Installing and upgrading the server – IBM Spectrum Protect TSM

Hi friends, in this blog I’m sharing my experience and the little knowledge I have about upgrading the IBM Spectrum Protect (TSM) backup server. I know this isn’t a travel blog, but I still wanted to share my journey in my own words for my buddies who work on IBM Spectrum Protect/TSM. Hopefully, it helps someone who is facing similar issues or planning an upgrade.

IBM Spectrum Protect (TSM) Upgradation

This blog site is actually a Marathi blog website, and earlier I have already written posts here about what is Backup and the Types of Backup. Those articles have been helpful for people who are newly joining the backup domain (Tivoli Storage Manager / IBM Spectrum Protect).

Since I am currently working on the IBM Tivoli backup solution, whatever knowledge or experience I gain, I feel it should be shared with beginners. My aim is simple, if the information I learn can help someone else, then it’s worth sharing.

We recently upgraded our IBM Spectrum Protect (TSM) environment from version 8.1.13.00 to 8.1.13 Fix Pack 100. As of now, the latest available release of IBM Spectrum Protect TSM is version 8.1.15 (released in June 2022).

Before going deeper, I want to explain everything in simple and short words, so please read this entire Spectrum Protect TSM blog. If you like the content or have any questions, feel free to comment below. I know this information is basic, but I believe it will still be helpful for those who are new to the IBM Tivoli backup solution and starting their journey in the backup domain.

What Does IBM Spectrum Protect (TSM) Upgradation Mean & Why Do We Upgrade?

Upgrading IBM Spectrum Protect (TSM) simply means moving from an older version of the backup software to a newer version released by IBM. IBM Spectrum Protect, earlier known as TSM (Tivoli Storage Manager), is a backup and data protection solution used in IT companies, data centers, banks, and large enterprise environments to keep data safe and preserved.

This software is installed on servers or machines to protect data, schedule backups, and ensure recovery in case something goes wrong. Just like we update apps or operating systems for new features and improvements, the same way we upgrade TSM to the latest version for:

• Better performance and stability

• Latest features and security enhancements

• Fixes for bugs and known issues

• Support for new operating systems or environments

• Improved daily backup operations

So, Installing and upgrading IBM Spectrum Protect is a necessary step for smooth daily operations and to keep the environment up to date with the latest improvements provided by IBM.

What is IBM Spectrum Protect Plus?

IBM Spectrum Protect Plus is a modern data resilience and protection solution. It provides features like data protection, recovery, replication, and reuse for a wide range of environments such as:

• Virtual Machines (VMs)

• Databases & Applications

• File Systems

• SaaS Workloads

• Containers

• Cloud & Hybrid Cloud Environments

It focuses more on snapshot-based protection, easy restores, and fast recovery for virtualized and modern infrastructures.

IBM Spectrum Protect vs IBM Spectrum Protect Plus What’s the Difference?

Even though both belong to IBM’s backup family, their purpose and usage are different:

Feature / Purpose	IBM Spectrum Protect (TSM)	IBM Spectrum Protect Plus
Core Function	Traditional backup & archive solution	Snapshot-based protection & rapid recovery
Data Handling	Sends data to backup storage/server	Stores snapshots on vSnap for fast restores
Restore Process	Recovers data from Spectrum Protect server to target environment	Restores snapshots directly from vSnap
Best For	Servers, databases, file backups, enterprise protection	Virtual environments, VMs, cloud, containers, modern workloads

Simple Explanation:

• Spectrum Protect Plus :- Restores snapshots from vSnap to the original or alternate hypervisor.

• Spectrum Protect (for Virtual Environments) :- Recovers snapshots from the TSM/Spectrum Protect backup server to the original or alternate hypervisor.

So, Spectrum Protect Plus is more focused on quick restore and snapshot management, while Spectrum Protect is designed for full traditional backup and long-term data protection.

Why We Upgraded IBM Spectrum Protect TSM Server from v8.1.13 to v8.1.13.100

We decided to upgrade our IBM Spectrum Protect (TSM) server from v8.1.13 to v8.1.13.100 because we observed performance issues in our existing environment. After running on version v8.1.13, the backup server started to hang during operations and it affected regular backup activities, especially STA (LAN-Free) backups.

During the issue, we noticed that basic TSM commands were also getting stuck, such as:

q mount
q session
q path
q drive
q stg

These commands are very important for daily monitoring and troubleshooting. When they started hanging, it became difficult to manage the backup environment smoothly. Due to these operational interruptions, upgrading to v8.1.13.100 became necessary to stabilize performance, improve server response, and avoid impact on production backup schedules.

IBM Support Recommendation & Upgrade Activity

We opened a support case through IBM Passport Advantage, and after reviewing our logs, the IBM team recommended upgrading from v8.1.13 to IBM Spectrum Protect v8.1.13.100. Based on their guidance, we planned the upgrade activity and scheduled downtime for the backup server.

The entire upgrade process took approximately 6 hours to complete, including preparation, installation, verification, and post-checks. After the activity, the server performance and response time improved compared to the earlier state. 

Important Points I Know About IBM Spectrum Protect Upgrade & Migration

Below are some key points I have learned and followed during the IBM Spectrum Protect (TSM) upgrade and migration process. These steps may help beginners plan and perform the upgrade smoothly:

Before the Upgrade:

• Upgrade STA & BA clients to the required versions for compatibility.

• Take a full Spectrum Protect database backup (important for rollback if needed).

• Backup all critical setup files and configuration.

• You can also upgrade the Operations Center from v8.1.13.00 to v8.1.13.100 in parallel.

• Stop backup services by running the HALT command on the TSM server prompt.

• Verify running processes: ps -ef | grep dsm

• Once all services are down, proceed with upgrade steps.

Performing the Upgrade

Start the upgrade by running the installation command:

./install

You can always refer to the official IBM documentation for detailed steps on upgrading IBM Spectrum Protect (TSM). After the upgrade is successfully completed and installed, the next step is to start the TSM services.

dsmserv
/opt/tivoli/tsm/St*/bin/dsmserv &

Disable new sessions temporarily on the TSM prompt (recommended during verification).

If required, perform an AUDIT LIBRARY for tape/library health check.

Post-Upgrade Actions

If needed, reboot the TSM server and verify system boot configuration:

bootlist -m normal
al -o
bootinfo -b
lsvg -l rootvg # check sync status
shutdown -Fr
errpt -c

After server startup:

• Enable sessions again.
• Start IBM Spectrum Protect server services.
• Verify LAN-Free and regular backup jobs.
• Check if drives and paths are properly mounted and responding.

Important Note

If your IBM Spectrum Protect server is upgraded to version 8.1.13.100, make sure the Operations Center and STA are also upgraded to the same version (8.1.13.100) for compatibility and stable operations.

Final Words

So guys, that’s it for this blog. I have shared whatever knowledge and experience I have. If I missed something or you have better suggestions, please comment below so everyone gets the correct information in the right way, it helps me and others in the community as well.

Thank you for reading!
Best of luck & happy troubleshooting! 🙏