Re: BRMS backup target options other than VTL

[Bob Schwartz <rschwartz@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Yep, Larry was right, we're gonna need a fiber switch in the middle.
Thanks to everyone for all of the help. That's a fact jack!

Bob



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> message: 1
> date: Tue, 30 Jan 2024 13:43:33 -0500
> from: "Larry \"DrFranken\" Bolhuis" <midrange@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> subject: Re: BRMS backup target options other than VTL
>
> These be the links ye should be readin mateys!
>
>
> https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/ibm-i-removable-media-power8-tape-and-optical
>
> https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/ibm-i-removable-media-power9-tape-and-optical
>
> https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/ibm-i-removable-media-power10-tape-and-optical
>
> There ye will find this be a rule, not just a guideline:
> "This adapter does not support direct attach to tape"
> -- a COUPLE of them DO say: ---
> "This adapter does not support direct attach to tape except for TS1160
> and TS1170"
>
> And there be the best ye can find!
>
>   - DrF
>
>
>
>
> On 1/29/2024 10:43 AM, Bob Schwartz wrote:
> > Larry & everyone following, thank you for your posts, I appreciate the
> > input and opportunity to learn.
> >
> > We do not have a fiber switch between the Power 8 and the Data Domain
> > 6300 (DD).
> > For?now direct?attachment is my simplest and easiest option now.
> > I can/will order the new Power 10 server with a 16Gb HBA card.
> >
> > I know that for DD to simulate the DD file system into a tape library
> > (VTL) it must be through the HBA FC port.
> > I do not want to add one or more fiber switches?at this time.
> >
> > We could move to another type?of backup other than VTL, but I can't do
> > that now.
> >
> > For now ...
> > 1.) Find/buy?a 16 Gb HBA card for the Power 8 to connect to the new
> > DD6400 - this will get me through until the?Power 10 gets here.
> > 2.) Keep the Power 8 on the DD6300 until we get the Power 10. Then
> > connect it to the new DD6400 at 16 Gb.
> >
> > Bob Schwartz
> > Director of Technology Services
> > Glynn County Board of Education
> > 5505 Altama Ave
> > Brunswick, GA 31525
> >
> >
> >
> > On Sat, Jan 27, 2024 at 8:08?PM Larry "DrFranken" Bolhuis
> > <midrange@xxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:midrange@xxxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
> >
> >     Well in theory the DD device might support iSCSI (I don't know, not
> >     a DD
> >     guy) but that would let you connect to it via Ethernet instead.
> >
> >     Don't know why the fiber channel card won't talk. Given you have a
> >     number of devices backing up to the DD I figure you have a switch so
> >     that should handle speed differences.
> >
> >     If you have no switch, then you can't go above 8G speed on the
> server.
> >     No direct attach with 16G critters.
> >
> >      ? ? ? ? - L
> >
> >     On 1/26/2024 9:53 AM, Bob Schwartz wrote:
> >      > Can BRMS backup to something other than tape/VTL?
> >      >
> >      > Question for the group:
> >      > I was wondering if BRMS can backup to a backup appliance such as
> >     a Dell-EMC
> >      > DataProtect DD6400?
> >      > similar to what Veeam does, using the network, over Ethernet? Or,
> >     does BRMS
> >      > have to see a VTL on ISCSI or FiberChannel?
> >      > I don't want to go to the cloud - at least not now.
> >      >
> >      > A little background:
> >      > We are in the middle of upgrading our DataDomain backup
> >     appliance(s) to
> >      > DD6400, along with other data center hardware.
> >      > The Power 8 is scheduled to go to Power 10 in a few months.
> >      >
> >      > Currently our IBM Power 8 server is running IBM i/OS V7R4. We use
> >     BRMS for
> >      > all backup functions.
> >      > BRMS writes to a VTL hosted on a Dell-EMC DataDomain DD6300. The
> >     DD6300 is
> >      > attached to the Power 8 by fiber channel
> >      > The DD6300 also is a backup target for Veeam. We use Veeam to
> backup
> >      > everything, but the IBM i (Windows, Linux SQL ...etc.).
> >      > The DD6300 replicates everything to an offsite DD6300 in another
> >     facility.
> >      >
> >      > Problem or obstacle:
> >      > The new DD6400 fiber channel card can't talk to the existing
> >     fiber channel
> >      > card in our Power 8 server.
> >      > I can keep backing up the Power 8 to the DD6300 until the new
> >     Power 10
> >      > server is up and running.
> >      >
> >      > Thank you in advance,
> >      >
> >      > Bob Schwartz
> >      > Director of Technology Services
> >      > Glynn County Board of Education
> >      > 5505 Altama Ave
> >      > Brunswick, GA 31525