Backup AS/400 to Windows Server

[ACP IT]

Hello,

I am wondering if there is a way to backup the AS/400 to a Windows 2003
server. I want to know if I can create a device that fools the AS/400
into thinking that the Windows server is a Tape dev. Right now we have
68 GB on the AS/400 and only a 26 GB tape drive, so we can never do a
complete backup. From what I've read in the group you can do saves
across the network, but not a complete backup. If I could spoof the
tape device on the Windows box it seems that the normal backup routine
on the AS/400 would work as it usually does, using the PC as the
"TAP01" dev. Is this possible?

We have a 270 running V4R5.

PS. The boss doesn't want to spend $5000 on a new tape drive or any
upgrades to the AS/400.

Thanks

[Brad]

Not quite what you ask but here are a few options to consider to get
the same result

1) If you have loads of free disk space on the iSeries free and large
backup window, save to save file with data compressoin on. You can
then save savefile data to tape at you leasure whilst the system is in
use.

2) Upgrade internal tape to 30 or 50GB drive (they will both easily
take 67GB compressed) buy this tape drive 2nd user and it should be a
fraction of the $5000 your boss won't spend.

3) Use a 3rd party network backup product like
www.backup-technology.co.uk

I'm guessing option 1 or 3 would be best for you. I don't want to
sound like an IBM preacher here but be very careful of trusting your
backup to a less stable platform and if you do, test well and often.

Good Luck

[Jeremy Boden]

Post by ACP IT
Hello,
I am wondering if there is a way to backup the AS/400 to a Windows 2003
server. I want to know if I can create a device that fools the AS/400
into thinking that the Windows server is a Tape dev. Right now we have
68 GB on the AS/400 and only a 26 GB tape drive, so we can never do a
complete backup. From what I've read in the group you can do saves
across the network, but not a complete backup. If I could spoof the
tape device on the Windows box it seems that the normal backup routine
on the AS/400 would work as it usually does, using the PC as the
"TAP01" dev. Is this possible?
We have a 270 running V4R5.
PS. The boss doesn't want to spend $5000 on a new tape drive or any
upgrades to the AS/400.
Thanks

Your boss is a fool.
You could pay someone to sit next to the tape drive and shove a
continuation reel in at midnight (or whatever).

[TECSIS]

Theoretically it should be possible to mount an external tape device via
NFS protocol then use the SAV command,.You should also need an NSF server
running on Windows, or LINUX but I am not very sure that IBM would allow it.
Time ago I tryed it but it was not possible. I think that the test was run
in V4R5M0.

Someone told me that IBM would never allow to mount an external save
device via NFS since it would impact save devices sells. Would it mean that
OS/400 has a faulty implementation of the NFS protocol?

Would any one try it on V5R4M0 and tell us how it performed?

[Steve Richter]

Post by TECSIS
Theoretically it should be possible to mount an external tape device via
NFS protocol then use the SAV command,.You should also need an NSF server
running on Windows, or LINUX but I am not very sure that IBM would allow it.
Time ago I tryed it but it was not possible. I think that the test was run
in V4R5M0.
Someone told me that IBM would never allow to mount an external save
device via NFS since it would impact save devices sells. Would it mean that
OS/400 has a faulty implementation of the NFS protocol?
Would any one try it on V5R4M0 and tell us how it performed?

in V5R4 you can save the entire system to an image catalog ( virtual
tape ) with the resulting stream file stored on the IFS. From there
you can copy to the windows server. I dont know the details and dont
know NFS, but my guess is IBM would tell customers to take the virtual
tape route in order to use the tape drive on the server.

-Steve

[Pompa]

Version V5R4M0 is not strictly needed to perform such a task ... you can
do it in previous releases by saving libraries into a SAVF and then FTPing
it intoto an external machine or even into your own machine ... but ... the
problem remains becouse you need any way to have enought spare space in the
local machine to save the savefile in a local temporary backup before FTPing
it.

It would be very nice that the new function in V5R4M0 would be able to save
a streamfile on a an external mounted directory with NFS (Network File
System) or over the NTFS (microsoft's windows or samba type network file
system) mounted directory.

Any one to test it on V5R4M0?? I cannot do it since our machines are on
previous versions.

Post by Steve Richter

Post by TECSIS
Theoretically it should be possible to mount an external tape device via
NFS protocol then use the SAV command,.You should also need an NSF server
running on Windows, or LINUX but I am not very sure that IBM would allow it.
Time ago I tryed it but it was not possible. I think that the test was run
in V4R5M0.
Someone told me that IBM would never allow to mount an external save
device via NFS since it would impact save devices sells. Would it mean that
OS/400 has a faulty implementation of the NFS protocol?
Would any one try it on V5R4M0 and tell us how it performed?

in V5R4 you can save the entire system to an image catalog ( virtual
tape ) with the resulting stream file stored on the IFS. From there
you can copy to the windows server. I dont know the details and dont
know NFS, but my guess is IBM would tell customers to take the virtual
tape route in order to use the tape drive on the server.
-Steve

[Holger Scherer]

Hi, an alternative method would be to mount your PC tape drive
into the AS/400 (replace the internal drive with an other drive,
set SCSI ID to 0 (as the internal drive) for to 2 (second tape).

Works good with most drives.

-h

Post by ACP IT
PS. The boss doesn't want to spend $5000 on a new tape drive or any
upgrades to the AS/400.

[ACP IT]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm not sure which way I'm going to go at
this point.

Post by ACP IT
Hello,
I am wondering if there is a way to backup the AS/400 to a Windows 2003
server. I want to know if I can create a device that fools the AS/400
into thinking that the Windows server is a Tape dev. Right now we have
68 GB on the AS/400 and only a 26 GB tape drive, so we can never do a
complete backup. From what I've read in the group you can do saves
across the network, but not a complete backup. If I could spoof the
tape device on the Windows box it seems that the normal backup routine
on the AS/400 would work as it usually does, using the PC as the
"TAP01" dev. Is this possible?
We have a 270 running V4R5.
PS. The boss doesn't want to spend $5000 on a new tape drive or any
upgrades to the AS/400.
Thanks