Backup strategies for IBM i

IBM Power Virtual Server in IBM data center

IBM Power Virtual Server Private Cloud in Client location

A common IBM i backup strategy is to use IBM® Backup, Recovery, and Media Services (BRMS) and IBM Cloud Storage Solutions (ICC). Together, these products automatically back up your LPARs to IBM Cloud Object Storage. The ICC product can be integrated with BRMS to move and retrieve objects from remote locations, including Cloud Object Storage. In most cases, this process involves backing up to virtual tapes and image catalogs.

You need extra storage for the LPAR to host the image catalogs until they are moved to Cloud Object Storage.

The typical IBM i customer uses the following flow to back up LPARs and objects:

1. Use the 5733-ICC product to connect to Cloud Object Storage (~2 times the disk capacity to hold the backup images).

2. Connect to IBM Cloud Object Storage by following the steps that are mentioned in Using Cloud Object Storage.

3. Complete the back up to Cloud Object Storage by choosing the speed and resiliency that is required.

   • Working with ICC
   • BRMS with Cloud Storage Solutions for i considerations and requirements
   • Data backup and recovery by using BRMS and IBM Cloud Storage Solutions for i

For a complete tutorial on backing up and restoring IBM i VM data, see Backing up and restoring data in an IBM i VM.