TSM (Tivoli Storage Manager) Policy Settings - Quick Overview


POLICY DOMAIN - This is a container for policy and scheduling info

*BACKRETention* is a fallback value for any files which have been backed up under the specified policy domain, but for which there is now a lack of an active policy set.

*ARCHRETention* is a fallback value for any files which have been archived under the specified policy domain, but for which there is now a lack of an active policy set.

POLICY SET - This is a set of management classes within a POLICY DOMAIN.Only the active version has any effect.  The active version is created by issuing ACTIVATE POLICYSET After activating, you may edit the original set without affecting the active copy.


MANAGEMENT CLASS - This is a classification for particular sets of objects.  Minimal set to be bound is an entire archive for archiving (ARCHMC option) or a single file, directory,  filespace or everything for a backup (INCLUDE option). There can be many management classes per policy set, but only ones in the active policy set may be referenced  **The additional parameters for this structure are used only for HSM migration.

BACKUP COPYGROUP - This is the structure which defines retention of backup data.  These settings are the most confusing because their operation overlaps and may require some to be set to "NOLIMIT" to attain the desired effect.

VERSIONS DATA EXISTS - This value specifies the maximum number of versions of a file which may be retained. If this is exceeded by additional backups or imports, then the next expiration run on the server will remove the oldest versions until there are only this many left.  **This may be "NOLIMIT" or a whole number.

RETAIN EXTRA VERSIONS - This value specifies the maximum number of days to retain an inactive copy when there is an active copy in the database. **This may be "NOLIMIT" or a whole number.

RETAIN ONLY VERSION - This value specifies the maximum number of days to retain the only inactive version of a file once there are no active versions. 



**This may be "NOLIMIT" or a while number.

**This does not affect active copies which are always retained.

VERSIONS DATA DELETED - This is the maximum number of inactive versions of a file to retain once the file no longer has an active version.
DESTINATION - This specifies the storage pool to which newly backed up data will go if it is bound to this management class during backup. **Rebound data will not move to a new pool automatically. **Data may be moved from this pool through migration or MOVE DATA commands.

Archive Copygroup - This is the structure which defines retention of archive data.

RETAIN VERSION - This is the only retention parameter for archives, and is the number of days that the entire archive will be kept.

DESTINATION - This specifies the storage pool to which newly archived data will go if it is bound to this management class during archive operation. 



**Rebound data will not move to a new pool automatically.

**Data may be moved from this pool through migration or MOVE DATA commands.

Schedule - This is a time/date/frequency setting for when commands may be automatically run by the tsm server either on the tsm server (administrative) or on the tsm client (client).

Client Association - a separate entity that binds clients to schedules.

Node - A separate entity which defines a client and allows access.



CAVEATS

NOTE: Once an archive is made, it may not be rebound.  In otherwords, you may not specify a different management class for it. It IS possible to change the copy-group retention period for this management class, and then re-activate the policyset.  This will change it's retention; however, be cautious with this, as you will affect ANY data in the same management class.

NOTE: Management classes with the same name but which are within a different policy domain will NOT conflict with eachother.

NOTE: Changes to a policy set will NOT have ANY effect unless that policy set is copied into the active policy set with ACTIVATE POLICYSET. Only the active policyset, and not it's source policyset or any other, will have an effect.

NOTE: Active versions are converted to inactive only by the client, through client-side expiration.  See the particular client code manual for details. This may happen during a backup with an exclude list, or during a backup with missing files, or through an API call to expire the object.

NOTE: There are other parameters for all of these structures.  Please see the ADSM/TSM Administrator's Reference Guide for details.


EXAMPLE

Backup copygroup is set as follows:
VDE = 3
VDD = 1
RETEX = 100
RETO = 1


Explaination:
- Versions 1 through three are kept up to 100 days FROM WHEN THEY WERE BACKED UP.
- Any versions past 3 will be expired immediately upon the next server-side EXPIRE INVENTORY process.
- NOTE: NO MORE THAN THREE VERSIONS WILL BE KEPT AFTER EXPIRE INVENTORY, REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF DAYS SPECIFIED IN RETAIN-EXTRA AND RETAIN-ONLY!
- If the active version is made inactive (client side expiration), then only the most recent copy will be kept, and it will only be kept for one day FROM WHEN IT WAS BACKED UP.


EXAMPLE


Backup copygroup is set as follows:
VDE = NOLIMIT
VDD = NOLIMIT
RETEX = 14
RETO = 20


Explaination:
- All versions will be kept for 14 days FROM WHEN THEY ARE BACKED UP.
- When no active version remains (client-side expiration), the last inactive version will be kept for 20 days FROM WHEN BACKED UP.

EXAMPLE

Backup copygroup is set as follows:
VDE = 5
VDD = 0
RETEX = NOLIMIT
RETO = NOLIMIT


Explaination:
- 5 versions will be kept while an active copy exists.
- Files will not expire by age.
- When the active version is made inactive, the next EXPIRE INVENTORY will remove ALL versions of the file.

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8 comments

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December 14, 2010 at 6:28 PM delete

@kumar: thanks for visiting and comment...!

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Anil
June 9, 2011 at 8:47 PM delete

hey its very useful yar

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June 5, 2012 at 8:33 PM delete

Parthiban..... Super ah Irukku..
Can you please send me the more documents on TSM to chidanand07bs@gmail.com
Because i am beginner to TSM i want learn more on That ..
Please help me.

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June 6, 2012 at 7:30 PM delete

Hey Chidanand,

Thanks for comments. will post more soon..! stay connected.

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October 18, 2012 at 2:29 PM delete

Thanks partiban. its a great work as i am learning and refreshing easily through your blog to move to a storage manager position .do you have any interview questions FAQ,s for tivoli storage manager? if you have plz send to jrlelin@gmail.com .thanks

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July 2, 2013 at 7:45 PM delete

plz help to update in tsm any documents send to sreekanthwebmail@gmail.com , straguling help me

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