Writing data simultaneously to primary, copy, and active-data pools

With Tivoli® Storage Manager, you can write data simultaneously to a primary storage pool, copy storage pools, and active-data pools. The simultaneous-write function increases your level of data protection and reduces the amount of time required for storage pool backup.

About this task

You can write data simultaneously during any of the following operations:
  • Client store sessions, for example:
    • Backup and archive sessions by Tivoli Storage Manager backup-archive clients.
    • Backup and archive sessions by application clients using the Tivoli Storage Manager API.
    • Migration processes by hierarchical storage management (HSM) clients. Migrated data is simultaneously written only to copy storage pools. Migrated data is not permitted in active-data pools.
  • Server migration of data within a storage pool hierarchy.
  • Server import processes that involve copying exported file data from external media to a primary storage pool that is configured for the simultaneous-write function. Imported data is simultaneously written to copy storage pools. Imported data is not simultaneously written to active-data pools. To store newly imported data into an active-data pool, use the COPY ACTIVEDATA command.

The maximum number of copy storage pools and active-data pools to which data can be simultaneously written is three. For example, you can write data simultaneously to three copy storage pools, or you can write data simultaneously to two copy storage pools and one active-data pool.

Attention: Do not use the simultaneous-write function to replace the task of regularly backing up storage pools. If you use the function to simultaneously write to copy storage pools, active-data pools, or both, ensure that the copy of each primary storage pool is complete by regularly issuing the BACKUP STGPOOL command and the COPY ACTIVEDATA command. If you fail to regularly back up storage pools. you can lose the ability to recover primary storage pool data. For example, if a copy storage pool fails during a write operation and the COPYCONTINUE parameter is set to YES, the Tivoli Storage Manager server removes the failed copy storage pool from the copy pool list for the remainder of the client session. After the copy storage pool is removed, the Tivoli Storage Manager server continues to write to the primary storage pool and to any remaining copy storage pools and active-data pools. If these pools become damaged or lost, and if you did not issue the BACKUP STGPOOL command for the copy storage pool that failed, you might not be able to recover your data.

Data that is simultaneously written to copy storage pools or active-data pools during migration is not copied when primary storage pools are backed up or when active data is copied.