Re: versioning / expiring / multiple backups under same nodename

2002-01-29 Thread Zlatko Krastev/ACIT

Quick and dirty answer - the risk is *between 0 and 100* and cannot be
evaluated *exactly* ! If there is no failover during the month the risk is
certainly 0. In case of failover or failback during the backup window the
risk is ~= 100. And can either you or your customer forget for while about
backups and just explain which resource is where at specific time after
several failovers and failbacks? The configuration your described is
somewhat messy and the main question goes in cluster configuration
direction and aside from TSM/backup.
Lets assume we have a good cluster configuration (other people here called
it "supported"). Lets catch the bull horns and go direct to five systems
with machines M1-M5, local resources LR1-LR5 and cluster resources CR1-CR4
(or even CR5, it does not change the things):
- create dsm.sys for M1-M4 containing server/node stanzas for nodes
LR1+CR1, ... , LR4 + CR4
- create dsm.sys for M5 containing stanzas for LR5+CR1+CR2+CR3+CR4
- create dsmLR.opt for each M1-M5 in a local (non-shared) resource and
use it to start OS&cluster binaries
- create dsmCR.opt for each CR1-CR4 in a shared filesystem accessible
after failover/failback
- configure on OS start the startup of LR TSM client scheduler using
dsmLR.opt
- configure on primary nodes boot startup of cluster TSM client schedule
using CR.opt
- ensure failover/failback scripts stop the cluster resource TSM client
scheduler on the failing server and consecutive startup of this scheduler
on the new active node (in your case it would be always M - M5 or M5 -
M). Trigger new incremental backup immeditely after failover/failback to
secure interrupted backup during failover.
- ensure correct domain statements in each stanza
Using something similar the risk can be estimated - it is close to the risk
of backing up an ordinary server. The increased server availability due to
clustering does not lower backup risk, it lowers downtime risk. And this
might be used not only for all-fail-over-one but even for any-fail-anywhere
cluster.
So do it by the book and you will go the paved road, do it as you wish and
enjoy the jungle. If nobody used this before none could evaluated it.

Zlatko Krastev
IT Consultant





"Warren, Matthew James" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> on 21.01.2002
14:22:43
Please respond to "ADSM: Dist Stor Manager" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To:     [EMAIL PROTECTED]
cc:

Subject:    Re: versioning / expiring / multiple backups under same
nodename

We know the correct way to be backing up the cluster. The customer did not
implement it this way, but we are recommending them to do so.

Before they switch from their current set-up to how we are recommending
they
backup the cluster (With 2 TSM environments on each machine, one for local
disk, the other for shared disk) they would like to know exactly what risk
they are runing with their current setup.


Matt.





-Original Message-
From: Mike Yager [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Friday, January 18, 2002 4:27 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: versioning / expiring / multiple backups under same nodename


Exactly, while im not doing TSM on my clusters (yet) Daniel is correct.

In my MS-clustered environment, I have the following entries in DNS

SRV01
SRV02

CLUSTER1
DB2-01

the last 2 are a "logical" name of the cluster resource. This allows the
"resource" to be managed separately from the physical machine or other
"resources" and/or physical machine.

I would caution you to be careful as you indicated the resources DO show up
as being owned by the controlling node. IE DON'T back it up via that
attachment even if you can see it as when it changes to a new node you will
have a different name as you mentioned

Please keep us posted as I'll be headed down this road shortly.

-mike



?--
The description you gave tells me there is something wrong with your
configuration.

Normally when you set up TSM to handle clustering, you have one TSM
nodename for each clusternode(M1,M2,M3). These nodenames are only for
backing up local files on the node. Then you have either one nodename for
each clusterresource, or one nodename for all clusterresources. You also
have to bind the nodename to the clusterresource, so that the TSM service
that handles the cluster nodename, moves with the clusterresource.




-
Michael Yager
IBM Global Services
(919)382-4808



Re: versioning / expiring / multiple backups under same nodename

2002-01-21 Thread Daniel Sparrman

Hi

To start with, they are running a configuration that is not supported by
either Tivoli nor IBM.

Second of all, running this configuration will result in inconsistent data,
and you could question whether or not a complete a full restore of the
system.

The problem you have to describe to your customer, is that there is a large
chance, that they won't be able to restore the cluster environment in case
of a disaster. Therefore, it is in their own interest to move over to the
supported configuration a.s.a.p.

This is not a question of which way to configure the clustered environment,
but instead of moving to the only way that will work.

Best Regards

Daniel Sparrman
---
Daniel Sparrman
Exist i Stockholm AB
Bergkällavägen 31D
192 79 SOLLENTUNA
Växel: 08 - 754 98 00
Mobil: 070 - 399 27 51


   
  
"Warren, Matthew   
  
James" To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
  
 Subject: Re: versioning / expiring 
/ multiple 
Sent by: "ADSM:backups under same nodename 
  
Dist Stor Manager" 
  
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]
  
DU>
  
   
  
   
  
2002-01-21 13:22   
  
Please respond to  
  
"ADSM: Dist Stor   
  
Manager"   
  
   
  
   
  




We know the correct way to be backing up the cluster. The customer did not
implement it this way, but we are recommending them to do so.

Before they switch from their current set-up to how we are recommending
they
backup the cluster (With 2 TSM environments on each machine, one for local
disk, the other for shared disk) they would like to know exactly what risk
they are runing with their current setup.


Matt.





-Original Message-
From: Mike Yager [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Friday, January 18, 2002 4:27 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: versioning / expiring / multiple backups under same nodename


Exactly, while im not doing TSM on my clusters (yet) Daniel is correct.

In my MS-clustered environment, I have the following entries in DNS

SRV01
SRV02

CLUSTER1
DB2-01

the last 2 are a "logical" name of the cluster resource. This allows the
"resource" to be managed separately from the physical machine or other
"resources" and/or physical machine.

I would caution you to be careful as you indicated the resources DO show up
as being owned by the controlling node. IE DON'T back it up via that
attachment even if you can see it as when it changes to a new node you will
have a different name as you mentioned

Please keep us posted as I'll be headed down this road shortly.

-mike



?--
The description you gave tells me there is something wrong with your
configuration.

Normally when you set up TSM to handle clustering, you have one TSM
nodename for each clusternode(M1,M2,M3). These nodenames are only for
backing up local files on the node. Then you have either one nodename for
each clusterresource, or one nodename for all clusterresources. You also
have to bind the nodename to the clusterresource, so that the TSM service
that handles the cluster nodename, moves with the clusterresource.




-
Michael Yager
IBM Global Services
(919)382-4808





Re: versioning / expiring / multiple backups under same nodename

2002-01-21 Thread Warren, Matthew James

We know the correct way to be backing up the cluster. The customer did not
implement it this way, but we are recommending them to do so.

Before they switch from their current set-up to how we are recommending they
backup the cluster (With 2 TSM environments on each machine, one for local
disk, the other for shared disk) they would like to know exactly what risk
they are runing with their current setup.


Matt.





-Original Message-
From: Mike Yager [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Friday, January 18, 2002 4:27 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: versioning / expiring / multiple backups under same nodename


Exactly, while im not doing TSM on my clusters (yet) Daniel is correct.

In my MS-clustered environment, I have the following entries in DNS

SRV01
SRV02

CLUSTER1
DB2-01

the last 2 are a "logical" name of the cluster resource. This allows the
"resource" to be managed separately from the physical machine or other
"resources" and/or physical machine.

I would caution you to be careful as you indicated the resources DO show up
as being owned by the controlling node. IE DON'T back it up via that
attachment even if you can see it as when it changes to a new node you will
have a different name as you mentioned

Please keep us posted as I'll be headed down this road shortly.

-mike



?--
The description you gave tells me there is something wrong with your
configuration.

Normally when you set up TSM to handle clustering, you have one TSM
nodename for each clusternode(M1,M2,M3). These nodenames are only for
backing up local files on the node. Then you have either one nodename for
each clusterresource, or one nodename for all clusterresources. You also
have to bind the nodename to the clusterresource, so that the TSM service
that handles the cluster nodename, moves with the clusterresource.




-
Michael Yager
IBM Global Services
(919)382-4808



Re: versioning / expiring / multiple backups under same nodename

2002-01-18 Thread Jeff Bach

Run a local backup on M1, M2, and M3 that backs up the data that is not
failed over.

Run a shared1 and shared2 backup on all systems that backups up the data on
the system it exists on.

ie: M1 /usr /var / /opt
M2 /usr /var / /opt
 M3 ""

shared1 /u /shareddata  run a script to determine if the disk is
available and back it up to shared1 if it is
same on shared2

Sched all local and shared scripts under the node M1,2,3

This buys
1.  Data backs up always under the same nodename
2.  Filesystem last backup stats can be used to determine backup success
(to doubt check unreliable scheduler status)


Jeff Bach

> -Original Message-
> From: Warren, Matthew James [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Friday, January 18, 2002 9:00 AM
> To:   [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject:  Re: versioning / expiring / multiple backups under same
> nodename
>
> Thanks,
>
> but, the mechanics of the failovers etc.. is fine. only 1 machine will be
> failed over at any one time.
>
> I'll try and clarify;
>
> M1 and M2 share some common filespace / dirpath names. M3 is failover
> machine.
>
> Normal; M1 backs up to tsm under node M1, M2 backs up to TSM under node
> M2,
> M3 backs up to TSM under nodename M3.
>
>
> if M1 fails over to M3, M3 will now capture M1's files form the shared
> disk
> unde hte nodename M3, M1 backs up, but cannot see the shared disk area, so
> TSM marks all the shared disk files under nodename M1 as inactive.
>
> That goes on for a couple of days. Then M1 fails back to M1. M3 backs up,
> all M1's shared disk files go inactive under nodename M3, and become
> active
> files again on M1 under nodename M1.
>
> ..Then(!) M2 fails over to M2. The above process is repeated, but is
> complicated bacause M3 shares filespace names with M1, so, any duplicate
> filenames will back up and increase the version count of that file under
> nodename M3; but the version count will be too high as it counts versions
> from both M1 and M2. This will cause the files to expire earlier than they
> would have done from M3 than if they had only ever been backed up under
> the
> original machine nodename.
>
>
> ..Does anyone follow this? :-/
>
> basically (!)
>
> M1, M2 share dirpaths and filenames. The actual data is unique to each
> machine and is held on a slice of disk that only that machine has access
> to.
>
> M3 is a failover. When a machine is failed over to M3, that machines slice
> of disk is mounted on M3. The original machine still backs up, but can
> only
> see it's local O/S disk.
>
> M3 runs backups of all the disk it can see each evening, under the
> nodename
> M3.
>
>
> So, if M1 is failed over, its files are backed up under the nodename M3.
>
> ..So far, no problem. If you know what days you were failed over you can
> just get the files from the M3 nodename using -pitd / -pitt or -pick
>
> But, M1 fails back to M1, and then M2 fail over to M3.
>
> When M3 backs up, it will see M2's disk and save it under the nodename M3.
> PROBLEM! The shared filespace names between M2 and M1 will now cause TSM
> to
> mark files inactive, or back them up creating versions / expirations that
> should not be happening.
>
>
> Arg!
>
> Can anyone see what I'm getting at?
>
>
>
> -Original Message-
> From: Anderson F. Nobre [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2002 6:30 PM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Re: versioning / expiring / multiple backups under same
> nodename
>
>
> Hi,
>
> > I have a customer who wishes to assess the maximum risk he would incurr
> in
> > the following situation;
> >
> >
> > We have a copygroup for backup set for 31 day point-in-time recovery. We
> do
> > not have nolimit for any copygoup parameters - we assume there will only
> be
> > a single backup each day.
> >
> >
> > The customer has a 5 node cluster. 1 -> 4 are production machines, 5 is
> a
> > failover machine.
> >
> > They would like to know the risk involved when, should a machine be
> failed
> > over to 5, they back up the data now visible to 5 under the nodename of
> 5
> > instead of the original machines nodename, & the original machine
> continues
> > to run a backup as well (this would only see local disk, as a portion of
> the
> > failed over machines disk is now visible to 5, and hence mark all the
> > non-visible files as inactive)
> >
> > We have told them backups would become inconsistent within filespaces
> that
> > have the same names across machines, and showed them how fiddly it would
> be
> > to restore 

Re: versioning / expiring / multiple backups under same nodename

2002-01-18 Thread Mike Yager

Exactly, while im not doing TSM on my clusters (yet) Daniel is correct. 

In my MS-clustered environment, I have the following entries in DNS  

SRV01
SRV02

CLUSTER1
DB2-01

the last 2 are a "logical" name of the cluster resource. This allows the "resource" to 
be managed separately from the physical machine or other "resources" and/or physical 
machine.

I would caution you to be careful as you indicated the resources DO show up as being 
owned by the controlling node. IE DON'T back it up via that attachment even if you can 
see it as when it changes to a new node you will have a different name as you 
mentioned  

Please keep us posted as I'll be headed down this road shortly.

-mike



—--
The description you gave tells me there is something wrong with your
configuration.

Normally when you set up TSM to handle clustering, you have one TSM
nodename for each clusternode(M1,M2,M3). These nodenames are only for
backing up local files on the node. Then you have either one nodename for
each clusterresource, or one nodename for all clusterresources. You also
have to bind the nodename to the clusterresource, so that the TSM service
that handles the cluster nodename, moves with the clusterresource.




-
Michael Yager
IBM Global Services
(919)382-4808



Re: versioning / expiring / multiple backups under same nodename

2002-01-18 Thread Daniel Sparrman

Hi

The description you gave tells me there is something wrong with your
configuration.

Normally when you set up TSM to handle clustering, you have one TSM
nodename for each clusternode(M1,M2,M3). These nodenames are only for
backing up local files on the node. Then you have either one nodename for
each clusterresource, or one nodename for all clusterresources. You also
have to bind the nodename to the clusterresource, so that the TSM service
that handles the cluster nodename, moves with the clusterresource.

This way, when the resource moves from one node to another, the TSM
nodename will follow.

There's some good books about this on Tivolis website.

Best Regards

Daniel Sparrman
---
Daniel Sparrman
Exist i Stockholm AB
Bergkällavägen 31D
192 79 SOLLENTUNA
Växel: 08 - 754 98 00
Mobil: 070 - 399 27 51


   
  
"Warren, Matthew   
  
James" To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
  
 Subject: Re: versioning / expiring 
/ multiple 
Sent by: "ADSM:backups under same nodename 
  
Dist Stor Manager" 
  
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]
  
DU>
  
   
  
   
  
2002-01-18 16:00   
  
Please respond to  
  
"ADSM: Dist Stor   
  
Manager"   
  
   
  
   
  




Thanks,

but, the mechanics of the failovers etc.. is fine. only 1 machine will be
failed over at any one time.

I'll try and clarify;

M1 and M2 share some common filespace / dirpath names. M3 is failover
machine.

Normal; M1 backs up to tsm under node M1, M2 backs up to TSM under node M2,
M3 backs up to TSM under nodename M3.


if M1 fails over to M3, M3 will now capture M1's files form the shared disk
unde hte nodename M3, M1 backs up, but cannot see the shared disk area, so
TSM marks all the shared disk files under nodename M1 as inactive.

That goes on for a couple of days. Then M1 fails back to M1. M3 backs up,
all M1's shared disk files go inactive under nodename M3, and become active
files again on M1 under nodename M1.

..Then(!) M2 fails over to M2. The above process is repeated, but is
complicated bacause M3 shares filespace names with M1, so, any duplicate
filenames will back up and increase the version count of that file under
nodename M3; but the version count will be too high as it counts versions
from both M1 and M2. This will cause the files to expire earlier than they
would have done from M3 than if they had only ever been backed up under the
original machine nodename.


..Does anyone follow this? :-/

basically (!)

M1, M2 share dirpaths and filenames. The actual data is unique to each
machine and is held on a slice of disk that only that machine has access
to.

M3 is a failover. When a machine is failed over to M3, that machines slice
of disk is mounted on M3. The original machine still backs up, but can only
see it's local O/S disk.

M3 runs backups of all the disk it can see each evening, under the nodename
M3.


So, if M1 is failed over, its files are backed up under the nodename M3.

..So far, no problem. If you know what days you were failed over you can
just get the files from the M3 nodename using -pitd / -pitt or -pick

But, M1 fails back to M1, and then M2 fail over to M3.

When M3 backs up, it will see M2's disk and save it under the nodename M3.
PROBLEM! The shared filespace names between M2 and M1 will now cause TSM to
mark files inactive, or back them up creating versions / expirations that
should not be happening.


Arg!

Can anyone see what I'm getting at?



-Original Message-
From: Anderson F. Nobre [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2002 6:30 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: versioning / expiring / multiple backups under same
nodename


Hi,

> I have a customer who wishes to assess th

Re: versioning / expiring / multiple backups under same nodename

2002-01-18 Thread Warren, Matthew James

Thanks,

but, the mechanics of the failovers etc.. is fine. only 1 machine will be
failed over at any one time.

I'll try and clarify;

M1 and M2 share some common filespace / dirpath names. M3 is failover
machine.

Normal; M1 backs up to tsm under node M1, M2 backs up to TSM under node M2,
M3 backs up to TSM under nodename M3.


if M1 fails over to M3, M3 will now capture M1's files form the shared disk
unde hte nodename M3, M1 backs up, but cannot see the shared disk area, so
TSM marks all the shared disk files under nodename M1 as inactive.

That goes on for a couple of days. Then M1 fails back to M1. M3 backs up,
all M1's shared disk files go inactive under nodename M3, and become active
files again on M1 under nodename M1.

..Then(!) M2 fails over to M2. The above process is repeated, but is
complicated bacause M3 shares filespace names with M1, so, any duplicate
filenames will back up and increase the version count of that file under
nodename M3; but the version count will be too high as it counts versions
from both M1 and M2. This will cause the files to expire earlier than they
would have done from M3 than if they had only ever been backed up under the
original machine nodename.


..Does anyone follow this? :-/

basically (!)

M1, M2 share dirpaths and filenames. The actual data is unique to each
machine and is held on a slice of disk that only that machine has access to.

M3 is a failover. When a machine is failed over to M3, that machines slice
of disk is mounted on M3. The original machine still backs up, but can only
see it's local O/S disk.

M3 runs backups of all the disk it can see each evening, under the nodename
M3.


So, if M1 is failed over, its files are backed up under the nodename M3.

..So far, no problem. If you know what days you were failed over you can
just get the files from the M3 nodename using -pitd / -pitt or -pick

But, M1 fails back to M1, and then M2 fail over to M3.

When M3 backs up, it will see M2's disk and save it under the nodename M3.
PROBLEM! The shared filespace names between M2 and M1 will now cause TSM to
mark files inactive, or back them up creating versions / expirations that
should not be happening.


Arg!

Can anyone see what I'm getting at?



-Original Message-
From: Anderson F. Nobre [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2002 6:30 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: versioning / expiring / multiple backups under same
nodename


Hi,

> I have a customer who wishes to assess the maximum risk he would incurr in
> the following situation;
>
>
> We have a copygroup for backup set for 31 day point-in-time recovery. We
do
> not have nolimit for any copygoup parameters - we assume there will only
be
> a single backup each day.
>
>
> The customer has a 5 node cluster. 1 -> 4 are production machines, 5 is a
> failover machine.
>
> They would like to know the risk involved when, should a machine be failed
> over to 5, they back up the data now visible to 5 under the nodename of 5
> instead of the original machines nodename, & the original machine
continues
> to run a backup as well (this would only see local disk, as a portion of
the
> failed over machines disk is now visible to 5, and hence mark all the
> non-visible files as inactive)
>
> We have told them backups would become inconsistent within filespaces that
> have the same names across machines, and showed them how fiddly it would
be
> to restore a machine if they had only had one failover occurr in a 31 day
> period. They would like to know exactly what the risks are if they have
> multiple failovers within a month, and have multiple machines backing up
> same-named files under a single nodename!!
>
It depends how the cluster is configured. The TSM Client must be part of the
resource group and inside of dsm.sys you must create several stanzas with
the TCPPort and nodename forced to diferent numbers and names. And when you
start the TSM Client Scheduler you must force the right dsm.opt
with -optfile option.

> They won't take 'It won't work' as a answer, they would like to know how
it
> will impact the point in time restore capability for a particular machine,
> if they keep track of what machines failed over when.
>
> As far as I can work out with pen&paper, in a worst case, for a 3 machine
> cluster where 1 & 2 can failover to 3 at any time, the maximum impact
would
> be to reduce the point-in-time restore capability for a particular machine
> by the number of days that machines have been failed over to 3 in the last
> 31 day period, because files with the same path filename on machines 1 and
2
> would expire early if they change more often on one machine than they do
on
> another.
>
It's impossible two machines failover at same time to a third machine if the
first two have the same filesystems. 

Re: versioning / expiring / multiple backups under same nodename

2002-01-18 Thread Anderson F. Nobre

Hi,

> I have a customer who wishes to assess the maximum risk he would incurr in
> the following situation;
>
>
> We have a copygroup for backup set for 31 day point-in-time recovery. We
do
> not have nolimit for any copygoup parameters - we assume there will only
be
> a single backup each day.
>
>
> The customer has a 5 node cluster. 1 -> 4 are production machines, 5 is a
> failover machine.
>
> They would like to know the risk involved when, should a machine be failed
> over to 5, they back up the data now visible to 5 under the nodename of 5
> instead of the original machines nodename, & the original machine
continues
> to run a backup as well (this would only see local disk, as a portion of
the
> failed over machines disk is now visible to 5, and hence mark all the
> non-visible files as inactive)
>
> We have told them backups would become inconsistent within filespaces that
> have the same names across machines, and showed them how fiddly it would
be
> to restore a machine if they had only had one failover occurr in a 31 day
> period. They would like to know exactly what the risks are if they have
> multiple failovers within a month, and have multiple machines backing up
> same-named files under a single nodename!!
>
It depends how the cluster is configured. The TSM Client must be part of the
resource group and inside of dsm.sys you must create several stanzas with
the TCPPort and nodename forced to diferent numbers and names. And when you
start the TSM Client Scheduler you must force the right dsm.opt
with -optfile option.

> They won't take 'It won't work' as a answer, they would like to know how
it
> will impact the point in time restore capability for a particular machine,
> if they keep track of what machines failed over when.
>
> As far as I can work out with pen&paper, in a worst case, for a 3 machine
> cluster where 1 & 2 can failover to 3 at any time, the maximum impact
would
> be to reduce the point-in-time restore capability for a particular machine
> by the number of days that machines have been failed over to 3 in the last
> 31 day period, because files with the same path filename on machines 1 and
2
> would expire early if they change more often on one machine than they do
on
> another.
>
It's impossible two machines failover at same time to a third machine if the
first two have the same filesystems. They even would import the VGs. You
must check if this information it's true.

> I get a headache if I try and extend this to a 5 machine cluster.
>
> do you other TSM'ers agree?
>
Yes, to mange would be a little bit hard. But the client probably has good
administrators. Or in worst case you can sell a support contract to
administer his environment. :-)

> and, I know from our perspective this is a 'silly' thing to work out
because
> they should listen to the advice of the people that know & switch to
backing
> things up correctly, but they are insisting they have this info...
>
> Any help is much appreciated!
> Thankyou,
>
> Matt.
>



versioning / expiring / multiple backups under same nodename

2002-01-18 Thread Warren, Matthew James

Hi TSM'ers,

(this ones a little long winded, sorry :)   )

I have a customer who wishes to assess the maximum risk he would incurr in
the following situation;


We have a copygroup for backup set for 31 day point-in-time recovery. We do
not have nolimit for any copygoup parameters - we assume there will only be
a single backup each day.


The customer has a 5 node cluster. 1 -> 4 are production machines, 5 is a
failover machine.

They would like to know the risk involved when, should a machine be failed
over to 5, they back up the data now visible to 5 under the nodename of 5
instead of the original machines nodename, & the original machine continues
to run a backup as well (this would only see local disk, as a portion of the
failed over machines disk is now visible to 5, and hence mark all the
non-visible files as inactive)

We have told them backups would become inconsistent within filespaces that
have the same names across machines, and showed them how fiddly it would be
to restore a machine if they had only had one failover occurr in a 31 day
period. They would like to know exactly what the risks are if they have
multiple failovers within a month, and have multiple machines backing up
same-named files under a single nodename!!

They won't take 'It won't work' as a answer, they would like to know how it
will impact the point in time restore capability for a particular machine,
if they keep track of what machines failed over when.

As far as I can work out with pen&paper, in a worst case, for a 3 machine
cluster where 1 & 2 can failover to 3 at any time, the maximum impact would
be to reduce the point-in-time restore capability for a particular machine
by the number of days that machines have been failed over to 3 in the last
31 day period, because files with the same path filename on machines 1 and 2
would expire early if they change more often on one machine than they do on
another.

I get a headache if I try and extend this to a 5 machine cluster.

do you other TSM'ers agree?

and, I know from our perspective this is a 'silly' thing to work out because
they should listen to the advice of the people that know & switch to backing
things up correctly, but they are insisting they have this info...

Any help is much appreciated!
Thankyou,

Matt.