Veritas NetBackup™ Troubleshooting Guide

Last Published:
Product(s): NetBackup (8.1)
  1. Introduction
    1.  
      NetBackup logging and status code information
    2.  
      Troubleshooting a problem
    3.  
      Problem report for Technical Support
    4.  
      About gathering information for NetBackup-Java applications
  2. Troubleshooting procedures
    1.  
      About troubleshooting procedures
    2. Troubleshooting NetBackup problems
      1.  
        Verifying that all processes are running on UNIX servers
      2.  
        Verifying that all processes are running on Windows servers
    3.  
      Troubleshooting installation problems
    4.  
      Troubleshooting configuration problems
    5.  
      Device configuration problem resolution
    6.  
      Testing the master server and clients
    7.  
      Testing the media server and clients
    8.  
      Resolving network communication problems with UNIX clients
    9.  
      Resolving network communication problems with Windows clients
    10. Troubleshooting vnetd proxy connections
      1.  
        vnetd proxy connection requirements
      2.  
        Where to begin to troubleshoot vnetd proxy connections
      3.  
        Verify that the vnetd process and proxies are active
      4.  
        Verify that the host connections are proxied
      5.  
        Test the vnetd proxy connections
      6.  
        Examine the log files of the connecting and accepting processes
      7.  
        Viewing the vnetd proxy log files
    11. Troubleshooting security certificate revocation
      1.  
        How a host's CRL affects certificate revocation troubleshooting
      2.  
        NetBackup job fails because of revoked certificate
      3.  
        NetBackup job fails because of apparent network error
      4.  
        NetBackup job fails because of unavailable resource
      5.  
        Master server security certificate is revoked
      6.  
        Determining a NetBackup host's certificate state
    12.  
      About troubleshooting networks and host names
    13. Verifying host name and service entries in NetBackup
      1.  
        Example of host name and service entries on UNIX master server and client
      2.  
        Example of host name and service entries on UNIX master server and media server
      3.  
        Example of host name and service entries on UNIX PC clients
      4.  
        Example of host name and service entries on UNIX server that connects to multiple networks
    14.  
      About the bpclntcmd utility
    15.  
      Using the Host Properties window to access configuration settings
    16.  
      Resolving full disk problems
    17. Frozen media troubleshooting considerations
      1.  
        Logs for troubleshooting frozen media
      2.  
        About the conditions that cause media to freeze
    18. Troubleshooting problems with the NetBackup web services
      1.  
        Viewing NetBackup web services logs
    19.  
      Troubleshooting problems with the NetBackup web server certificate
    20. Resolving PBX problems
      1.  
        Checking PBX installation
      2.  
        Checking that PBX is running
      3.  
        Checking that PBX is set correctly
      4.  
        Accessing the PBX logs
      5.  
        Troubleshooting PBX security
      6.  
        Determining if the PBX daemon or service is available
    21. Troubleshooting problems with validation of the remote host
      1.  
        Viewing logs pertaining to host validation
      2.  
        Enabling insecure communication with NetBackup 8.0 and earlier hosts
      3.  
        Approving pending host ID-to-host name mappings
      4.  
        Clearing host cache
    22. About troubleshooting Auto Image Replication
      1.  
        Troubleshooting Auto Image Replication
      2.  
        About troubleshooting automatic import jobs
    23.  
      Troubleshooting network interface card performance
    24.  
      About SERVER entries in the bp.conf file
    25.  
      About unavailable storage unit problems
    26.  
      Resolving a NetBackup Administration operations failure on Windows
    27.  
      Resolving garbled text displayed in NetBackup Administration Console on a UNIX computer
  3. Using NetBackup utilities
    1.  
      About NetBackup troubleshooting utilities
    2.  
      About the analysis utilities for NetBackup debug logs
    3.  
      About network troubleshooting utilities
    4. About the NetBackup support utility (nbsu)
      1.  
        Output from the NetBackup support utility (nbsu)
      2.  
        Status code information gathered by the NetBackup support utility (nbsu)
      3.  
        Example of a progress display for the NetBackup support utility (nbsu)
    5. About the NetBackup consistency check utility (NBCC)
      1.  
        Output from the NetBackup consistency check utility (NBCC)
      2.  
        Example of an NBCC progress display
    6.  
      About the NetBackup consistency check repair (NBCCR) utility
    7.  
      About the nbcplogs utility
    8. About the robotic test utilities
      1.  
        Robotic tests on UNIX
      2.  
        Robotic tests on Windows
  4. Disaster recovery
    1.  
      About disaster recovery
    2.  
      About disaster recovery requirements
    3.  
      Disaster recovery packages
    4.  
      About disaster recovery settings
    5.  
      Recommended backup practices
    6. About disk recovery procedures for UNIX and Linux
      1. About recovering the master server disk for UNIX and Linux
        1.  
          Recovering the master server when root is intact
        2.  
          Recovering the master server when the root partition is lost
      2.  
        About recovering the NetBackup media server disk for UNIX
      3.  
        Recovering the system disk on a UNIX client workstation
    7. About clustered NetBackup server recovery for UNIX and Linux
      1.  
        Replacing a failed node on a UNIX or Linux cluster
      2.  
        Recovering the entire UNIX or Linux cluster
    8. About disk recovery procedures for Windows
      1. About recovering the master server disk for Windows
        1.  
          Recovering the master server with Windows intact
        2.  
          Recovering the master server and Windows
      2.  
        About recovering the NetBackup media server disk for Windows
      3.  
        Recovering a Windows client disk
    9. About clustered NetBackup server recovery for Windows
      1.  
        Replacing a failed node on a Windows VCS cluster
      2.  
        Recovering the shared disk on a Windows VCS cluster
      3.  
        Recovering the entire Windows VCS cluster
    10.  
      Generating a certificate on a clustered master server after disaster recovery installation
    11.  
      About restoring disaster recovery package
    12.  
      Restoring disaster recovery package on Windows
    13.  
      Restoring disaster recovery package on UNIX
    14. About recovering the NetBackup catalog
      1.  
        About NetBackup catalog recovery on Windows computers
      2.  
        About NetBackup catalog recovery from disk devices
      3.  
        About NetBackup catalog recovery and symbolic links
      4. About NetBackup catalog recovery and OpsCenter
        1.  
          Specifying the NetBackup job ID number after a catalog recovery
      5.  
        NetBackup disaster recovery email example
      6. About recovering the entire NetBackup catalog
        1.  
          Recovering the entire NetBackup catalog using the Catalog Recovery Wizard
        2.  
          Recovering the entire NetBackup catalog using bprecover -wizard
      7. About recovering the NetBackup catalog image files
        1.  
          Recovering the NetBackup catalog image files using the Catalog Recovery Wizard
        2.  
          Recovering the NetBackup catalog image files using bprecover -wizard
      8. About recovering the NetBackup relational database
        1.  
          Recovering NetBackup relational database files from a backup
        2.  
          Recovering the NetBackup relational database files from staging
        3.  
          About processing the relational database in staging
      9.  
        Recovering the NetBackup catalog when NetBackup Access Control is configured
      10.  
        Recovering the NetBackup catalog from a nonprimary copy of a catalog backup
      11.  
        Recovering the NetBackup catalog without the disaster recovery file
      12.  
        Recovering a NetBackup user-directed online catalog backup from the command line
      13.  
        Restoring files from a NetBackup online catalog backup
      14.  
        Unfreezing the NetBackup online catalog recovery media
      15.  
        Steps to carry out when you see exit status 5988 during catalog recovery

Recommended backup practices

The following backup practices are recommended:

Selecting files to back up

In addition to backing up files on a regular basis, it is important to select the correct files to back up. Include all files with records that are critical to users and the organization. Back up system and application files, so you can quickly and accurately restore a system to normal operation if a disaster occurs.

Include all Windows system files in your backups. In addition to the other system software, the Windows system directories include the registry, which is needed to restore the client to its original configuration. If you use a NetBackup exclude list for a client, do not specify any Windows system files in that list.

Do not omit executables and other application files. You may want to save tape by excluding these easy-to-reinstall files. However, backing up the entire application ensures that it is restored to its exact configuration. For example, if you have applied software updates and patches, restoring from a backup eliminates the need to reapply them.

Bare Metal Restore

NetBackup Bare Metal Restore (BMR) protects client systems by backing them up with a policy configured for BMR protection. A complete description of BMR backup and recovery procedures is available.

See the NetBackup Bare Metal Restore Administrator's Guide:

http://www.veritas.com/docs/DOC5332

Critical policies

When you configure a policy for online catalog backup, designate certain NetBackup policies as critical. Critical policies back up systems and data deemed critical to end-user operation. During a catalog recovery, NetBackup verifies that all of the media that is needed to restore critical policies are available.

Full backup after catalog recovery

If the configuration contains Windows clients that have incremental backup configurations set to Perform Incrementals Based on Archive Bit, run a full backup of these clients as soon as possible after a catalog recovery. The archive bit resets on the files that were incrementally backed up after the catalog backup that was used for the catalog recovery. If a full backup of these clients is not run after a catalog recovery, these files could be skipped and not backed up by subsequent incremental backups.

Online catalog backups

Online, hot catalog backup is a policy-driven backup that supports tape-spanning and incremental backups. It allows for restoring catalog files from the Backup, Archive, and Restore interface. Online catalog backups may be run while other NetBackup activity occurs, which provides improved support for environments in which continual backup activity is typical.

Online catalog backup disaster recovery files

Veritas recommends saving the disaster recovery files that are created by the online catalog backup to a network share or removable device. Do not save the disaster recovery files to the local computer. Catalog recovery from an online catalog backup without the disaster recovery image file is a more complex procedure and time-consuming procedure.

Automated recovery

The catalog disaster recovery file (created during an online catalog backup) is intended to automate the process of NetBackup recovery. If you recover a system other than the one that originally made the backups, it should be identical to the original system. For example, the system that performs the recovery should include NetBackup servers with identical names to those servers where the backups were made. If not, the automated recovery may not succeed.

Online catalog disaster recovery information email

Configure the online catalog backup policy to email a copy of the disaster recovery information to a NetBackup administrator in your organization. Configure this policy as part of every catalog backup. Do not save the disaster recovery information emails to the local computer. Catalog recovery without the disaster recovery image file or the disaster recovery information email available is exceedingly complex, time consuming, and requires assistance.

NetBackup emails the disaster recovery file when the following events occur:

  • The catalog is backed up.

  • A catalog backup is duplicated or replicated.

  • The primary catalog backup or any copy of a catalog backup expires automatically or is expired manually.

  • The primary copy of the catalog backup is changed as follows:

    • By using the bpchangeprimary command.

    • By using the option to change the primary copy when the catalog backup is duplicated manually.

You may tailor the disaster recovery email process by using the mail_dr_info notify script. More details are available.

See the NetBackup Administrator's Guide, Volume II:

http://www.veritas.com/docs/DOC5332

If you are not able to receive the disaster recovery packages over emails even after you have configured your email, then ensure the following:

  • Your email exchange server is configured to have the attachment size equal to or greater than the disaster recovery package size. You can check the size of the package (.drpkg file size) on the disaster recovery file location that you have specified in the catalog backup policy.

  • The firewall and antivirus software in your environment allow the files with the .drpkg extension (which is the extension for a disaster recovery package file).

  • If BLAT is used as email notification application, it is of v2.4 or later version.

Identifying the correct catalog backup

Ensure that you identify and use the appropriate catalog backup for your recovery. For example, if you recover from your most recent backups, use the catalog from your most recent backups. Similarly, if you recover from a specific point in time, use the catalog backup from that specific point in time.

Catalog recovery time

System environment, catalog size, location, and backup configuration (full and incremental policy schedules) all help determine the time that is required to recover the catalog. Carefully plan and test to determine the catalog backup methods that result in the desired catalog recovery time.

Master and media server backups

The NetBackup catalog backup protects your configuration data and catalog data. Set up backup schedules for the master servers and media servers in your NetBackup installation. These schedules protect the operating systems, device configurations, and other applications on the servers.

Master or media server recovery procedures when the system disk has been lost assume that the servers are backed up separately from the catalog backup. Backups of master and media servers should not include NetBackup binaries, configuration or catalog files, or relational database data.