvolumes in the Btrfs root file system. See the Workaround section below for a workaround.

Workaround:
For IT13933: Btrfs subvolumes in the root file system can be backed up separately using the VIRTUALMOUNTPOINT option. However, this will start a new backup stream under the virtual mount point.

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Document Information

Modified date:
25 September 2022

UID

swg21977589

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