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

About the snapshot state file

Whenever NetBackup creates a snapshot, it also creates a file that contains information about the snapshot. This file is called the snapshot state file. The state file stores information that is required for performing certain operations on the snapshot. (Examples of such operations are, data restore from snapshots, backup from snapshots, or snapshot deletion.

The NetBackup bpfis process creates a state file on the client. A copy of the state file is stored on the NetBackup primary server. In a cluster, if the client experiences problems and failover to another node occurs, the state file on the NetBackup primary server comes in handy to obtain information about the failed client. In case the state file does not exist on the NetBackup primary server, it becomes impossible for the active node to get snapshot information.

More Information

Note on NetBackup and CVM

About enabling VxVM or FlashSnap snapshots in a CVM environment

About enabling the NetBackup client to execute VxVM commands on the CVM master node

About support for CVM environments