Not to sound coy, but I want the best of both worlds. ;-) Primarily I need a DR solution; mainly to be able to bring the system back from a disaster in under a week. There are already DR processes in place for other systems on the mainframe(s), such as MVS, CICS, etc. I am behind on z/VM in that regard. I took Steve Frazier's suggestion to heart and started reading up on DDR. I've backed up z/VM with DDR in the past, but I have yet to try it with the DASD used by the Linux guests. Given what I already know about using DDR with the system volumes, I'm sure I could stumble through it. What I hoped to do is get some sort of automated backup established for both DR and application data. I've sent inquires to our VAR for information on BrightStor VM:Backup and IBM's Backup and Restore for z/VM. We'll take a look at both of those products and see what fits. My biggest interest was leveraging our VTS. I can easily walk out on the raised floor and swap tapes, or perhaps have an operator take care of it, but automation has so much appeal. :-)
To answer a couple of questions already posed to me in this thread: 1. Yes, I am interested in learning more about the free front-ends for DDR that have been written by folks on this list. 2. I didn't post to the VM list because I felt that cross-posting might have been frowned upon... 3. Dennis asked if I was going to take the guests offline while doing a backup. Yes, that was my plan. I have one day a week when there's no workload on any of the guests, so I can take advantage of that in the short term. My sincere thanks to everyone that's responded to my questions. Dave -----Original Message----- From: Linux on 390 Port [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Thomas Kern Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2007 4:31 PM To: LINUX-390@VM.MARIST.EDU Subject: Re: Backup & Restore Are you looking for Disaster Recovery backups of z/VM and Linux DASD? Or are you looking for file level backup/restore for these systems? For DR purposes, DDR or other programs can dump/restore all of your DASD to VTS tapes. Mounting the VTS tapes requires DFSMS/RM and is enhanced by tape management products (VM:Tape from CA, Tape Manager from IBM), but it can be done from scratch (not nicely yet). For file level restores, there is no one program that can help you. For z/VM, you can buy products (VM:Backup from CA, Backup/Restore Manager from IBM) or code your own around the CMS TAPE or VMFPLC2 commands. Again DFSMS/RM talks to the VTS and a tape management program helps. For the linux files, you need a linux program like Amanda or Bacula, both of which are free and can write to the VTS drives. You still need DFSMS/RM and an interface program from Sine Nomine (http://www.sinenomine.net). My bosses have not purchased any products to help backup/restore any level of z/VM or Linux data so I can sympathize with situation. /Tom Kern /301-903-2211 --- KEETON Dave * OR SDC <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I'm trying to gather my options for backing up z/VM 5.2 & SLES 9 & 10 > guests to an IBM TotalStorage VTS. So far I've been able to deduce that > DFSMS/VM is required, though I'm still unclear as to whether or not it's > included with z/VM 5.2. There seem to be quite a selection of commercial > products available for VM & Linux, so the choices seem overwhelming. I'm > not sure which ones will fit my needs and which are overkill. > > Can any one point me to some resources (How-tos, redbooks and the like) > for someone who doesn't have years of experience in the mainframe world? > I've been responsible for a z/VM system for about a year, having taken > over for someone else when they left the organization. I've had some > training, but my real strength is in the Linux arena. What I want to be > able to do backups and restores of VM & all my Linux guests to the > virtual tape system. Is this something that can be accomplished using > OSS at free or low cost? Has anyone been down this road that can share > their experience and wisdom? > > Many thanks, > > Dave Keeton > Linux Systems Administrator > Enterprise Systems Group > Oregon State Data Center > (503) 373-0832 > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > For LINUX-390 subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, > send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: INFO LINUX-390 or > visit > http://www.marist.edu/htbin/wlvindex?LINUX-390 > ________________________________________________________________________ ____________ 8:00? 8:25? 8:40? Find a flick in no time with the Yahoo! Search movie showtime shortcut. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/shortcuts/#news ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For LINUX-390 subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: INFO LINUX-390 or visit http://www.marist.edu/htbin/wlvindex?LINUX-390 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For LINUX-390 subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: INFO LINUX-390 or visit http://www.marist.edu/htbin/wlvindex?LINUX-390
