Skip to main content
Solved

IBM i File System

  • 16 December 2021
  • 4 replies
  • 659 views

Hi, I have installed this agent for one of my customers,
Everything is working fine.

I have two questions :
1- Is FS is preferable over VTL ?
2- What is the purpose of the SubClient "DR Subclient" ? Is it the equivalent of the Save Entire Sys functionality on the IBM i ?

Someone has a how-to on configuring this subclient and what it involved running it ?

My knowledge of AS400 is none ! (I'm doing the Commvault side and the customer is doing the AS400 side !)
Thank you

@Marco Lachance , hope all is well!

Let me talk to some folks internally who might know.  I’m with you on AS400 knowledge :joy:


Hi @Marco Lachance,

 

I’ll address these two questions separately


FS vs VTL - It depends on the use case:

If you want to use Commvault data backups, any storage type, multiple copies of the data, our dedupe engine etc etc then FS is the way to go.

If you have strict requirements on using fibre directly from the IBM i for backup, or you cannot use FS for backup (Either: more than 32 libraries need to be be part of the synclib, and you cannot stop/start applications on the IBM i) then VTL would be the option.

DR Subclient - Used for 1-Touch

The DR Subclient will perform a SAVSYS on the IBM i, we issue the command, IBM i goes into restricted state, runs a SAVSYS, creates and ISO locally, comes out of restricted state, ISO is backed up to Storage Pool.
This ISO (along with the other default subclient backups) can then be used for bare metal/ 1-Touch recovery.

 

Hope this helps

Rob


Thank’s @Rob 

It helps, but what do I need to provide for those 3 lines ?
Custom Scripts or Existing AS400 Command ?
All 3 ones or only one will do the jobs ?
And for the 1-Touch recovery, do we put the ISO on the HMC and boot from there ?

 

Thank you again


Hi @Marco Lachance,

 

These three are optional, and only required if you need to perform certain actions on the IBM:

Command to bring the system into restricted state box: Here you would add any commands that your system requires to set the IBMi LPAR to a restricted state.
 

Program to execute while the system is in restricted state box: Enter the full path to the program the software runs after the DVD catalog images are created and before the system returns from the suspended state.
 

Run custom startup program box: Type the full path to the program that starts the subsystems.

 

You can read about the full config here:
https://documentation.commvault.com/11.24/expert/16261_configuring_ibm_i_file_system_agent_1_touch_disaster_recovery_subclients.html

For the ISO, you would mount it somewhere the system can boot from it in MANUAL-D
https://documentation.commvault.com/11.24/expert/100221_creating_virtual_dvds_on_vios_for_ibm_i_disaster_recovery.html

https://documentation.commvault.com/11.24/expert/16271_restoring_minimal_operating_system_os_for_ibm_i_file_system_agent_client.html


Reply