Backing up data with client-node proxy support (UNIX and Linux)

Backups of multiple nodes that share storage can be consolidated to a common target node name on the Tivoli® Storage Manager server.

About this task

This is useful when the workstation responsible for performing the backup can change over time, such as with a cluster.

The asnodename option also allows data to be restored from a different system than the one which performed the backup.

An agent node is a client node which has been granted authority to perform client operations on behalf of a target node.

A target node is a client node which grants authority to one or more agent nodes to perform client operations on its behalf.

Use the asnodename option with the appropriate command to back up, archive, restore, and retrieve data under the target node name on the Tivoli Storage Manager server. This support is only available with Tivoli Storage Manager Version 5.3 and higher server and client.

To enable this option, follow these steps:

Procedure

Install the backup-archive client on all nodes in a shared data environment.
Register each node with the Tivoli Storage Manager server, if it does not exist. Register the common target node name to be shared by each of the agent nodes used in your shared data environment.
Register each of the nodes in the shared data environment with the Tivoli Storage Manager server. This is the agent node name that is used for authentication purposes. Data is not stored using the node name when the asnodename option is used.
Grant proxy authority to all nodes in the shared environment to access the target node name on the Tivoli Storage Manager server, using the GRANT PROXYNODE command (Tivoli Storage Manager administrator).
Use the QUERY PROXYNODE administrative client command to display the client nodes of the authorized user, granted by the GRANT PROXYNODE command.

Results

Suggestions:

All agent nodes in the multiple node environment should be of the same platform type.
Do not use target nodes as traditional nodes, especially if you encrypt your files before backing them up to the server.

Restrictions enforced within a proxied session:

You cannot access another node (either from GUI drop down or use of the fromnode option).
You cannot perform NAS backup or restore.