Important note regarding installation
Due to issues currently being reported, you should proactively contact IBM Support before installing the ISP 8.2.2 server.
Further information on this can be found, for example, in the IBM Known Issue article: https://www.ibm.com/mysupport/s/defect/aCIgJ000000IC4LWAW/dt497983?language=en_US&myns=slc&mync=E&cm_sp=slc-_-NULL-_-E
Alternatively, you can install ISP Server version 8.2.1.200, which already includes some of the security updates. This version is currently described as more stable than release 8.2.2.
At the end of July, IBM launched version 8.2.2, the latest release of IBM Storage Protect.
Servers
In terms of server components, IBM Storage Protect 8.2.2 introduces improved hardware efficiency and AI-powered interfaces. Administrative processes are simplified and performance when handling cloud objects is enhanced. Targeted security fixes and new support features provide a lasting boost to system stability.
Stacking of server database backups: More efficient tape utilisation
Modern magnetic tape technologies (from LTO-8 onwards) offer enormous storage capacities, which, until now, have often been utilised only to a small fraction when backing up the ISP database. To avoid this waste of storage space, IBM is introducing ‘stacking’ in version 8.2.2.
Advantages
Stacking offers significant capacity optimisation: it is now possible to write up to ten complete database backups to a single medium, rather than using a new tape for each backup. Up to five tapes can be used in parallel using the so-called round-robin method to distribute the backups.
Prerequisites
This function is supported for modern drives from the LTO-8 generation onwards, although the backup must be created using the single-stream method.
Media Management
As there are now several backups on a single tape, the strategy for the `DELETE VOLHISTORY` command must be adjusted. A tape can only be made available again as blank media (‘scratch’) once all the database backups stored on it have expired.
Support for the Model Context Protocol (MCP)
With the MCP for IBM Storage Protect (https://github.com/IBM/storage-protect-mcp-server/) certain operations can be controlled via a conversation with the system.
The desired task for the ISP server is formulated in natural language, which the MCP then translates into the corresponding ISP commands.
Thanks to the integrated AI functions, multiple instructions can also be bundled into a single input (prompt) and processed together.
Call Home feature
The new Call Home function enables the system’s configuration and certain information to be sent to support at regular intervals. Proactive reporting of errors that have occurred is not included in this function.
Performance improvements relating to the Object Agent
A new metadata structure has been introduced for Glacier Storage objects, designed to improve performance when querying or searching for objects.
Furthermore, it is now possible to disable TLS encryption between the server and the Object Agent on the same machine in order to improve data transfer performance.
Included Fixes
In addition to a number of major fixes, IBM has once again resolved a series of security issues in DB2 and the Netty and Eclipse components used.
Some of the security issues are classified as ‘High’ in the CVSS score. IBM has issued the relevant Security Flash notifications:
- https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7282192
- https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7282186
- https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7282197
- https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7282196
- https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7282199
- https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7282189
- https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7282187
- https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7282194
Client
The Backup-Archive Client now supports Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.8 systems.
In addition, IBM Storage Scale 6.0.1 systems with HSM can now also be used. However, unlike the standard BA Client, OS support for new OS versions is not yet available here.
Users of NetApp OnTap 9.18 can now also utilise the Snapdiff functionality for FlexGroup volumes via the BA Client.
In addition, IBM has resolved a number of issues in the Backup-Archive Client.
Conclusion
Release 8.2.2 of IBM Storage Protect represents a significant update that focuses on resource efficiency and modern user interfaces. The new ‘stacking’ feature makes significantly better use of the capacity of modern tape media for database backups. Support for the Model Context Protocol (MCP) offers intuitive, AI-powered system control via natural language.
Together with performance optimisations in the area of object storage, extended support for current platforms such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.8, and the resolution of critical security vulnerabilities, IBM Storage Protect 8.2.2 delivers key improvements for stable and future-proof backup operations.
Do you have any questions about IBM Storage Protect 8.2.2 or about ISP in general? Just send me an email.
Dr. Christian Biermann, Senior Consultant
Phone +49 174 3022117
