I would create a second TSM instance on your server and restore the appropriate database backup to that instance. Then you can issue the queries you need to determine if you have the tapes or if they were over written since the backup.
Kelly Lipp CTO STORServer, Inc. 485-B Elkton Drive Colorado Springs, CO 80907 719-266-8777 x7105 www.storserver.com -----Original Message----- From: ADSM: Dist Stor Manager [mailto:ads...@vm.marist.edu] On Behalf Of RAYMOND J RAMIREZ RAMIREZ Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2009 12:07 PM To: ADSM-L@VM.MARIST.EDU Subject: [ADSM-L] TSM database information Hello to all, I have a special situation. In February I moved an AIX client from our old TSM 5.2 server to add it to our newer TSM 5.4 server, then I deleted the file spaces that belonged to this client and removed the client from the old server. Now the users want to recover old files that was on the AIX client before I moved it and deleted the file spaces. I know I can restore the database to the point before the deletion, but I need to be sure that the files can be recovered before attempting this. Everything was backed up on IBM 3590 cartridges in a large IBM library, and I have a tape management report that identifies all the TSM database tapes as available, as all of the data tapes, too. But I also need to know which of the 4,000+ data tapes has the files I need. I need a method to read the TSM database tape file without restoring it, and in reading it, I wish to know which are the data tapes with the files I need. If the tapes are available (since reclamation and reuse could have destroyed the original files), then I will restore the database tape, and run TSM to recover the requested files. But if most or all of the tapes were reused (the tape management system can verify this), then I can be sure that the data is lost and I would not have to do the TSM database restore. It may sound confusing, but it is like knowing if there is fish in a lake before travelling toward the lake to catch fish.I am open to any and all suggestions and recommendations. Raymond J. Ramirez, P.E. Distributed Systems Supervisor ITS Operations and Infrastructure