TSM for VE: VM Backups and Version Controlling

Problem(Abstract)

Tivoli Storage Manager for Virtual Environment backups versions controlled description.

Resolving the problem

There are two types of version control backup method strategies:

Periodic full backup strategy:

The backup versions are retained / expired depending on Full Backup, the incremental backups are associated with the full backup so when the full backup gets expired due to the Verexist value, all the incrementals associated with it are also expired.
Tivoli Storage Manager client and Tivoli Storage Manager for Virtual Environment V6.2, V6.3, 6.4 support the Periodic full backup strategy method

Incremental forever backup strategy:

The backup versions are retained / expired depending on the Full/Incremental,, when the Full/Incremental total value exceeds the Verexist the the oldest Full/Incremental is expired.

Note: Tivoli Storage Manager client and Tivoli Storage Manager for Virtual Environment V6.4 support the Incremental forever backup strategy method.

The main difference between the schedule or the actual backup command is the following:

Periodic full backup strategy: -vmbackuptype=fullvm -MODE=Incremental
Incremental forever backup strategy: -vmbackuptype=fullvm -MODE=IFIncremental

More information can be found in the "Planning for VM backups" section of the Information Center.

Source:

IBM Technote VM Backups and Version Controlling