Veritas NetBackup™ Appliance High Availability Reference Guide

Last Published:
Product(s): Appliances (3.3.0.1)
Platform: NetBackup Appliance OS

Checklist for NetBackup Appliance high availability deployment

Use this checklist to prepare for deploying a new appliance high availability (HA) setup. The items appear in the order that you should follow when deploying a new HA installation. Put a mark in the Check column as you address each item.

Table: Checklist for HA deployment

Check

Item

Description

 

1. Master server type

Determine the master server type to use. Supported master server types are as follows:

  • Appliance master server

  • Traditional (non-appliance) master server

  • Clustered master server (traditional non-appliance)

    Note:

    If you plan to use a clustered master server, contact Veritas Technical Support before you configure the HA setup (Item 6) ask the representative to refer to article 100042620.

The master server must be configured and reachable on your network before you configure the compute node, the HA setup, and the partner node.

 

2. Compute node and partner node installation

Install the compute node and the partner node as described in the NetBackup 5330 Appliance Hardware Installation Guide or the NetBackup 5340 Appliance Hardware Installation Guide.

The following describes the order of the main installation tasks that must be done before you perform any initial configuration on the nodes and before you configure the HA setup:

  • Both nodes connected to the storage shelves.

  • Both nodes connected to each other.

  • Expansion storage shelves turned on first and booted up completely.

  • Primary storage shelf turned on and booted up completely.

  • Compute node turned on and booted up completely.

  • Partner node turned on and booted up completely.

 

3. HA host names and IP addresses

Determine the host names and the IP addresses for the virtual environment that encompasses the whole HA setup and the physical nodes:

  • Virtual

    Host name: ___________________________________

    IP address: _________________________

  • Compute node

    Host name: ___________________________________

    IP address: _________________________

  • Partner node

    Host name: ___________________________________

    IP address: _________________________

 

4. Compute node configuration

Configure the compute node using the methods described in the NetBackup 53xx Appliance Initial Configuration Guide.

Be sure to enter the virtual host name and IP address during this configuration. When you start the HA setup configuration (Item 6), that process prompts you to enter a new host name and IP address for this node.

Note:

Do not create a bond on ports NIC3 (eth2) or NIC4 (eth3). These ports are required exclusively for HA connectivity and any existing bond prevents you from adding the partner node to the HA setup (Item 8). See the following article for more details:

https://www.veritas.com/support/en_US/article.100039911

 

5. Host name mapping updates

On the master server, log in to the NetBackup Administration Console and do the following:

  • Navigate to NetBackup Management > Host Management and click the Hosts tab in the right pane.

  • Enter the host name for the compute node from Item 3. Make sure to enter both the FQDN and the short name.

    The virtual host name that you used for the initial configuration of the compute node should already appear on the hosts tab.

Note:

If the compute node host name is not added to the host name mappings before you configure the HA setup and the partner node, the HA setup process can fail.

 

6. Start HA setup configuration

Before you start this task, check the following:

  • If you are using a clustered master server, contact Veritas Technical Support and ask the representative to refer to article 100042620.

  • On the configured compute node that you use to create the HA setup, run the following command to make sure that all NetBackup processes are running:

    Main > Support > Processes > NetBackup > Show

    If any NetBackup processes are not running, refer to the following article to resolve the issue:

    https://www.veritas.com/support/en_US/article.100039808

After these items have been addressed, configure the HA setup from the compute node as described in the NetBackup 53xx Appliance Initial Configuration Guide. Refer to the topic "Configuring a NetBackup 53xx high availability setup".

During the HA setup, the host name and the IP address of the compute node are elevated and become the virtual host name and IP address. When prompted, enter the host name and IP address for the compute node from Item 3.

 

7. Partner node configuration

Configure the partner node as described in the NetBackup 53xx Appliance Initial Configuration Guide. Refer to the topic "Performing the initial configuration on the partner node for a NetBackup 53xx high availability configuration".

Note the following about partner node configuration:

  • Do not create a bond on ports NIC3 (eth2) or NIC4 (eth3). These ports are required exclusively for HA connectivity and any existing bond prevents you from adding the partner node to the HA setup (Item 8). See the following article for more details:

    https://www.veritas.com/support/en_US/article.100039911

  • To ensure that both nodes properly communicate and detect the storage array, perform the following tasks before you add the partner node to the HA setup:

    • Reboot the partner node after you have completed the initial configuration.

    • On the compute node, run the Manage > Storage > Scan command.

    • On the partner node, run the Manage > Storage > Scan command.

  • Make sure that NetBackup processes are running on both nodes and on the master server.

    On each HA node and the master server, run the Support > Processes > NetBackup Show command to verify that all NetBackup processes are running. If any processes are not running, restart all NetBackup processes by running the Support > Processes > NetBackup Stop command, followed by running the Support > Processes > NetBackup Start command.

 

8. Complete HA setup with partner node

After the partner node has completed the reboot and you have run the storage scan command on both nodes, add the partner node to the HA setup as described in the NetBackup 53xx Appliance Initial Configuration Guide. Refer to the topic "Adding the partner node to the NetBackup 53xx high availability configuration".

Starting with appliance release 3.1.2, host name mappings also require approval. The procedure to add the partner node to the HA setup includes a step to approve the host name mappings.

 

9. Post HA deployment tasks

After you have completed the HA setup, check the following items and address them as described:

  • If you plan to run optimized-deduplication between the local HA MSDP and a remote MSDP, see the following article for details:

    https://www.veritas.com/support/en_US/article.100043126

  • Switchover issues

    After you perform a switchover, it is normal and expected behavior for the MSDP service to take from 5 to 10 minutes to come back online. The MSDP size also affects how long MSDP is back online after a switchover. Possible issues related to a switchover are as follows:

    • The MSDP size is larger than 38TB.

    • A switchover that fails because of a timeout (longer than 10 minutes).

      If you observe or experience either of these issues, see the following article for details and contact Veritas Technical Support for assistance to resolve the issue:

      https://www.veritas.com/support/en_US/article.100042933