Performing an IBM i Disaster Recovery Operation

Perform a disaster recovery operation on the IBM i client computer. You can recover to the same IBM i computer or duplicate the IBM i computer by using Commvault VTL.

Note

If you duplicate the computer, you must make sure that the TCP/IP configuration is updated to avoid network issues on the source computer.

The job first mounts the first tape cartridge used for the DR backup, and then goes to suspended state. Use this mounted tape to restore the minimum OS by following IBM manual and then restore the Commvault libraries. You must resume the job to load the next tape volume once IBM i console requests for the next volume. Repeat resuming the job for all the required tape cartridges to mount.

After you restore the operating system and network, go to the CommCell Console and resume the suspended job.

Before You Begin

Verify and update the TCP/IP configuration.

Note

If the TCP/IP configuration changes, you must stop and restart the Commvault services.
Verify that the IASPs are configured correctly.
To restore to a new client, add an IBM i client.

Procedure

From the CommCell Browser, go to Client Computers.
Right-click the client (IBM i LPAR), and then click 1-Touch Recovery Points.

The IBM i DR recovery Options dialog box appears.
Configure the 1-Touch settings:
1. From the Run workflow on list, select the client that the workflow runs on.
2. To change the number of retries before the job fails, in the Number of Retries before Failing box, type the new number.
  
  The software uses 3 as a default.
3. To change the time that the software waits to attempt a retry, in the Delay between retry attempt box, type the number of minutes that the software waits.
  
  The software uses 5 minutes as a default.
4. To change the timeout for the QSEC restore job, in the Timeout for QSEC Restore job box, type the new time
  
  The software uses 300 seconds as a default. This number depends on your system size and speed.
5. Click OK.
  
  The Client to restore dialog box appears.
From the Destination Client list, select the client.

You can select the same client or a new client.
Click Next.

The Source client dialog box appears.
From the Source client list, select the client where you performed the backup.
Click Next.

The Source Backup Set dialog box appears.
From the User Data Backup Set list, select the backup set that you want to restore.
Click Next.

The Select DR Backup Job to Recover dialog box appears.
Select the job:

The dialog box displays all the available DR jobs.
1. If there is more than one job, then from the Select DR Backup Job to Recover list, select the appropriate backup job.
2. The software restores the latest data by default, to change this option, clear the Restore Latest User Data check box.
3. Click Next.
  
  The Copy Precedence dialog box appears.
If you have multiple data copies and you want to restore from a copy, then in the Copy Precedence box, type the number for the copy that you want to restore.

Note

When using copy precedence, verify that the fiber channel network is properly zoned between the destination client and Commvault VTL associated with the selected copy.
Click Next.

The Restore Options dialog box appears.
Select the restore options.
1. To restore the private authority, select the Restore Private Authority (PVTAUT) check box.
2. To restore the spooled data file, select the Restore Spooled Data file check box.
3. To restore the logical files over the physical files that were created in the system, in the Identifier for Restore Deferred Objects box, type an alphanumeric string.
  
  This option restores the logic files over the physical files in case the files are not in the same library. For example, when you restore the data and the physical files and the logical files are in different libraries. In order to restore the files, create an identifier. You can then restore by using that identifier. For example, if you use the "ABCD123" string as the identifier, you can restore the missing files at the end of the restore by using RSTDFROBJ. For more information, see the RSTLIB and DFRID options in the IBM manuals.
4. From the Force Object Conversion (FRCOBJCVN) list, select the object conversion.
  
  The default is *YES *ALL.
5. From the Allow Object Differences (ALLOWOBJDIF) list, select the how to allow object differences.
  
  The default is *ALL.
6. Click Next.
  
  The Output Log Options dialog box appears.
From the Output log destination list, select the log output option.

The default is *NONE. For more information, see IBM i File System Agent Advanced Backup - Log Output.
1. Click Next.
  
  The Information dialog appears and displays your selections. A list of tape cartridge identifiers that will be used for restoring appears.
Click Begin Restore.

What to Do Next

The software starts a job that you can view in the job controller.

The job runs and mounts the first tape cartridge to the Commvault VTL connected to the destination client and the job shows as suspended.

After the first job goes to suspended state, perform the following operations:

Use the mounted tape cartridge as an alternate restart device, and perform IPL-D to boot from the mounted tape cartridge.
Restore the minimal Operating System for an IBM i File System Agent client.
Recovering System Data and Commvault Libraries from a DR Backup.
In the Job Controller, resume the second restore job that is in the Suspended state, For more information, see Resuming a Job in the Job Controller.

Note

If the suspended job failed, or you need to cancel the suspended job, then you can perform a full data restore operation. For more information, see Performing an IBM i File System Agent Full Data Restore Operation.