NetBackup™ Snapshot Client Administrator's Guide

Last Published:
Product(s): NetBackup & Alta Data Protection (10.0)
  1. Introduction
    1.  
      About
    2. About snapshot management
      1.  
        About snapshots
      2.  
        About off-host backup support
      3.  
        About Instant Recovery
      4.  
        About snapshot methods for disk arrays
      5.  
        About block level incremental backup
    3. About snapshot basics
      1.  
        About the copy-on-write snapshot type
      2.  
        About the mirror snapshot type
    4.  
      Benefits of copy-on-write versus mirror
    5.  
      About local backup of a snapshot
    6. Off-host backup overview
      1.  
        About file and volume mapping methods
    7. Off-host backup methods
      1. About alternate client backup
        1.  
          About data sharing between clients
        2.  
          Alternate client backup split mirror examples
        3.  
          Alternate client backup through data replication example (UNIX only)
      2.  
        NetBackup media server data mover example (UNIX only)
    8. requirements
      1.  
        restrictions
    9.  
      terminology
    10.  
      assistance
    11.  
      About open file backups for Windows
  2. Installation
    1.  
      Installation prerequisites for
    2.  
      installation notes
    3.  
      About distributing Client Software in mixed-platform environments
    4.  
      About creating log directories
    5.  
      About the snapshot state file
  3. Policy configuration
    1.  
      Notes on policies
    2.  
      Configuring a policy
    3.  
      Backup Selections tab options when configuring a policy
    4.  
      Off-host backup configuration options
    5. Selecting the snapshot method
      1. Configuration parameters for
        1.  
          Maximum Snapshots parameter (Instant Recovery only)
        2.  
          Important note on VSS and disk arrays
      2.  
        Snapshot Resources
    6.  
      Configuring backup scripts
    7. About using alternate client backup
      1.  
        Alternate client backup requirements
    8. Configuring alternate client backup
      1.  
        Example alternate client backup configurations
    9. Policy configuration tips
      1.  
        Maximum pathname length
      2.  
        Snapshot tips
      3.  
        Multiple data streams
    10. About disabling snapshots
      1.  
        Disabling snapshots
  4. NAS snapshot configuration
    1.  
      About NAS snapshot overview
    2. Dynamic data streaming for D-NAS workloads
      1.  
        Understanding the features
      2.  
        Dynamic streaming parameters
    3.  
      Prerequisites for NetBackup DNAS configuration
    4.  
      Configuring dynamic data streaming with backup host pool
    5.  
      Configuring a backup host pool
    6.  
      Discover plugins
    7.  
      Minimum supported backup host versions for different features
    8.  
      Limitations and considerations
    9. Setting up a NAS-Data-Protection policy
      1.  
        About restores from NAS-Data-Protection policy
  5. FlashBackup configuration
    1.  
      About FlashBackup
    2. FlashBackup restrictions
      1.  
        Restores of Windows encrypted files and hard links
    3.  
      Configuring a FlashBackup policy
    4. Configuring FlashBackup policy for backward compatibility (UNIX only)
      1.  
        About the cache partition
      2.  
        Requirements for the cache partition
      3.  
        Directives for multiple data streams
  6. Instant Recovery configuration
    1.  
      About Instant Recovery capabilities
    2.  
      Instant Recovery requirements
    3.  
      Instant Recovery restrictions
    4.  
      Giving full server privileges to the media server
    5. About Instant Recovery
      1.  
        About snapshot and backup for Instant Recovery
      2.  
        About NetBackup catalog maintenance
      3.  
        About snapshot management
      4. Means of controlling snapshots
        1.  
          Maximum Snapshots parameter
    6.  
      Configuring a policy for Instant Recovery
    7. About sizing the cache for Instant Recovery copy-on-write snapshots
      1.  
        Cache size during restore
      2.  
        Setting an adequate size for the snapshot cache
    8.  
      Instant Recovery for databases
    9. About storage lifecycle policies for snapshots
      1.  
        Configuring a storage lifecycle policy to manage snapshot-based backups for Instant Recovery
      2.  
        Storage lifecycle polices and troubleshooting
  7. Configuration of software-based snapshot methods
    1. Software-based snapshot methods
      1.  
        About nbu_snap
      2. Cache device requirements
        1.  
          Determining a size for the cache partition
        2.  
          Entering the cache
      3. About VxFS_Checkpoint
        1.  
          VxFS multi-volume system
        2.  
          Storage Checkpoint disk usage
        3.  
          Checkpoint retention schedules
        4.  
          Block-Level restore
      4.  
        About VxFS_Snapshot
      5. About VxVM
        1.  
          Creating a snapshot mirror of the source
        2.  
          About VxVM instant snapshots
        3.  
          About NetBackup snapshot methods
        4.  
          Space-Optimized instant snapshots
      6. About FlashSnap
        1.  
          Testing volumes for FlashSnap
      7. About VVR
        1.  
          VVR volume replication configuration
        2.  
          VVR name registration
        3.  
          Primary and secondary disk group and volume names for VVR
        4.  
          Testing the replication setup with VVR
      8.  
        About NAS_Snapshot
      9. About VSS
        1.  
          Disk array reconfiguration steps
        2.  
          Configuration and testing of volumes with VSS
        3.  
          Notes and restrictions on VSS
  8. Support for Cluster Volume Manager Environments (CVM)
    1.  
      About support for CVM environments
    2.  
      Note on NetBackup and CVM
    3.  
      About enabling VxVM or FlashSnap snapshots in a CVM environment
    4.  
      About enabling the NetBackup client to execute VxVM commands on the CVM master node
  9. Configuration of snapshot methods for disk arrays
    1. OS-specific configuration tasks
      1.  
        About dynamic multi-pathing
      2. HBA configuration
        1.  
          HBA persistent target bindings
      3.  
        Verifying NetBackup client access, zoning, and LUN masking
    2. About IBM DS6000 and DS8000 arrays
      1.  
        IBM DS6000 and DS8000 software requirements
      2.  
        Preconfiguration for IBM arrays
      3. Configuring NetBackup to access the IBM DS6000 or DS8000 array
        1.  
          Configuring array access for NetBackup hosts not named in a policy
      4.  
        Configuring the IBM array for NetBackup
      5.  
        Using DSCLI commands to obtain unique IBM identifiers
      6.  
        Configuring a NetBackup policy for IBM_DiskStorage_FlashCopy
      7.  
        For further reference on IBM arrays
    3. About IBM DS4000 array
      1.  
        Array preconfiguration tasks
      2.  
        IBM 4000 software requirements
      3.  
        Verifying NetBackup client access, zoning, and LUN masking
      4.  
        Configuring NetBackup to access the IBM DS4000 array
      5.  
        Configuring the IBM 4000 array for NetBackup
      6.  
        Configuring a NetBackup policy for IBM_StorageManager_FlashCopy
    4. About Hitachi SMS/WMS/AMS, USP/NSC, USP-V/VM
      1. Hitachi array software requirements
        1.  
          Determining the current RAID Manager version
      2.  
        Preconfiguration for Hitachi
      3.  
        About communication between NetBackup and the Hitachi array
      4.  
        Determining if the Hitachi command devices are visible
      5.  
        About configuring the Hitachi array for NetBackup
      6.  
        Obtaining the Hitachi array serial number and the unique device identifiers
      7.  
        Configuring a NetBackup policy for Hitachi_ShadowImage or Hitachi_CopyOnWrite
    5. About HP-XP arrays
      1.  
        HP-XP array software requirements
      2.  
        Preconfiguration for HP-XP
      3.  
        About communication between NetBackup and the HP-XP array
      4.  
        Determining if the HP-XP command devices are visible
      5.  
        About configuring the HP-XP array for NetBackup
      6.  
        Obtaining the array serial number and unique HP-XP identifiers
      7.  
        Configuring a NetBackup policy for HP_XP_BusinessCopy and HP_XP_Snapshot
    6. About array troubleshooting
      1. Troubleshooting issues pertaining to all arrays
        1.  
          Troubleshooting Solaris issues
        2.  
          Troubleshooting host OS type specification
      2.  
        Troubleshooting NetBackup and EMC CLARiiON arrays
      3.  
        Troubleshooting NetBackup and EMC Symmetrix arrays
      4.  
        Troubleshooting NetBackup and HP EVA arrays
      5. Troubleshooting IBM DS6000 and DS8000 arrays
        1.  
          Snapshot errors with IBM DS6000 and DS8000 arrays (NetBackup status code 156)
      6. Troubleshooting IBM4000 arrays
        1.  
          Snapshot errors encountered with IBM4000 arrays (NetBackup status code 156)
        2.  
          For further reference on IBM System Storage DS4000
      7. Troubleshooting Hitachi arrays
        1.  
          NetBackup policy validation fails with Hitachi arrays
        2.  
          Backup or restore or image expiration fails with Hitachi arrays
  10. Notes on Media Server and Third-Party Copy methods
    1.  
      Disk requirements for Media Server and Third-Party Copy methods
    2.  
      Directives for Media Server and Third-Party Copy methods
    3.  
      Storage units for Media Server and Third-Party Copy methods
    4.  
      Preventing multiplexing on a third-party copy backup
    5.  
      Raw partition backups
    6.  
      Increasing the client read timeout for all clients
    7.  
      Further information on off-host data mover backups
  11. Backup and restore procedures
    1.  
      About performing a backup
    2.  
      About performing a restore
    3. Instant Recovery restore features
      1. About Instant Recovery: point in time rollback
        1.  
          Notes on rollback
        2.  
          Performing snapshot rollback
    4.  
      Notes for restoring individual files from an Instant Recovery snapshot
    5. About configurations for restore
      1.  
        About restoring over the LAN
      2.  
        About restoring over the SAN to a host acting as both client server and media server
      3.  
        About restoring directly from a snapshot
    6. About restoring from a disk snapshot
      1. About restoring on UNIX
        1.  
          Restoring individual files on UNIX
        2.  
          Restoring the entire snapshot on UNIX
      2. About restoring on Windows
        1.  
          Restoring individual files on Windows
        2.  
          Restoring the entire snapshot on Windows
  12. Snapshot management
    1.  
      About NetBackup and CloudPoint integration for snapshot management
    2.  
      Troubleshooting and NetBackup integration issues
  13. Troubleshooting
    1.  
      About gathering information and checking logs
    2. Logging directories for UNIX platforms
      1.  
        UNIX logging directories for backup
      2.  
        UNIX logging directories for restore
      3.  
        snapctl driver messages
    3. Logging folders for Windows platforms
      1.  
        Windows logging folders for backup
      2.  
        Windows logging folders for restore
      3.  
        Configuring VxMS logging
    4.  
      Customer support contact information
    5.  
      Latest patches and updates
    6.  
      Snapshot provider information
    7.  
      Important notes on &newProductName;
    8.  
      &newProductName; installation problems
    9. FlashBackup and status code 13
      1.  
        The FlashBackup cache partition may have run out of space
      2.  
        Removing stale snapshots (Solaris)
    10.  
      Single file restore from a FlashBackup Instant Recovery snapshot of a file protected by Windows VSS writer fails
    11.  
      Identifying and removing a left-over snapshot
    12.  
      Removing a VxVM volume clone
    13.  
      Alternate client restore and backup from a snapshot fails
    14.  
      Restore from a snapshot fails with status 2800
    15.  
      Raw Partition restore fails with the message 'FlashBackup-Windows policy restore error'
    16.  
      Snapshot creation fails with error 156
    17.  
      Snapshot fails with error 20
    18.  
      Restore from a snapshot fails with status 133
    19.  
      Backup from snapshot fails with error 50
    20.  
      Backup from snapshot parent job fails with error 4213: Snapshot import failed
    21.  
      Snapshot job fails and the snapshot command does not recognize the volume name
    22.  
      Snapshot creation fails with error 4220
    23.  
      Snapshot creation fails when the same volume is mounted on multiple mount points of the same host
    24.  
      Snapshot-based backup and restore failure
    25.  
      Multiple snapshot jobs fail with code 156 or 1541.
    26.  
      FlashBackup policy fails, with multiple backup selections [Cache =]
    27.  
      Partial backup failure with 'Snapshot encountered error 156'
    28.  
      Backup of file system validation fails with error 223
    29.  
      Policy validation fails if the specified CIFS share path contains a forward slash
    30.  
      Policy validation fails with status code 223
    31.  
      An NDMP snapshot policy for wildcard backup fails with error 4201
    32.  
      Troubleshooting with bpfis log
    33.  
      Limitations of using HP-UX 11.31
    34.  
      While configuring a policy for snapshot operations, the NetBackup Administration Console hangs
    35.  
      Accelerator enabled incremental backup of NetApp NAS volume
    36.  
      Snapshot method: Auto
  14. Appendix A. Managing nbu_snap (Solaris)
    1. About managing nbu_snap
      1.  
        Cache for nbu_snap
      2.  
        About determining cache size
      3.  
        About terminating nbu_snap
      4. nbu_snap commands
        1.  
          snapon command
        2.  
          snaplist command
        3.  
          snapcachelist command
        4.  
          snapstat command
        5.  
          snapoff command
  15. Appendix B. Overview of snapshot operations
    1.  
      Introduction to snapshot operations
    2.  
      Pre and post snapshot creation operations
    3.  
      About quiescing the system
    4.  
      About quiescing the database application
    5.  
      About quiescing the stack
    6.  
      File system quiesce
    7.  
      Volume manager data caching
    8.  
      How copy-on-write works
  16.  
    Index

Configuring a FlashBackup policy

Use the following procedure.

To configure a FlashBackup policy

  1. On the master server, open the NetBackup Administration Console.
  2. Click Policies.
  3. In the All Policies pane, right-click and select New Policy... to create a new policy.
  4. On the Attributes tab, select the Policy type: FlashBackup for UNIX clients, or FlashBackup-Windows for Windows clients.

    FlashBackup-Windows supports the backup and restore of NTFS files that are compressed.

    The files are backed up and restored as compressed files (they are not uncompressed).

  5. Specify the storage unit.

    FlashBackup and FlashBackup-Windows policies support both tape storage units and disk storage units.

  6. Select a snapshot method in one of the following ways:

    • Click Perform snapshot backups on the Attributes tab.

      For a new policy, NetBackup selects a snapshot method when the backup starts.

      For a copy of a policy that was configured for a snapshot method, click the Snapshot Client Options option and set the method to auto. NetBackup selects a snapshot method when the backup starts.

    • Click Perform snapshot backups, click the Snapshot Client Options option and select a snapshot method.

  7. Windows only: to enable the backup for Instant Recovery, select Retain snapshots for Instant Recovery or SLP management.

    Instant Recovery is not supported for FlashBackup with UNIX clients.

  8. UNIX only: if you selected nbu_snap or VxFS_Snapshot as the snapshot method, specify a raw partition as cache, in either of these ways:

    • Use the Host Properties node of the Administration Console to specify the default cache device path for snapshots. Click Host Properties > Clients, select the client, then Actions > Properties, UNIX Client > Client Settings.

    • Use the Snapshot Client Options dialog to specify the cache.

      See Entering the cache.

      The partition to be used for the cache must exist on all clients that are included in the policy.

  9. To shift backup I/O to an alternate client, or to a NetBackup media server or third-party copy device (UNIX clients only), select Perform off-host backup.

    For FlashBackup, the Use data mover option is supported for UNIX clients only.

  10. To reduce backup time when more than one raw partition is specified in the Backup Selections list, select Allow multiple data streams.
  11. Use the Schedules tab to create a schedule.

    FlashBackup policies support full and incremental types only. User backup and archive schedule types are not supported.

    A full FlashBackup backs up the entire disk or raw partition that was selected in the Backup Selections tab (see next step). An incremental backup backs up individual files that have changed since their last full backup, and also backs up their parent directories. The incremental backup does not back up files in parent directories unless the files have changed since the last full backup.

    For incremental backups, a file is considered "changed" if its Modified Time or Create Time value was changed.

    Note on FlashBackup-Windows: The NTFS Master File Table does not update the Create Time or Modified Time of a file or folder when the following changes are made:

    • Changes to file name or directory name.

    • Changes to file or directory security.

    • Changes to file or directory attributes (read only, hidden, system, archive bit).

  12. On the Backup Selections tab, specify the drive letter or mounted volume (Windows) or the raw disk partition (UNIX) containing the files to back up.

    For Windows

     

    Windows examples

    \\.\E:
    \\.\E:\mounted_volume\

    where:

    • \\.\E:is a Windows disk volume mounted on a drive letter.

    • \\.\E:\mounted_volume\ (note the trailing backslash) is a Windows disk volume without a drive letter mounted on a directory (Windows reparse point).

      The drive must be designated exactly as shown (E:\ is not correct). Backing up the drive containing the Windows system files (usually the C drive) is not supported.

    Solaris examples

    /dev/rdsk/c1t0d0s6
    /dev/vx/rdsk/volgrp1/vol1

    HP examples

    /dev/rdsk/c1t0d0
     /dev/vx/rdsk/volgrp1/vol1

    For UNIX

    The

    Backup Selections tab must specify the raw (character) device corresponding to the block device over which the file system is mounted. For example, to back up /usr, mounted on /dev/dsk/c1t0d0s6, enter raw device /dev/rdsk/c1t0d0s6. Note the r in /rdsk.

    Note:

    Wildcards (such as/dev/rdsk/c0*) are not permitted. Specifying the actual device file name such as /devices/pci@1f,0/pci@1/scsi@3/sd@1,0:d,rawis not supported.

    Note:

    Wildcards (such as/dev/rdsk/c0*) are not permitted. Specifying the actual device file name such as /devices/pci@1f,0/pci@1/scsi@3/sd@1,0:d,rawis not supported.

  13. Use the Clients tab to select clients to back up.

    Each client in the client list must contain all the raw partitions that are specified in the Backup Selections tab. Exclude and include lists cannot be used to circumvent this requirement.

  14. On the policy Attributes tab: if you click Apply or OK, a validation process checks the policy and reports any errors. If you click Close, no validation is performed.