Veritas NetBackup™ Virtual Appliance Getting Started Guide

Last Published:
Product(s): Appliances (3.3.0.1)
Platform: NetBackup Virtual Appliance
  1. Product overview
    1. NetBackup Virtual Appliance product description
      1.  
        About the NetBackup Virtual Appliance master server role
      2.  
        About the NetBackup Virtual Appliance combined master and media server role
      3.  
        About the NetBackup Virtual Appliance media server role
    2.  
      NetBackup Virtual Appliance supported features
    3.  
      About the NetBackup Virtual Appliance documentation
    4.  
      NetBackup Virtual Appliance 3.3.0.1 new features, enhancements, and changes
    5.  
      Known limitations of the NetBackup Virtual Appliance 3.3.0.1 release
    6.  
      Operational Notes for the NetBackup Virtual Appliance 3.3.0.1 release
  2. Preparing the initial deployment
    1.  
      NetBackup Virtual Appliance product files (OVF templates)
    2.  
      NetBackup Virtual Appliance deployment methods
    3. NetBackup Virtual Appliance deployment guidelines
      1.  
        Configuration overview for NetBackup Virtual Appliance MSDP cloud applications
      2.  
        NetBackup Virtual Appliance initial deployment checklist
  3. Deploying and configuring the appliance
    1. How to deploy and configure a NetBackup Virtual Appliance combined master and media server
      1.  
        Using the vSphere Client to deploy a combined master and media server appliance
      2.  
        Using the OVF Tool to deploy a combined master and media server appliance
      3.  
        Performing the initial configuration on a NetBackup Virtual Appliance combined master and media server
      4.  
        Completing the initial configuration of the NetBackup Virtual Appliance combined master and media server
    2. How to deploy and configure a NetBackup Virtual Appliance media server
      1.  
        Using the vSphere Client to deploy a media server appliance
      2.  
        Using the OVF Tool to deploy a media server appliance
      3.  
        Configuring a master server to communicate with an appliance media server
      4.  
        Performing the initial configuration on a NetBackup Virtual Appliance media server
    3. How to deploy and configure a NetBackup Virtual Appliance master server
      1.  
        Using the vSphere Client to deploy a NetBackup Virtual Appliance master server
      2.  
        Using the OVF Tool to deploy a master server
      3.  
        Performing the initial configuration on a NetBackup Virtual Appliance master server
    4.  
      Troubleshooting NetBackup Virtual Appliance initial deployment issues
  4. Post initial configuration procedures
    1.  
      About modifying the NetBackup Virtual Appliance settings
    2.  
      Adding a permanent license key if an evaluation license key expires
    3.  
      Managing license keys on the NetBackup Virtual Appliance
  5. Introduction to the NetBackup Virtual Appliance Shell Menu
    1.  
      Using the NetBackup Virtual Appliance Shell Menu
    2.  
      About the NetBackup Virtual Appliance Shell Menu command views

Performing the initial configuration on a NetBackup Virtual Appliance combined master and media server

This section describes how to perform the initial configuration on a NetBackup Virtual Appliance with the combined master and media server role.

You do not need this procedure if the product file supports automatic initial configuration after the deployment.

To perform the initial configuration on a NetBackup Virtual Appliance with the combined master and media server role

  1. After you have deployed a new virtual appliance, log on to the NetBackup Virtual Appliance Shell Menu.

    The logon is admin, and the default password is P@ssw0rd.

  2. Use the following command to start the initial configuration:

    Main > Appliance > Configure

    A message about the Virtual Appliance Initial Configuration Wizard appears. This wizard will walk you through the process to configure this appliance.

  3. The wizard takes you to the network configuration.

    Specify the following:

    • Hostname

      Enter a short host name or a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) for this appliance. As a best practice, Veritas recommends that you use an FQDN.

      Caution:

      After the initial deployment has completed successfully, the only way to change the host name is to redeploy the appliance.

      Note:

      If you plan to configure Active Directory (AD) authentication on this appliance, the host name must be 15 characters or less. Otherwise, AD configuration can fail.

    • DNS domain name

      Enter a DNS domain name for this appliance.

    • IPv4 address

      Enter the IPv4 address to be used for this appliance.

    • Netmask

      Enter the netmask that corresponds to the IP address.

    • Gateway IP address

      Enter the IPv4 address of the gateway (network point) that acts as an entrance to another network.

    • DNS server 1 IP address

      Enter the IPv4 address of the primary DNS server for this appliance.

    • DNS server 2 IP address(Optional)

      Enter the IPv4 address of the secondary DNS server for this appliance.

    When you are prompted with the following message, choose whether you want to add the host name and IP address to the HOSTS file.

    The host name must be resolvable with a DNS or a HOSTS file for the initial configuration to be successful. Do you want to write the host name resolution information to the HOSTS file? [yes, no](no)

    Note:

    The host name must be resolvable with a DNS server or a HOSTS file for the initial configuration to be successful. If DNS is not available, you can add the host name and IP address to the HOSTS file.

  4. After the network configuration is completed, the wizard takes you to the second step for the Smart Meter customer registration key.

    Veritas Smart Meter helps you manage your NetBackup deployment more efficiently, spot trends, and plan for the future. To obtain a key, follow the onscreen prompts as described below:

    • Log in to the Veritas Smart Meter site with your VEMS credentials and go to the Registration Keys page to download the key.

    • The following shares have been opened on this appliance:

      CIFS share \<hostname or ip>\incoming_patches\customer_registration/

      NFS share <hostname or ip>:/inst/patch/incoming/customer_registration/

      Mount one of these share paths.

    • Upload the veritas_customer_registration_key.json file to the mounted share path.

  5. Once the file is uploaded, the wizard takes you to final step for storage configuration.

    Specify the following:

    • AdvancedDisk disk pool name

      Enter a name for the AdvancedDisk disk pool on the appliance.

    • AdvancedDisk storage unit name

      Enter a name for the AdvancedDisk storage unit on the appliance.

    • MSDP storage unit name

      Enter a name for the MSDP storage unit on the appliance.

    • MSDP disk pool name

      Enter a name for the MSDP disk pool on the appliance.

    The storage configuration may take several minutes.

  6. Use the following command to verify that the automatic configuration completed successfully:

    Main > Appliance > Status

    The command output should contain a message similar to the following:

    Appliance Version is 3.3.0.1.
    
    Appliance is configured as master appliance.
    

    If the output does not show that the appliance is configured as a master appliance, you need to redeploy the appliance or perform other troubleshooting steps to fix the issue before you proceed to the next step. See Troubleshooting NetBackup Virtual Appliance initial deployment issues.

  7. Use the following commands to change the admin, the maintenance, and the nbasecadmin account passwords from the known default password (P@ssw0rd):
    • Main > Settings > Password admin

    • Main > Settings > Password maintenance

    • Main > Settings > Password nbasecadmin

      Note:

      You cannot access the NetBackup web UI until you have changed the nbasecadmin user password.

  8. Use the following command to set the time zone:

    Main > Network > TimeZone Set

    Select the appropriate time zone from the displayed list.

  9. Use the following command to add a Network Time Protocol (NTP) server:

    Main > Network > NTPServer Add <Server>

    Where <Server> is the name of the NTPServer.

  10. Add a permanent license key before the evaluation key expires with the following command:

    Main > Manage > License > Add

    You can locate your permanent license key from the Veritas Entitlement Management System (VEMS). To access VEMS, click Licensing on the Veritas Support website.

    Warning:

    If the correct license key is not installed, the appliance services stop functioning after the evaluation key expires. Make sure that the NetBackup license you add includes support for NetBackup Virtual Appliance.

    See Managing license keys on the NetBackup Virtual Appliance.

  11. (Optional)

    If you want to configure an IPv6 address for the appliance, run the following command:

    Main > Network > IPv6 <IPAddress> <Prefix> InterfaceName

    Where <IPAddress> is the IPv6 address and <Prefix> is the prefix length.

  12. (Optional)

    If you want to configure an IPv6 DNS server on the appliance, run the following command:

    Main > Network > DNS Add NameServer <IPAddress>

    Where <IPAddress> is the IPv6 address of the additional DNS server. Only global-scope and unique-local IPv6 addresses are allowed.

  13. (Optional)

    If you want to use an external Certificate Authority (CA) for communication between the appliance and your other NetBackup hosts, run the following command:

    Main > Settings > NetBackup CertificateUsage Enable ECA

  14. (Optional)

    If you plan to connect this combined master and media server to another media server in a NAT network, perform the following tasks:

    • Enable the NetBackup DNAT feature on this combined master and media server as follows:

      Main > Settings > NetBackup DNAT Enable

    • Add the name of the other media server to the NetBackup Servers list on this combined master and media server as follows:

      Main > Settings > NetBackup NATServers Add

  15. (Optional)

    If you deployed a product file with an initial storage capacity of .5 TB and want to add storage up to a total of 16 TB, use the following steps to add additional disks:

    • Use the VMware vSphere Client to create new virtual disks with sizes that are multiples of 0.5 TB, or 512 GB.

    • From the NetBackup Virtual Appliance Shell Menu, run the following command:

      Main > Manage > Storage > Scan

      This command refreshes the storage disks and device information to locate available disks.

    • Run the following command:

      Main > Manage > Storage > Add

      This command launches a wizard that displays the available disks. Follow the prompts to add the disks. To add multiple disks at one time, use a comma-separated list.

  16. Log on to the appliance from the NetBackup Administration Console and activate the NetBackup catalog backup policy.

    By default, the appliance creates an inactive backup policy that uses a Storage Lifecycle Policy (SLP) to protect the NetBackup catalog. The SLP backs up the data to AdvancedDisk and then duplicates it to MSDP. You are then able to use Auto Image Replication to save your catalog backup off site. Veritas recommends that you use this replication-based strategy for disaster recovery (DR) due to the combined master and media server role of the appliance.

    To activate the policy, navigate to the NetBackup Management > Policies tab in the Administration Console, right-click on the nbu-catalog policy, and select Activate.

    Note:

    You must set a encryption passphrase for the disaster recovery package for the catalog to be successful. Catalog backups continue to fail until the passphrase is set.

    For more information about the security requirements for disaster recovery , see the NetBackup Security and Encryption Guide.

    If you plan to use AdvancdDisk to back up your clients, note that the AdvancedDisk does not support Auto Image Replication. If you want to save the data off site, create an SLP to duplicate the backup data on AdvancedDisk to MSDP. You are then able to use Auto Image Replication to transfer the data off site.

  17. If you want to configure the appliance for MSDP cloud, log in to the NetBackup web UI as the nbasecadmin user and configure the MSDP cloud storage as follows:
    • Create a disk pool.

    • Create a storage unit.

      For details, see the NetBackup Web UI Administrator's Guide.

After the appliance is configured and operational, you are ready to install NetBackup client software on the computers that you want to back up.

See the NetBackup Installation Guide for how to install NetBackup clients.