FAQ

1) WHAT IS YOUR DAILY ACTIVITES?

1. Health Check of tsm servers which includes DB, LOG, STGPOOL Utilization,
Scratch count.
2. Checking DB backup status, if it is not completed for the day then we will
take Manual DB backup
3. Troubleshooting Missed/Failed Backpus based upon Priority.
4. Decommionsed & Registering Node if any needed.
5. Checking admin tasks process are running properly are not.
6. If any new restore request, working on it.
7. Sending Daily status report to senior Managers on Daily Basis.
8. Co-coordinating with Onsite people related to Libarary Issue and for a
change request.
2) TSM LICENCING?
Tsmbasic.lic ----for basic version
Tsmee.lic-----for extended edition
Dataret.lic---for data retention version
3)HOW MANY TIMES YOU WILL TAKE DB BACKUP IN YOUR
ORGANIZATION?
We Have a Admin Schedule Where It will take Backup of DB Once in a day.
DEF
SCHEDULE
DBBACKUP
CMD=BACKUP
DB
DEVC=FILEDEV1
TYPE=FULL PERIOD=1 DURATION=24 DURUNITS=HOURS ACTIVE=YES
PRIORITY=1
Ba Db devc=devclassname t=full wait=no
4) WHAT TYPES OF TAPES YOU ARE USING?
LTO1---100--------200---15Mbps
LTO2---200--------400---30 Mbps
LTO3---400--------800----80 Mbps
presently using
LTO4---800GB--------1600---120 Mbps
LTO5---1.6TB---- 3.2TB -----180Mbps
5) How Can U Find What Type Of Tape U R Using?
Q libv library namefor ex: LTO 4
6) HOW CAN U DELETE THE DB BACKUP TAPES?
Delete volhistory type=DB backup begind=-6 endd=-2

7) HOW U CHECK THE FAILED AND MISSED BACKUP INFORMATION?

Q Event * * begind=-1 endd=today Exception=yes+++
8) WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IF CLIENT BACKUP IS FAILED OR MISSED?
First take the node name and query it in TSM Server by q n nodename f=d,
Here you wil find the ip address, then based upon the OS login in to the
client system, check dsmerror.log and dsmsched.log
Based upon the error trouble shoot it
9) HOW CAN WE CHECK TSM SCHEDULAR IS RUNNING OR NOT IN UNIX?
Ps ef | Grep Dsmcsched
10) HOW CAN U LOG IN TO THAT PARTICULAR NODE WITH OUT KNOWING
THE IPADDRESS?
By Using the cmd i.e Q NODE NODENAME F=D
It will display the Tsm Name---Host name of the system
It will display the Tsm address----Ipaddress of the system
Still if you not able find the ip address, you will be having internal tool to
check the hostname and ipaddress.
11) SERVER CONFIGURATION FILES?
dsmserv.opt, dsmserv.dsk, devconfig.out, volhist.out
DSMSERVE.OPT: All the server configuration Information (Protocol detail,
bufffersize, log pool size, Volhistpath, devconfig path)
DSMSERV.DSK:All db,log volumes paths
DEVCONFIG.OUT:All device configuration information like device class,
drives configuration info.
VOLHIST.OUT: All sequential volumes information.
12)CLIENT CONFIGURATION FILES?
DSM.OPT---windows and DSM.SYS for Unix
NODENAME *CLINET_ SERVER_NAME*
TCPSERVERADDRESS *TSM_SERVER_NAME
TCPCLIENTPORT 1500
]PASSWORDACCESS GENERATE
ERRORLOGRETENTION 15D
SCHEDLOGRETENTION 15D
SCHEDMODE PROMPTED
SCHEDMODE POLLING
DSM.OPT---- Only server name will be there (UNIX)
DSMSCHED.LOG----Scheduled Information will be there
DSMERR.LOG----Error related logs will be Displayed
14) Backup Failure problems on Windows servers

15) Backup Failure problems on UNIX servers

1. File not found
2. Directory path not found
3. Invalid password
4. TCP/IP issue
5. Server out of data storage space
6. disk stg pool 100% full
7. when lib dont have scratchs.
8. when files r open .
16) Backup Missed.
1. Service hung.
2. Server down.
3. Network problems.
4. when IP address was given wrong to TSM server
5. node lock.
17) what is reclamation? Which tape is eligible for reclamation?
18) RETURN CODES AFTER SCHEDULING?
0---Operation completed successfully
4--- operation completed successfully except with one or more
skipped files
8--- operation completed with one or more warning message object
12--Operation failed with one or more error messages
19) EVENT MESSAGE FORMATING?
AN[R S E] #### I W E S ------------
R---Server------- S---Client
E---Event
I Information, W Warning, E-Error, S Severe
20)) TO CHECK THE SERVER INSTALLATION HAS COMPLETED SUCCESSFULLY?
Windows------INITSERV.LOG
AIX------INSTALL.TRACE
21) PASSWORDACCESS GENERATE?
Tsm client password is encrypted and stores in a file on the client. If a client receives
that password has expired from the tsm server then client generates a new
password .
22) TIPS & HINTS FOR LIBRARIES, DRIVES AND DEVICE DRIVERS PROBLEMS?
1. Has the o/s changed

2. Has the host bus adaptor Or scsi adapter connecting to the device updated or
replaced
3. Has the adopter firmware changed
4. Has the cabling between the computer and device changed
5. Are any of the cable connections loose
6. Has a device driver changed
23) when the drive is offline then what u will do?
try to make it online using update drive command
Update drive libraryname drivename online=yes.
Still its not coming to online then do power cycling means power on/off.
24) what situations migration will fail?
there no scratch volumes in subordinate storage pool
There is no mount points available in the library.
There is no destination storage pool.
25) wh]at are the tapes you are using?
LTO 1, LTO 2, LTO 3, presently using LTO 4, LTO 5.
26) what is the library model u r using?
3584 , type scsi
27) how to define a library?
define libray libraryname librarytype shared=yes/no
28) how can u do the migration manually ?
migrate stg stgname lowmig=%
Update stg stgname hi=-- low=------29) how to define a path for library?
define path sourcename
destinationname sourcetype= server
destinationtype =library device=devicename
30) how to define drive?
define drive libraryname drivename online=yes/no.
31) how to define drive path?
define path sourcename destination name sourcetype=server destination
type=drive library=libraryname device=device name.
32)) process to implement the tsm server?
fist define stg
Def policy set
Def mgmt class
Define copy group
Register the node in tsm server and assign that node to domain.
33) how to configure the ba/ client?
in dsm .opt we have to configer server ip address
Communication method,tcpipport,node name ,password access generate.
34) how to check in library?

35)
36)
36)
37)

38)
39)
40)
41)
42)
43)
44)
45)
46)
47)

checkin libvol libraryname volume name

search=no/yes /bulk
status=private/scratch checklabel=yes
how to checkout from library?
checkout libvol libraryname volumename remove=yes/no/bulk.
Label a volume?
label libvol libraryname volumename checkin=scratch labelsource=barcode
search=yes/no/bulk
how to define device class?
define deviceclass deviceclassname
devicetype=file directory=
path
maxcapacity= ..mb(if it is a file device class)
what will u do when recovery log utilization reaches to high?
if there is any space available then extend the log size then take the db
backup
If the space is not available then go for show logpin for which session is
pinning the recoverylog,
And cancel that session using :cancel session session no.
If it is not showing any logpin then cancel all server process such as
migration,
reclamation and expiration.
what is pinning ?
It shows which session increases the recovery log utilization .
how to take the backup of tdpsql?
tdpsqlc backup database name full/inc/log
how to change the tdpsql password?
tdpsqlc changetsmpassword currentpassword
new password confirm
pass word.
how to audit library?
audit library libraryname checklabel=barcode.
Audit volume?
audit volume volumename fix=yes/no
how to take the back up of the database?
backup db deviceclass=devcnamw type=full/inc/snapshot
how can u check the schedule status?
q event * *
how can u check the last two days missed schedules ?
q event * * begind=-2 exception=yes
how can u check the administrative schedule status?
q event * type=admin
parameters in q status f=d

48) what will u do when the library is full ?

first check all the DR volumes are checked out from the library or not .
Using q drmedia * where state=mountable.
Check out all the primary storage tapes to make room empty for scratch
tapes.

Verify that all volumes have space to be reclaimed

Are reclaimed and use move data command to move the data manually.
Its the time to buy a new library.
49) 23) what will u do when the drives are offline?
when the drives are offline then update the drive and drive path
Update drive libraryname drive name
Update
path
sourcename
destinationname
sourcetype=server
destinationtype=drive library=libraryname online=yes
50)37 what will u do when the recovery log becomes full ?
51) what wiil u do when the recovery log reaches to 95% ?
first cancel the all the process except database back up.
Then go for show logpin to check which session is pinning the recovery log
and cancel that sessions
Cancel session sessionno
52) what will u do when the migration is slow ?
storge pool migration depends on no of mount points in the library,
Increase the no of migration processes.
Avoid migration during back up.
53) what will u do when migration fail?
when there is no scratch volumes available in target storage pool the
migration may fail. If there is no tape drives available then migration may
fail.
54) what reason the database back up fails ?
if there is no tape drives availability, no scratch volumes available.
55) how to take the db back up?
backup db decvice class=devcname type=full/inc/snapshot
56) How to restore a client file ?
restore filepath
su=yes.
57) interactive mode and non inter active mode?
inter active mode: dsmc with out parameter invoke the command line.
Non inter active mode:dsmc with parameter invokes the commandline
58) how can u migrate the data manually ?
migrate stg stgname lowmig= %
59) how can u do the reclamation manually?
reclaim stg stgname threshold=
60) what is inventory expiration?
inventory expiration is the process to delete the expired data(the data
which is expire based on the copy group parameters)
61) what is scheduling ?what are the types of scheduling ?

scheduling is use to automate the process of administrative commands

and baclient operation at specific date and time when the schedule is
activated.
1)administrative schedule
2)client scheduling
Scheduling modes :client polling ,sever promted
Client polling: in this mode client contact the server to find out whether
there is schedule defined for him and when should run it
62) how can u check the no of drives ?
q drive
63)) how many no of slots in ur library ?
its based on the model (700) ,no of i/o slots in 60, scrath volumes 20
64) If one of the node tsm client was not working properly, Some time
client was working some time it was giving tcp port error?
Reason: There may be another session in the client using the same port. So
inform the network admin to change the port number of that service.
65) Some time schedules got failed because of password expired for
the node?
Need to register the nodes with the proper password expire value as per ur
environment policy Here I am registering the nodes with the password
expiry as "zero".
66) TSM DB "cache hit ratio" should between 98% to 100%. But in our
TSM server it was less than 97?
Action:
I have increased the "buffer pool size" as per the below values. now it is
more than 99% always.
System (RAM)Memory (MB)
Recommended Buffer Pool Size (KB)
Recommended Buffer Pool Size (MB)
256
32678
32
512
65536
64
1024
131072
128
2048
262144
256
3072
393216
384
4096
524288
512
67) Unix
Saving and Closing
[esc]
:wq!
Save changes and quit
[esc]
:w!
Save without quitting
[esc]
:q!
Quit without saving
[esc]

:w newfile
Save as a different file name
49) What are all TSM Server parameters help to increase the server
performance?
Rescource Utilization.
Buffer pool Size.
Number of Clients.
Database Size must be under controlled.
Not to use Show, Few Select commands.
50) What are all parameters helps to increase backup performance?
Adapter from Client side, should have 1GBPS NIC.
Increase Transaction Byte Limit value in DSM.OPT
If the backup is going to TAPE, better to use Latest LTO technology to speed
up the Backup performance.
51) What are all actions you will perform to speed up the restoration?
Keep the Client Data in DISK Storage Pool itself for few days using
MIGDELAY value, So that When ever we restore that data It will be faster
since it is in DISK.
Increase Transaction Byte Limit value in, Mount Points in Client DSM.OPT.
Use Collocation enabled for the Node.
52) How to check the number of slots in library?
show slots libraryname >> will show each and every information about
slots.
Ex: PVR slot information for library DDSST05.
Library
: LIBR3584
Product Id
: 03584L32
Support module : 4
Mount count
:3
No of drives Mounted.
Drives
:6
Total No. of Drives.
Slots
: 1063
Changers
:2
>>>>>>>> It means that GRIPPERS are 2
Import/Exports : 10
Device
: /dev/st05_smc101
Drive 0, element 257
Drive 1, element 258
Drive 2, element 259
Drive 3, element 260
Drive 4, element 261
Drive 5, element 262
Changer 0, element 1
Changer 1, element 2
Slot 0, status Cleaner, element number 1025, barcode not present, barcode
value
<>, devT=LTO, mediaT=387, elemT=ANY

Slot 1, status Cleaner, element number 1026, barcode not present, barcode
value
<>, devT=LTO, mediaT=387, elemT=ANY
Slot 2, status Cleaner, element number 1027, barcode not present, barcode
value
<>, devT=LTO, mediaT=387, elemT=ANY
53) How to find and resolve when the drive is continuously generating
errors?
From TSM Server, We can check the drive errors in activity log using,
q act se=drivename begind=-1 endd=today
From AIX,
errpt | more
To resolve the drive issue,
Check the drive element address, using > q dr libraryname f=d
55) How to configure LANFREE?
56) To check whether all the drives configured properly or not in
Storage Agent, use this command?
lsdev Cc tape
57) To check Whether Storage Agent Process is running or not?
ps ef | grep dsmsta
58) How to check whether drive is configured properly or not?
In AIX, lsdev Cc tape
From TSM Server, q drive libraryname drivename f=d
Here you can find whether drive is online or not
AIX COMMANDS
lsdev Cc tape
To check the Configured TAPE drives,
To check information about Ethernet Adapter 1,
To find the complete information about the AIX system.
[Processor, Memory, Hard Disk]
What are the server configuration files? Explain in detail?
What is Reclamation, Migration? How will you do it manually?
Reclamation: It is the process moving the active data from fragmented
volumes to single or few no of volumes. It makes the fragmented volumes
reusable.
Command: Reclaim stg poolname threshold=number duration=minutes
offsitereclaimimit=no of volumes
Migration: This is used to migrate files from one storage pool to the next
storage pool
Command: Migrate stgpool poolname lowmig=number duration=minutes
reclaim=yes/no.
Mention the reasons for migration fail?
Migdelay and vol out of space.
Have you ever implemented new TSM server? what is the process?
prtconf

59)
60)

61)
62)

63) what is the procedure to take backup from new Backup/Archive

client?
64) How will you do the restore to a client system if you have access?
Restore path
Restore path pick(To restore a particular file)
65) What is the maximum size of recovery log?
13 GB
67) Is there any other process other than show logpin?
68) How many Servers & Clients do you have in your company?
8 severs,1500 clients.
69) What are your Daily activites?
70) Mention any other commands other than q db,q log?
Using SELECT commands we can do
71) What are the parameters in copy group?
72) How will you configure schedule in client?
73) What is command to take DB Backup?
Backup DB devc=deviceclass type=full/incremental/snapshot
74) Do you have idea about Exchange, TDP oracle, TDP SQL?
Yes I know about TDP SQL
75) How will you take scheduling backup in TDP SQL?
LIBRARY
94) What type of library model you are using?
95) How many drives do you have?
96) what is the model of the tape you are using?What is its size?
LTO 4 Size:800 GB,when compressed 1.6 TB speed :120Mbps
97) What will yu do when drives went offfline?
98) Is you library is shared?How you shared it?
YES
Define
library
library_name
library
type=
manual/scsi/349x
autolabel=yes/no shared=yes/no
99) Is your library is logically shared or physically shared?
Logically shared
100) If logically shared is all drives accessible to all servers?
NO