Veritas NetBackup™ Appliance High Availability Reference Guide
Introduction to a NetBackup 53xx high availability configuration
This topic describes the hardware requirements and the configuration requirements to deploy a complete 53xx high availability (HA) solution.
Master server
A NetBackup 52xx appliance requires appliance software version 3.1 or later.
A traditional (non-appliance) NetBackup master server requires NetBackup version 8.1 or later.
Media servers
Two 53xx compute nodes, a node and the partner node. Both nodes must be identical with regard to the appliance software version (3.1 or later), the model number, and the I/O hardware configurations. For example:
Use two 5330 compute nodes with the I/O configuration D. You cannot use a 5330 compute node with the I/O configuration D and a 5340 compute node with the I/O configuration D.
The supported storage firmware version of the 53xx compute node is 08.20.20.00 or higher.
The two nodes work as a pair and share the workload of the NetBackup operations for different services as follows:
Note:
Currently, NetBackup 53xx HA solution only supports the following storage types. For other storage types, such as the OST devices and the tape device, you need to set the same configurations on both nodes. Otherwise, the functions cannot work after a switchover operation is performed.
AdvancedDisk services
Both nodes directly handle the transaction data of the NetBackup processes.
MSDP service
Only the node where the MSDP service is running directly handles the transaction data of the NetBackup processes. The other node makes the fingerprint calculation of the transaction data.
NetBackup 53xx Primary Storage Shelf
NetBackup 53xx expansion shelves
Necessary number of the shelves (maximum of three)
HA setup configuration
In an HA setup, three host names with corresponding IP addresses are required as follows:
Two physical node host names and IP addresses
A dedicated host name and IP address must be assigned to each of the two physical media server nodes. Each host name should resolve to its corresponding IP address in the same subnet.
The first node that you configure is used to configure the HA setup. During that procedure, you are prompted to assign a new host name and IP address to that node as described in the next item.
Virtual host name and IP address
When you configure the HA setup on the first configured node, the host name and the IP address of that node are elevated automatically to become the virtual host name and IP address for the HA setup. The virtual host name and IP address work as a pointer within the HA setup between the two nodes. For example, if one node is not running properly or is down for an upgrade or maintenance, the virtual host name automatically points to the node that is still operational.
During the HA setup on the first node, you are prompted to assign a new host name and IP address for that node. Before the second (partner) node is configured and added to the HA setup, the new host name and IP address of the first node must first be added to the Host Name Mappings property in the NetBackup Administration Console.
Approve Host Name Mappings
Starting with release 3.1.2, to complete the HA setup you must approve the host name mappings in the NetBackup Administration Console on the associated master server. If the mappings are not approved, the MSDP service will not be online after a switchover.
For complete details on adding and approving HA host name mappings, see the NetBackup 53xx Appliance Initial Configuration Guide.
Checklist
The following link leads to a checklist with the order of tasks to deploy a new appliance HA configuration. Use this checklist to help guide you through the process.
See Checklist for NetBackup Appliance high availability deployment.
After the HA configuration is complete, the network information of the partner node is automatically added to the additional server list. The email notification settings are synchronized between the two nodes automatically. You can check the email notifications of HA configuration through your registered Hardware Administrator Email account.
To ensure that the NetBackup replication operations work correctly in a completed HA setup, you must set the virtual host name as the target storage server. After the HA setup is completed, use the following procedure to set the HA virtual host name as the target storage server.
To set the HA virtual host name as the target storage server
- In the NetBackup Administration Console, expand Media and Device Management > Credentials > Storage Server in the left pane.
- In the right pane, double click the desired storage server.
- In the Change Storage Server dialog box, select the Replication tab.
If you find the existing entry of the target storage server, and the value is the virtual host name, ignore this procedure. Otherwise, click Add.
- In the Add a Replication Target in a Different NetBackup domain dialog box, click the drop-down list of the Target master server, and select <Add a new Trusted Master Server>.
- In the Add Trusted Master Server dialog box, enter the host name of the master server and click OK.
- In the Add a Replication Target in a Different NetBackup domain dialog box, fill in the information as follows:
Select the trusted master server you added.
Select the target storage server type as media.
Enter the virtual host name of the HA configuration in the text box of Target Storage Server type.
Enter the user name and the password of the authorized replication account, and click OK.
If you do not have the password of the authorized replication account, run the command: Main > Appliance > ShowDedupPassword.