Thanks again Andrew, I appreciate your response!
Andrew Raibeck wrote: > At a minimum, your main concern should be that your TSM client software > level is supported with your TSM server level. In order to ease migration > to new levels, client and software are supported one release up or down. > By "release", I refer to the first two parts of the version number, e.g., > 5.3 (Version 5, Release 3). > > Thus the 5.2 client is supported with a 5.1 and 5.3 server, and a 5.2 > server can support a 5.1 or 5.3 client. Other examples: 4.2 server > supported 4.1 and 5.1 clients; 4.2 client was supported with 4.1 and 5.1 > server. > > The idea is that when you move from a 5.2 to 5.3 server (for example), > your 5.2 clients will still work with the new 5.3 server until you can get > the clients upgraded. Or if you use the 5.2 server and choose to upgrade > your clients first, you can upgrade the clients to 5.3 and they will still > be supported with a 5.2 server until you can get the server upgraded. > While it is likely that a 4.2 (for example) client will function at least > minimally with a 5.2 server, technically it is not supported, so you use > at your own risk. But lots of people continue to use very backleveled > clients, usually because those clients are no longer supported by IBM, but > the user still has them in their environment. > > Caveat: 4.1 and 4.2 are no longer in service. Service for 5.1 ends today > (end of September), except for S/390, which I think is in service through > the first week of April, 2006. > > Your service agreement for TSM client and server is based on your TSM > server version. The clients are considered a part of the server version > that corresponds to the server that you are running. So if you are > licensed for the TSM 5.1 server on AIX, then when that server goes > end-of-service, so do your clients. If you are licensed for the 5.1 AIX > server, but you are using 5.2 clients on some machines, you will no longer > be able to get technical support from IBM for those clients once your > server version (at 5.1) goes end of service. > > With regard to the "one level back" support, you will no longer be able to > get support for the back-leveled component once that component goes > end-of-service, even if your server version is still in service. Thus if > you are licensed for the TSM 5.2 server for Windows, you will not be able > to receive support for your 5.1 clients. > > I realize that a lot of this seems pretty complicated, but conceptually > it's fairly simple. The upshot is that IBM supports a one-release > difference between client and server as long as your server and client > versions have not yet reached end-of-service. And *your* support from IBM > is based on the version of the TSM *server* you are running. > > Note that there are some exceptions to the above rules. For example, the > TSM 5.2 server shipped support for Windows NT 4.0 clients at the 5.1 > client level. Since this client was shipped with the 5.2 server, IBM will > continue to support this client (but not other 5.1 clients) until TSM 5.2 > goes out of service. Only 5.2 server licensees will receive support. > Support for NT 4.0 clients will end when 5.2 goes out of service, though > that date has not yet been announced as far as I know. > > So having said all of that, you are still encouraged, in general, to get > your client and server versions as up to date as possible, with the client > at the same release as the server. For example, the 5.2 client with 5.3 > server is supported primarily for migration purposes; you should be moving > forward with a plan to migrate your clients to the same server version. In > general, I'd advise upgrading your server first, then your clients. Beyond > that, your need to upgrade should be based on the impact of defects that > are fixed in later client fix packs (5.2.2, 5.2.3, etc.) and interim fixes > (5.2.2.1, 5.2.2.4, etc.). > > In your case, since your NetWare clients are at 5.2 and your server is at > 5.3, I'd recommend getting the most current 5.3 NetWare client. But you do > not need to try to match your client version to the server based on the > third and fourth parts of the version. That is, matching the "5.3" part is > sufficient. You don't need to worry about matching beyond that. > > As for client and server requirements, see the URL in my sig, and from > that page (which I recommend bookmarking), and look for the "server > requirements" and "client requirements" links. > > I hope this makes some sense... for the most part, it's really not as > complicated as the write-up would make you think. I just provided a bunch > of detail that is applicable for any TSM releases, so next time someone > asks, I can point them to this in the archives. :-) > > Regards, > > Andy > > Andy Raibeck > IBM Software Group > Tivoli Storage Manager Client Development > Internal Notes e-mail: Andrew Raibeck/Tucson/[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Internet e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > IBM Tivoli Storage Manager support web page: > http://www-306.ibm.com/software/sysmgmt/products/support/IBMTivoliStorageManager.html > > The only dumb question is the one that goes unasked. > The command line is your friend. > "Good enough" is the enemy of excellence. > > "ADSM: Dist Stor Manager" <ADSM-L@VM.MARIST.EDU> wrote on 2005-09-30 > 19:31:43: > > > Hello, > > > > We currently have all but 1 novell TSM clients running 5.2.2 all > > running fine although one backup is still running slow and needs > > tuning is there any reason that I would need to upgrade to a > > higher level client? I believe I read in one of the TSM manuals > > that is helpful to keep the clients as close as possible to the TSM > > server level. Our TSM server is currently at 5.3.1.4, Other than > > that if everything is running ok is there any reason to upgrade? Also, > > I know there is a minimum requirements for clients page can someone > > email me the link. > > > > AIX RS/6000 > > Novell clients 5.2.2 > > TSM version 5.3.1.4 > > > > Thanks in advance!