Users with Network File System (NFS) in their network can use the BRMS cloud storage solution with IBM Cloud Storage Solutions for i to perform backup and restore operations for a NFS server.

Network Install using Network File System (NFS) Considerations and Requirements

The following save data must be restored before BRMS can begin restoring save data directly from the cloud:

• SAVSYS is required to install the operating system.

• product IBM Backup, Recovery and Media Services for i and BRMS save information is required before automatic recovery can be performed.

• product IBM TCP/IP Connectivity for i and configuration information is required to allow communications with cloud storage providers product IBM Cloud Storage Solutions for i and configuration information is required to establish connections with cloud storage providers.

BRMS provides specific control groups that can be used to automatically save this data to virtual optical image files which are transferred to the cloud. This cloud image files can be downloaded and formatted for a Network Installation using Network File System (NFS). This NFS support is being offered as an alternative to the default BRMS behavior which requires the cloud image files to be downloaded and burned to physical optical media.

Requirements for NFS Cloud Solution

Enabling this function to override the default *DVD4700 requirement for BRMS control groups named QCLDBIPLnn, QCLDUIPLnn, QCLDBGRPnn, and QCLDUGRPnn. This will allow these control groups to create virtual optical media of any size which can be used for NFS installs. For more information on setting the virtual volume sizes and the number of volumes reference BRMS Cloud Storage Solutions Operations (How to...). The following IBM i BRMS PTFs need to be applied:

To Enable

In 5770-BR1 7.3 and 5770-BR1 7.4 run one of the following commands:

CALL QBRM/Q1AOLD PARM('SETUPFUN  ' '*SET    ' 'Q1ACLDNFS' '*JOB')    - set up to for current job only

CALL QBRM/Q1AOLD PARM('SETUPFUN  ' '*SET    ' 'Q1ACLDNFS' '*SYS')    - set up to affect all jobs

In 5770-BR2 7.4, 5770-BR2 7.5, and 5770-BR1 7.5 and later, run the following command:

SETFCNBRM ACTION(*ADD) FUNCTION(CLDNFS) SCOPE(*SYS)

To Remove:

In 5770-BR1 7.3 and 5770-BR1 7.4 run one of the following commands:

CALL QBRM/Q1AOLD PARM('SETUPFUN  ' '*REMOVE ' 'Q1ACLDNFS' '*JOB')  - remove for current job only

CALL QBRM/Q1AOLD PARM('SETUPFUN  ' '*REMOVE ' 'Q1ACLDNFS' '*SYS') - remove for all jobs

5770-BR2 7.4, 5770-BR2 7.5, and 5770-BR1 7.5 and later, run the following command:

SETFCNBRM ACTION(*REMOVE) FUNCTION(CLDNFS) SCOPE(*SYS)

To check what is setup:

In 5770-BR1 7.3 and 5770-BR1 7.4 run the following command:

CALL QBRM/Q1AOLD PARM('SETUPFUN' '*DISPLAY' 'Q1ACLDNFS' )

In 5770-BR2 7.4, 5770-BR2 7.5, and 5770-BR1 7.5, to display what the current setting is run the following command:

DSPFCNBRM FUNCTION(*ALL)  then press F10 to see the detailed results.

Recovery

The BRMS recovery report will identify the saved item transferred to the cloud containing the virtual optical image files required for an NFS install. These image files will need to be transferred from the cloud and formatted as a NFS install image on the host NFS server.  

Considerations

• The BRMS recovery report special steps are only printed for backups using the BRMS cloud control groups that have a QCLDB prefix.

• The host NFS server is required to be an IBM i and have the 5733ICC IBM Cloud Storage Solutions for i product installed.

• The host NFS server should be at the same release or higher release level than the backup system information.

• The CPYFRMCLD command should be used to transfer the virtual optical images from the cloud to the host NFS server.

• Monitor and verify the volume was successfully moved using the WRKSTSICC command.

• If the host NFS server is in the BRMS Network with the Network feature (Option 1) installed, MOVMEDBRM or WRKMEDBRM with Option 8 can be used to transfer the volumes to the host NFS server.

• If the host NFS server has BRMS with the Advanced feature (Option 2) installed, INZBRM OPTION(*VFYNFSIMG) IMGCLG('image-catalog-name') can be used to prepare the server image for the NFS install. This support automates step 3.2.1.1 Prepare server image for a full upgrade from the IBM i Network Install using Network File System instructions.

After restoring the critical operating system information from the NFS server, the remainder of the recovery report will the guide the restore of the remaining user data from the cloud.

NFS References

Network Install using Network File System (NFS) References