How to configure Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM) Server Instance using configuration wizard dsmicfgx on AIX

After you have installed Tivoli Storage Manager Version 6.3 or later and prepared for the configuration, configure the Tivoli Storage Manager server instance. You can Configure a Tivoli Storage Manager server instance by selecting one of the following options:

• Use the Tivoli Storage Manager configuration wizard (dsmicfgx) on your local system.

• Use the Tivoli Storage Manager configuration wizard in the Administration Center. 

• Manually configure the new Tivoli Storage Manager instance. 

In this post I will demonstrate how to configure using Tivoli Storage Manager configuration wizard (dsmicfgx) which is also the best recommended method from the above three. This method is same both in Windows and UNIX environment.

Configuring Tivoli Storage Manager server using the Configuration Wizard (dsmicfgx):

By using the graphical user interface (GUI), you can avoid some configuration steps that are complex when done manually. Start the wizard on the system where you installed the Tivoli Storage Manager server program.

Also Read: Problem and Solutions for commonly seen TSM Server DB related issues

Before beginning the configuration wizard, you must complete all preceding steps to prepare for the configuration, including prerequisite checking, installing Tivoli Storage Manager, creating the database and log directories, and creating the directories and user ID for the server instance.

Ensure that the following requirements are met:

• The system where you installed Tivoli Storage Manager must have the X Window System client. You must also be running an X Window System server on your desktop.

• The system must have one of the following protocols enabled. Ensure hat the port that the protocol uses is not blocked by a firewall.

• Secure Shell (SSH). Ensure that the port is set to the default value, 22. Also ensure that the SSH daemon service has access rights for connecting to the system by using localhost.

• Remote shell (RSH).

• Remote Execution Protocol (REXEC).

• You must be able to log in to Tivoli Storage Manager with the user ID that you created for the server instance, by using the SSH, RSH, or REXEC protocol. When using the wizard, you must provide this user ID and password to access that system.

Start the Configuration Wizard:

• Open the dsmicfgx program in the /opt/tivoli/tsm/server/bin directory.

• This wizard can only be run as a root user.

• Follow the instructions to complete the configuration. The wizard can be stopped and restarted, but the server is not operational until the entire configuration process is complete.

In this post I have used Xmanager as the X window system client to graphically configure the TSM Server on AIX from a windows machine. Xmanager is the leading PC X server in the market that brings the power of X applications to a Windows environment. You can learn and download Xmanager here.

Step 1: Login as root and go the installation directory /opt/tivoli/tsm/server/bin directory run the dsmicfgx binary file. It will open a pop-up window, a GUI based configuration wizard as shown below.

Step 2: Specify the user ID and password for the new TSM Instance and click NEXT. Check how to create user ID and password for the new TSM Instance

Step 3: Specify the new Instance directory where all the TSM Server configuration files will be saved and click NEXT.

Step 4: Specify the TSM Database directories and click NEXT. You should create a file with list of Database directories if you are choosing first option. Check how to create db & log directories.

Step 5: Specify the TSM Active log directory, Archive log directory paths. Activemirror log and Archivefailover log directories are optional but it is strongly recommended.

Step 6: Specify the TSM Server name which you want to use. Check TSM Server naming conventions before taking server name decision to avoid silly annoying issues. Also select the option when to start the TSM Instance after completion of this configuration setup.

Also Read: Temporary Log Files for TSM DB and Recovery Logs

Step 7: Specify the TSM Administrator name and password which is used to login into the TSM Server. 

Step 8: You dont have to change the default settings unless you have different options other than specified below. 

Step 9: Review the configuration summary and click NEXT.

Step 10: The TSM instance configuration will start now and it will undergo many steps. It will approximately take 20-30 minutes to complete the configuration. You can see the steps on the wizard screen.

Also Read: How to increase or decrease TSM DB, active log and archive log size ?

Step 10: Now the wizard should say that configuration of TSM is successful as shown above. Now click NEXT and click DONE.

The next step is to start the TSM Server Instance with the TSM Instance user ID:

Log in to the system where Tivoli Storage Manager is installed by using the instance user ID which was created before. Issue the following commands to start the TSM Server Instance

. /home/tsminst1/sqllib/db2profile

/opt/tivoli/tsm/server/bin/dsmserv

To start the server in the background, issue the following command

/opt/tivoli/tsm/server/bin/dsmserv -q &