For AS400 and IBM i backup, tape and cloud are destinations with different failure modes. The useful question is which copy can restore the required system state, from the required point in time, within the business recovery target. A tape library does not guarantee an offline copy; a cloud account does not guarantee an immutable one. Test the exact save and restore design before choosing either.
What online backup means for IBM i
An online backup moves a copy over a network to a remote service or storage target. It may be cloud-based, but the phrase does not identify the product, the IBM i save format, the retention policy, or the restore method. For IBM i, ask whether the copy covers libraries, IFS, security and configuration, licensed programs, and the full-system recovery needed for the intended event. A file-level copy alone may not satisfy a bare-system restore.
Compare tape and cloud by the recovery proof
| Decision | Tape | Cloud or online copy |
|---|---|---|
| Isolation | Media can be offline when removed and secured; connected libraries still need access controls. | Isolation or immutability must be configured and access-tested; remote storage alone is not a clean recovery point. |
| Offsite handling | Rotation, transport, inventory, and a usable drive at the recovery site. | Network transfer, account access, provider availability, and geographic placement. |
| Full-system coverage | Check save set, BRMS catalog, media order, and compatible recovery target. | Check IBM i save media format, retrieval process, system-state coverage, and target compatibility. |
| Restore time | Measure transport and mount time plus the full IBM i restore. | Measure download or media retrieval, bandwidth, staging, and the full IBM i restore. |
| Retention and cost | Price media, rotation, storage, drives, and staff handling. | Price storage, transfer, retrieval, retention, and support for the actual volume. |
Where tape changes the risk
A properly removed and secured tape can create a copy outside production credentials. It also imposes transport, media tracking, drive compatibility, and periodic readability checks. IBM's BRMS guidance describes media-management controls. Those controls matter only if the save set and restore order are also proven.
Where cloud changes the workflow
Cloud storage can automate offsite transfer, but the IBM i restore needs a supported path back to usable save media. IBM's Cloud Storage Solutions for i describes transferring BRMS virtual save media to cloud storage. Its BRMS cloud restore procedure retrieves cloud volumes before or during restore. Treat transfer and retrieval time as part of the recovery test, not as an invisible step.
IBM also documents a specific full-system save to cloud workflow for Cloud Storage Solutions for i. That procedure has product and environment constraints; it is not a claim that every cloud backup product supports a complete IBM i system restore. Check the vendor's method and IBM's current procedure for the actual release and target.
Choose against a specific event
For a deleted library, a local save may deliver the quickest tested restore. For site loss, an offsite copy and usable target matter. For ransomware, a copy isolated from compromised accounts matters. A hybrid design can serve all three, but only after the team records its RPO, RTO, restore order, and measured result. The AS400 disaster recovery guide turns those copies into a full recovery plan; the IBM Power backup guide covers the broader save design.
FAQ
Is online backup the same as cloud backup for AS400?
No. Online backup describes a copy transferred over a network. The destination, recovery format, isolation, and restore process must be checked separately.
Does IBM i tape provide an offline recovery copy?
Only when the media is removed or otherwise disconnected and protected. Tape left connected to a compromised environment is not an isolated copy.
Can BRMS save IBM i data to cloud storage?
Yes, with a supported setup such as IBM Cloud Storage Solutions for i. BRMS cloud media still has to be retrieved and tested for the intended restore.
Which restores faster, tape or cloud?
Neither wins universally. Measure the full restore, including media retrieval or network transfer, target preparation, IBM i recovery, and business acceptance.