Backing up System i to a remote non-IBM server

Backing up System i to a remote non-IBM server

I would like to back up my System i to a remote non-IBM server. Is there a way to do this? I think I could easily accomplish this if I can get the backup into my IFS. Is this possible? Thanks.

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The easiest way I can think of to do this would be to use the new virtual tape functionality that was introduced in V5R4 of i5/OS.

The virtual tape images are stored as files in the IFS. Refer to the IBM Information Center for all the nitty-gritty details, but in a nutshell it works like this:

  • You create an image catalog in the IFS. (CRTIMGCLG)
  • You add entries to this image catalog. Each entry is treated as a separate virtual tape volume. (ADDIMGCLGE)
  • You create a virtual tape device and vary it on. (CRTDEVTAP and VRYCFG)
  • You associate an image catalog with the virtual tape. (LODIMGCLG)

Run your backup like you always do except write to the virtual tape drive instead of a real one. The image catalog files can then be FTPed to a storage system anywhere in the world.

This was first published in April 2008

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