RE: iSeries and Windows Network cloud backup

[rob@xxxxxxxxx]

We do use a bunch of tapes.  For instance on our main production lpar it 
takes 2 tapes.  Domino is backed up separately from DB2 stuff. Two tapes 
times four nights a week times two different weeks (week 1 and week 2) is 
sixteen tapes.  Monday is different.  It also takes two tapes but we keep 
those for 5 weeks instead of two weeks so 2 tapes times 5 weeks is ten 
more tapes for 26 tapes we need for normal backups.  Now we also do full 
system saves six times a year and we keep those for a year so add another 
two tapes times six saves and you have twelve additional tapes for a total 
of 38 tapes.

Then you add additional lpars and the beast known as Tivoli Storage 
Manager and you'll find out that we have a lot of tapes.  Most of them are 
offsite at any one time.

Trying to do this using one or two sets of tapes and juggling them from 
onsite to offsite would be difficult at best.  And wouldn't give you 
enough to cover the request I had just today:  "I think I deleted a 
program a week or so ago that I'd like to restore".  Reply:  "Either use 
the tape that's loaded in the drive for tonight's backup - it's two weeks 
old, or the Monday tape comes in with the courier today - it will be 5 
weeks old."  Reply back:  "Thank you, that will be perfect."  Last reply: 
"If that doesn't work, let us know and we can request the downtime tape 
that's almost a year old a couple of weeks earlier than scheduled for our 
next downtime."

Rob Berendt