Tivoli Backup & Archives

IBM Tivoli

IBM Tivoli Storage Manager


RackForce's Enterprise Backup & Archive Solution

RackForce provides data backup services utilizing IBM's Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM). RackForce's TSM backup solution includes both onsite and offsite1 electronic vaulting in a single enterprise class backup package.

Utilizing TSM's Smart Data Store technology, RackForce's backup solution backs up your defined data nightly to a storage pool at the primary onsite location, and then moves the data to a second storage device in a secure offsite1 location within the following 24 to 48 hours. The most recent "active" copy of each file is retained at the onsite location to facilitate faster restore times while offsite copies ensure resiliency and security for backed up data.

TSM is fully automated and its centralized policy management system allows authorized customer users to dictate which files are included or excluded from backups.

How It Works:

  • RackForce will install TSM client(s) as required on your server(s) that gives you control over what files are included or excluded as well as the ability to select from the retention policies indicated below.
    • Economy - 2 versions / 7 day retention policy;
    • Basic - 3 versions/14 day retention policy;
    • Premium - 7 version/31 day retention policy
  • Custom management classes and retention policies are available. Please contact Sales for more details sales@rackforce.com
  • You data is first backed up to hard disk (SAN or NAS) in the primary onsite facility.
  • At regular intervals your onsite stored data is copied to a secure offsite1 storage pool.
  • RackForce uses a centralized TSM server to control your backups.
  • You have full control of restores from the TSM client installed on your server(s)
  • Alternatively may request assistance through a support ticket opened from inside the Rackforce Customer Service Center portal.
RackForce Pricing - Backups and Archives IBM Tivoli Storage Manager
Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM) License (1 License Per O/S) $89/month
Tivoli Data Protection (TDP) License for SQL, Exchange, Domino (1 License Per O/S) $100/month
Backup & Archive Storage - Includes Offsite Electronic Vaulting $1/GB
NOTE:
  1. If you require Live MS SQL or Exchange Backups please order Tivoli backups. Indicate which ones you require in the order notes. We will contact you to gather any additional required info.
  2. Usage billed based on average daily storage volume2

Data Restore Time

The time it takes to restore your data will depend on the nature of the data. 100,000 x 1MB files (97GB) will take far longer to restore than a single 97GB file would due to the increased amount of processes required. Restore Time Objectives (RTO) and Restore Point Objectives (RPO) are Customer's responsibility and should form part of Customer's business continuity and disaster recovery planning. There is no guarantee the Customer will be able to restore appropriate data to a specific point or within a specified period of time.

Achieving RTOs and RPOs is largely dependent on sound planning resulting in the implementation of appropriate management classes, backup schedules, retention policies, and include/exclude rules. In addition, the size and number of data files as well as the methods employed for database backups, change log management and other key factors can all dramatically affect RTO and RPO performance.

How much storage space will I require?

We are often asked how much space will be required to backup a customer's data. This is a difficult question to answer as there are a number of variables to take into consideration, one of the most important being the number, and size, of incremental changes (Delta Change) made.

As TSM does not use data compression you can use the following formula to work out an approximation of your storage requirements Original Data + (Delta Change * Number of Days) So to create an example let's say you have 20GB of data you want backed up, let's further say that your average incremental change total is 1GB and that you are storing for 30 days. Your storage requirements would be 20 + (1*30) = 50GB.

Every Rackforce TSM customer get's access to their backup usage charts in the Customer Service Center and we encourage customers to use the information in there to set the right combination of includes/excludes and management classes: (Minimal which has a 3 version/14 day retention policy; Economy - 7 versions/14 day retention policy; Basic - 14 version/31 day retention policy and Premium - 31 versions/365 day retention policy.) to create the backup policy that works best for their needs (custom management classes available by special order for additional fees).

1 Applies to GigaCenter customers only.
2 Backup data usage, based on Average Daily Usage amounts, is calculated monthly and billed in arrears.