Storage Manager for System Backup and Recovery offers a comprehensive system backup, restore, and reinstallation tool. SysBack is a simple to use, yet highly effective, tool. Any feature may be executed from either the AIX command line or by using the SMIT menu interface.
The loss of critical data from equipment failure or environmental factors can be a damaging or fatal event, making strong backup and recovery systems an imperative. However, due to the high cost of personnel time, these services need to be as simple and automated as possible.
IBM Tivoli Storage Manager for System Backup and Recovery enables a choice from several types of backups, including full system (installation image), volume group, file system, file or directory and raw logical volume. SysBack allows for recovery of all or part of the system; and is flexible enough to allow a system installation image from one system to be installed onto another system with either identical or different hardware configurations (cloning). Backup and recovery options are performed via a simple SMIT menu driven interface or via a command line. Support for configuration of network ports to communicate through firewalls and Pass-thru support for all AIX operating system language locales is standard.
SysBack provides utilities to create backup scripts and schedules for easier task automation. Furthermore, backup, list, and verify operations are quickly assessed via a completion status-tracking log. SysBack's "pull" client backups allow the administrator to centrally manage backup operations from a single server (remote or local). By combining all of these features, administrators are provided with a complete central management system.
SysBack version 5.6 and later allows for the storage of backup objects into an IBM Tivoli Storage Manager server. Combining the SysBack backup, restore and network boot / install functions with a Tivoli Storage Manager server provides a bare metal recovery capability for Tivoli Storage Manager configurations. SysBack will back up and recover a system's volume group, logical volumes and file system information. Additionally, SysBack has the capability to back up any non-rootvg data specified. Customers may opt to use SysBack simply to recover the rootvg volume group and then use Storage Manager to backup and manage other user data. Backups to a Tivoli Storage Manager server may be manipulated like any other SysBack backup. They may be listed, verified, restored and used for system reinstallation.
IBM Tivoli Storage Manager for System Backup and Recovery (SysBack) provides network boot features for those administrators that choose not to boot from locally attached tape devices. Network boot options allow for remote installation functions via SysBack (Classic Boot) or by utilising existing NIM resources (NIM Resource Boot). Using the SysBack NIM Resource Boot functionality, SysBack provides IBM RS/6000 SP system specific network boot and installation utilities for nodes. The SP boot and install utilities allow for smooth installation and cloning processes for nodes within the same, or between different, SP complexes.
The Offline Mirror Backup option splits specified AIX mirrors to allow IBM Tivoli Storage Manager for System Backup and Recovery access to inactive copies of data. This allows simultaneous user and system access to the active copies.