What is XS-EnterpriseBACKUP?

XS-EnterpriseBACKUP allows you to centralise on OpenVMS backups of OpenVMS, UNIX and Windows NT/2000 and catalogue media for all these systems in an organised library.

Why should I purchase XS-EnterpriseBACKUP?

Large amounts of critical data require secure storage and retrieval, making the archiving and retrieval of information an essential function of the IT department. With the growth of enterprise systems IT managers must be able to maintain a centralised and uniform backup strategy across a variety of operating systems including OpenVMS, UNIX and Windows NT. XS-EnterpriseBACKUP fulfils these requirements with an enterprise-wide software solution for backing up and retrieving data while managing removable media.

XS-EnterpriseBACKUP makes performing backups and restores across a heterogeneous network nearly effortless. Remote systems can be backed up onto the removable media on a central OpenVMS machine via the network. Alternatively, remote backups can be initiated on the remote system, utilising the remote systems’ own removable drives. Either way, maintaining constant insight into the contents of all your removable disks is a breeze using the central online Media database. One other important factor is that XS-EnterpriseBACKUP has guaranteed ongoing development, ensuring that this product will be supported into the future.

How do I use EnterpriseSCHEDULE with my backup jobs?

Need to do more than just designate what disk drives to backup when? With a click of a mouse an EnterpriseSCHEDULE job can be automatically created for your EnterpriseBACKUP job. Schedule any of your EnterpriseBACKUP jobs with simple or complex scenarios. Do you want to run your backups during off hours? Do you want to sequentially shutdown databases, perform backups, and then restart databases? Do you want to balance the load on your disk controllers and/or CPU's? If you answer yes to any of these questions, see how naturally ISE products couple together to manage your IT environment.

Can I backup UNIX nodes with XS-EnterpriseBACKUP?

 Any UNIX node on your cluster can easily be backed up using the Task/Agent software. Drives on your UNIX nodes are backed up across a TCP/IP connection using specific Task/Agent commands, initiated from your OpenVMS node.

You can also use a TCP/IP product such as UCX (TCP/IP Services for OpenVMS), TCPware or Multinet to make the NFS mount point behave as a VMS device for BCKMGR. All your remote nodes are backed up to the removable media devices on your central OpenVMS system or cluster. It is no longer necessary to manage backups separately on each of your nodes. The central database maintains information on all backup jobs, whether local or remote. The system automatically connects/disconnects from the remote node during the backup.

Can I backup Windows NT/2000 nodes with XS-EnterpriseBACKUP?

Windows NT and 2000 nodes are accessible to the BCKMGR module of XS EnterpriseBACKUP using the Task/Agent software. Backups are performed on disk drives on Windows NT/2000 nodes, writing data to their locally attached tape devices. The backups are triggered by specific Task/Agent commands, initiated from your OpenVMS node. Backup software such as NTBACKUP and UltraBac can be run in this way, with complete automation - backup scheduling, tape label checking and the storage of job status and backup contents information.

Can I use stackers or robotic devices in Media to run backups (XS-EnterpriseBACKUP)?

All the latest stackers and robotic tape library devices are supported by Media for trouble free, automated library functions and backups. These devices can also be used in "scratch" mode allowing unassigned "scratch" media to be used for backups. Such devices include the TL89x library series. Contact XuiS for configuration details.

Does Storage Works work with Media (XS-EnterpriseBACKUP)?

Media is fully compatible with all Storage Works devices and drivers. Virtually all commercially available read/write devices will work with Media. Media supports all varieties of removable drives from DAT and 8mm to stackers and robotic devices. For information on support for your specific drive contact XuiS

Can I add a custom selectable menu item to the MOTIF GUI?

You can add your own selections to the XS-EnterpriseSCHEDULE MOTIF GUI so you can perform custom actions on a job by selecting this item. To do this, select Job menu additions from the Options menu in the MOTIF GUI. Select both Job Control and Update data buttons and enter the text you want to see in the menu under Menu Text. Next, enter the command using 'p1' that you want to perform on the job. For example to put the job into the "Hold in Queue" state so that the job goes into the hold state when it is submitted, enter:

Menu Text: Hold job
DCL command: $SCHEDULE MODIFY 'p1' /SUBMIT=HOLD

Click on OK and then right click on the job. You will see the menu item which can be selected to put the job in Hold.

How can I customize the notifications from a BCKMGR job (XS-EnterpriseBACKUP)?

 The following notification qualifiers are permitted on any MEDIA $ or * command, and therefore apply to the first line of a BCKMGR job. This command is preserved when the user changes the BACKUP options from within MCL. Therefore any customisation will be retained.

/FAILURE_NOTIFY

Only send the mail message when job terminates with a fatal error. Warnings are ignored.

/MAIL

Send mail instead of a broadcast message.

/MAIL=OWNER

Send the mail message to the owner of the medium, as distinct from the owner of the job.

/MAIL=username

The username can be any valid list for VMS mail, i.e. single user, list (in double quotes and separated by commas), indirect file (distribution list) or a logical name. If a logical name is used it must be in the system table of the node which supports the queue controlling device which will be used. In practise, this means cluster-wide or at least on every node running MEDIA. The username who owns the BCKMGR job, and therefore its submission, will always get a mail message if COPY_SELF is enabled. Otherwise this username needs to be a part of the list. Your mail specification may be of the form smtp%”mail-address” if you have configured smtp client/server mail support.

/NONOTIFY

Do not mail or broadcast under any circumstance.

 How can I use removable disks with my backups (XS-EnterpriseBACKUP)?

 Removable disks (CDR, CD or other magnetic disks) can be organized, managed and used with the MEDIA Librarian (part of XS EnterpriseBACKUP) even if they are not being used for backups or never mounted on an OpenVMS system. For example, to catalogue a CD and maintain an online copy of its directory information the following steps are needed:

a. One time set-up

i. Associate a device to the new type. E.g.

$ MEDIAS SET CD0="DISK,$1$DKA0:"

ii. Associate a batch queue. E.g.

$ MEDIAS SET QUEUE1="SYS$BATCH,CD"

b. For each CD to be used

i. Add the CD to the catalogue

$ MEDIA MYCD ADD/TYPE=CD

ii. Assign the CD

$ MEDIA MYCD ASSIGN/STATUS=(NONEW,NOBLANK)

iii. Update the online directory

$ MEDIA MYCD SUBMIT_UPDATE

iv. View the CD directory

$ MEDIA MYCD > * DIRECTORY

How can my Operators use MEDIA without the need for special privileges (XS-EnterpriseBACKUP)?

Create two special rights identifiers. Grant the rights identifier MEDIA_MANAGER to users who should be able to change any record in the MEDIA database. Grant MEDIA_OPERATOR to users who should be able to read any record in the MEDIA database, but not change them (i.e. not just the user’s own media entries). These identifiers can be used to grant access that the user’s VMS privileges would not otherwise allow.

How do I add tapes to Media (XS-EnterpriseBACKUP)?

 You can add tapes or any other type of removable media to the Media database using the ADD command or using the Media GUI or MCL interfaces. Once your tapes are added to the database, you have a permanent record of the tape, including its location, type, density and contents. You can then assign each tape to a backup job or designate it as a scratch tape for use on request by the backup manager. Read the “Media Introductory Guide” for a tutorial on adding tapes to Media. An example of the way that you can add a range of tapes, such as TP0001 to TP0099:

$ MEDIA TP0001:99 ADD/TYPE=TAPE

 How do I install XS-EnterpriseBACKUP from the XuiS CD disk?

 The XuiS CD-ROM contains both programs and documentation. It is written in ISO 9660 format. Note that your system must be running OpenVMS version 6 or above for the CD to be mounted and read properly. In order to Install the software programs, follow the instructions below:

 Is there a limited tryout period for the demo (XS-EnterpriseBACKUP)?

The demo period is 45 days from the day of installation, during which time you can exercise all of Media's many features. If more time is needed, an extension may be requested from XuiS.

How difficult is installing Media?

Installation is simple using the easy to follow Quick Start Guide.

Will my device(s) work with Media?

Virtually all commercially available read/write devices will work with Media. Media supports all varieties of removable drives from DAT and 9mm to stackers and robotic devices. For information on support for your specific drive contact ISE.