Veritas NetBackup™ Deduplication Guide

Last Published:
Product(s): NetBackup (8.1.2)
  1. Introducing the NetBackup media server deduplication option
    1.  
      About the NetBackup deduplication options
  2. Planning your deployment
    1.  
      Planning your MSDP deployment
    2.  
      NetBackup naming conventions
    3.  
      About MSDP deduplication nodes
    4.  
      About the NetBackup deduplication destinations
    5.  
      About MSDP storage capacity
    6. About MSDP storage and connectivity requirements
      1.  
        Fibre Channel and iSCSI comparison for MSDP
    7. About NetBackup media server deduplication
      1.  
        About MSDP storage servers
      2.  
        About MSDP load balancing servers
      3.  
        About MSDP server requirements
      4.  
        About MSDP unsupported configurations
    8. About NetBackup Client Direct deduplication
      1.  
        About MSDP client deduplication requirements and limitations
    9. About MSDP remote office client deduplication
      1.  
        About MSDP remote client data security
      2.  
        About remote client backup scheduling
    10.  
      About the NetBackup Deduplication Engine credentials
    11.  
      About the network interface for MSDP
    12.  
      About MSDP port usage
    13.  
      About MSDP optimized synthetic backups
    14.  
      About MSDP and SAN Client
    15.  
      About MSDP optimized duplication and replication
    16. About MSDP performance
      1.  
        How file size may affect the MSDP deduplication rate
    17.  
      About MSDP stream handlers
    18. MSDP deployment best practices
      1.  
        Use fully qualified domain names
      2.  
        About scaling MSDP
      3.  
        Send initial full backups to the storage server
      4.  
        Increase the number of MSDP jobs gradually
      5.  
        Introduce MSDP load balancing servers gradually
      6.  
        Implement MSDP client deduplication gradually
      7.  
        Use MSDP compression and encryption
      8.  
        About the optimal number of backup streams for MSDP
      9.  
        About storage unit groups for MSDP
      10.  
        About protecting the MSDP data
      11.  
        Save the MSDP storage server configuration
      12.  
        Plan for disk write caching
  3. Provisioning the storage
    1.  
      About provisioning the storage for MSDP
    2.  
      Do not modify MSDP storage directories and files
    3.  
      About adding additional MSDP storage
    4.  
      About volume management for NetBackup MSDP
  4. Licensing deduplication
    1.  
      About the MSDP license
    2.  
      Licensing NetBackup MSDP
  5. Configuring deduplication
    1.  
      Configuring MSDP server-side deduplication
    2.  
      Configuring MSDP client-side deduplication
    3.  
      About the MSDP Deduplication Multi-Threaded Agent
    4. Configuring the Deduplication Multi-Threaded Agent behavior
      1.  
        MSDP mtstrm.conf file parameters
    5.  
      Configuring deduplication plug-in interaction with the Multi-Threaded Agent
    6.  
      About MSDP fingerprinting
    7.  
      About the MSDP fingerprint cache
    8. Configuring the MSDP fingerprint cache behavior
      1.  
        MSDP fingerprint cache behavior options
    9.  
      About seeding the MSDP fingerprint cache for remote client deduplication
    10.  
      Configuring MSDP fingerprint cache seeding on the client
    11. Configuring MSDP fingerprint cache seeding on the storage server
      1.  
        NetBackup seedutil options
    12.  
      Enabling 96-TB support for MSDP
    13. About MSDP Encryption using KMS service
      1.  
        Upgrading KMS for MSDP
    14. Configuring a storage server for a Media Server Deduplication Pool
      1.  
        MSDP storage path properties
      2.  
        MSDP network interface properties
    15.  
      Configuring a storage server for a PureDisk Deduplication Pool
    16.  
      About disk pools for NetBackup deduplication
    17. Configuring a disk pool for deduplication
      1.  
        Media Server Deduplication Pool properties
    18.  
      Creating the data directories for 96-TB MSDP support
    19.  
      Adding volumes to a 96-TB Media Server Deduplication Pool
    20. Configuring a Media Server Deduplication Pool storage unit
      1.  
        Media Server Deduplication Pool storage unit properties
      2.  
        MSDP storage unit recommendations
    21.  
      Configuring client attributes for MSDP client-side deduplication
    22.  
      Disabling MSDP client-side deduplication for a client
    23.  
      About MSDP compression
    24.  
      About MSDP encryption
    25.  
      MSDP compression and encryption settings matrix
    26.  
      Configuring encryption for MSDP backups
    27.  
      Configuring encryption for MSDP optimized duplication and replication
    28.  
      About the rolling data conversion mechanism for MSDP
    29.  
      Modes of rolling data conversion
    30.  
      MSDP encryption behavior and compatibilities
    31.  
      Configuring optimized synthetic backups for MSDP
    32.  
      About a separate network path for MSDP duplication and replication
    33.  
      Configuring a separate network path for MSDP duplication and replication
    34. About MSDP optimized duplication within the same domain
      1. About the media servers for MSDP optimized duplication within the same domain
        1.  
          About MSDP push duplication within the same domain
        2.  
          About MSDP pull duplication within the same domain
    35. Configuring MSDP optimized duplication within the same NetBackup domain
      1. Configuring NetBackup optimized duplication or replication behavior
        1.  
          Setting NetBackup configuration options by using the command line
    36.  
      About MSDP replication to a different domain
    37. Configuring MSDP replication to a different NetBackup domain
      1. About NetBackup Auto Image Replication
        1.  
          One-to-many Auto Image Replication model
        2.  
          Cascading Auto Image Replication model
        3.  
          About the domain relationship for replication
        4.  
          About the replication topology for Auto Image Replication
        5. Viewing the replication topology for Auto Image Replication
          1.  
            Sample volume properties output for MSDP replication
      2.  
        About trusted master servers for Auto Image Replication
      3.  
        About the certificate to be used for adding a trusted master server
      4.  
        Adding a trusted master server using NetBackup CA-signed (host ID-based) certificate
      5.  
        Adding a trusted master server using external CA-signed certificate
      6.  
        Removing a trusted master server
      7.  
        Enabling NetBackup clustered master server inter-node authentication
      8.  
        Configuring NetBackup CA and NetBackup host ID-based certificate for secure communication between the source and the target MSDP storage servers
      9.  
        Configuring external CA for secure communication between the source MSDP storage server and the target MSDP storage server
      10. Configuring a target for MSDP replication to a remote domain
        1.  
          Target options for MSDP replication
        2.  
          Configuring a NetBackup Deduplication Engine user with limited permissions for Auto Image Replication
    38.  
      About configuring MSDP optimized duplication and replication bandwidth
    39.  
      About storage lifecycle policies
    40.  
      About the storage lifecycle policies required for Auto Image Replication
    41. Creating a storage lifecycle policy
      1.  
        Storage Lifecycle Policy dialog box settings
    42.  
      About MSDP backup policy configuration
    43.  
      Creating a backup policy
    44. Resilient Network properties
      1.  
        Resilient connection resource usage
    45.  
      Specifying resilient connections
    46.  
      Adding an MSDP load balancing server
    47.  
      About variable-length deduplication on NetBackup clients
    48.  
      About the MSDP pd.conf configuration file
    49. Editing the MSDP pd.conf file
      1.  
        MSDP pd.conf file parameters
    50.  
      About the MSDP contentrouter.cfg file
    51.  
      About saving the MSDP storage server configuration
    52.  
      Saving the MSDP storage server configuration
    53.  
      Editing an MSDP storage server configuration file
    54.  
      Setting the MSDP storage server configuration
    55.  
      About the MSDP host configuration file
    56.  
      Deleting an MSDP host configuration file
    57.  
      Resetting the MSDP registry
    58. About protecting the MSDP catalog
      1.  
        About the MSDP shadow catalog
      2.  
        About the MSDP catalog backup policy
    59.  
      Changing the MSDP shadow catalog path
    60.  
      Changing the MSDP shadow catalog schedule
    61.  
      Changing the number of MSDP catalog shadow copies
    62. Configuring an MSDP catalog backup
      1.  
        MSDP drcontrol options
    63.  
      Updating an MSDP catalog backup policy
    64.  
      About MSDP FIPS compliance
  6. Configuring deduplication to the cloud with NetBackup CloudCatalyst
    1. Using NetBackup CloudCatalyst to upload deduplicated data to the cloud
      1. Optimized duplication is used to copy data from an MSDP storage server to a CloudCatalyst storage server (preferred use case)
        1.  
          MSDP storage servers fan-in to a single CloudCatalyst storage server
      2.  
        Backups go directly to a CloudCatalyst storage server
    2.  
      CloudCatalyst requirements and limitations
    3.  
      Configuring a Linux media server as a CloudCatalyst storage server
    4. Configuring a CloudCatalyst storage server for deduplication to the cloud
      1.  
        How to configure a NetBackup CloudCatalyst Appliance
      2.  
        How to configure a Linux media server as a CloudCatalyst storage server
      3.  
        Configuring a CloudCatalyst storage server as the target for the deduplications from MSDP storage servers
      4.  
        Managing CloudCatalyst storage server with IAM Role or CREDS_CAPS credential broker type
      5.  
        Configuring a storage lifecycle policy for NetBackup CloudCatalyst
    5.  
      About the CloudCatalyst esfs.json configuration file
    6.  
      About the CloudCatalyst cache
    7.  
      Controlling data traffic to the cloud when using CloudCatalyst
    8.  
      Configuring source control or target control optimized duplication for CloudCatalyst
    9.  
      Decommissioning CloudCatalyst cloud storage
    10.  
      NetBackup CloudCatalyst workflow processes
    11.  
      Disaster Recovery for CloudCatalyst
  7. Monitoring deduplication activity
    1.  
      Monitoring the MSDP deduplication and compression rates
    2. Viewing MSDP job details
      1.  
        MSDP job details
    3.  
      About MSDP storage capacity and usage reporting
    4.  
      About MSDP container files
    5.  
      Viewing storage usage within MSDP container files
    6.  
      Viewing MSDP disk reports
    7.  
      About monitoring MSDP processes
    8.  
      Reporting on Auto Image Replication jobs
  8. Managing deduplication
    1. Managing MSDP servers
      1.  
        Viewing MSDP storage servers
      2.  
        Determining the MSDP storage server state
      3.  
        Viewing MSDP storage server attributes
      4.  
        Setting MSDP storage server attributes
      5.  
        Changing MSDP storage server properties
      6.  
        Clearing MSDP storage server attributes
      7.  
        About changing the MSDP storage server name or storage path
      8.  
        Changing the MSDP storage server name or storage path
      9.  
        Removing an MSDP load balancing server
      10.  
        Deleting an MSDP storage server
      11.  
        Deleting the MSDP storage server configuration
    2. Managing NetBackup Deduplication Engine credentials
      1.  
        Determining which media servers have deduplication credentials
      2.  
        Adding NetBackup Deduplication Engine credentials
      3.  
        Changing NetBackup Deduplication Engine credentials
      4.  
        Deleting credentials from a load balancing server
    3. Managing Media Server Deduplication Pools
      1.  
        Viewing Media Server Deduplication Pools
      2.  
        Determining the Media Server Deduplication Pool state
      3.  
        Changing Media Server Deduplication Pool state
      4.  
        Viewing Media Server Deduplication Pool attributes
      5.  
        Setting a Media Server Deduplication Pool attribute
      6. Changing a Media Server Deduplication Pool properties
        1.  
          How to resolve volume changes for Auto Image Replication
      7.  
        Clearing a Media Server Deduplication Pool attribute
      8.  
        Determining the MSDP disk volume state
      9.  
        Changing the MSDP disk volume state
      10.  
        Inventorying a NetBackup disk pool
      11.  
        Deleting a Media Server Deduplication Pool
    4.  
      Deleting backup images
    5.  
      About MSDP queue processing
    6.  
      Processing the MSDP transaction queue manually
    7.  
      About MSDP data integrity checking
    8. Configuring MSDP data integrity checking behavior
      1.  
        MSDP data integrity checking configuration parameters
    9.  
      About managing MSDP storage read performance
    10. About MSDP storage rebasing
      1.  
        MSDP server-side rebasing parameters
    11.  
      About the MSDP data removal process
    12.  
      Resizing the MSDP storage partition
    13.  
      How MSDP restores work
    14.  
      Configuring MSDP restores directly to a client
    15.  
      About restoring files at a remote site
    16.  
      About restoring from a backup at a target master domain
    17.  
      Specifying the restore server
  9. Recovering MSDP
    1.  
      About recovering the MSDP catalog
    2.  
      Restoring the MSDP catalog from a shadow copy
    3.  
      Recovering from an MSDP storage server disk failure
    4.  
      Recovering from an MSDP storage server failure
    5.  
      Recovering the MSDP storage server after NetBackup catalog recovery
  10. Replacing MSDP hosts
    1.  
      Replacing the MSDP storage server host computer
  11. Uninstalling MSDP
    1.  
      About uninstalling MSDP
    2.  
      Deactivating MSDP
  12. Deduplication architecture
    1.  
      MSDP server components
    2.  
      Media server deduplication backup process
    3.  
      MSDP client components
    4.  
      MSDP client - side deduplication backup process
  13. Troubleshooting
    1. About unified logging
      1.  
        About using the vxlogview command to view unified logs
      2.  
        Examples of using vxlogview to view unified logs
    2. About legacy logging
      1.  
        Creating NetBackup log file directories for MSDP
    3.  
      NetBackup MSDP log files
    4. Troubleshooting MSDP installation issues
      1.  
        MSDP installation on SUSE Linux fails
    5. Troubleshooting MSDP configuration issues
      1.  
        MSDP storage server configuration fails
      2.  
        MSDP database system error (220)
      3.  
        MSDP server not found error
      4.  
        License information failure during MSDP configuration
      5.  
        The disk pool wizard does not display an MSDP volume
    6. Troubleshooting MSDP operational issues
      1.  
        Verify that the MSDP server has sufficient memory
      2.  
        MSDP backup or duplication job fails
      3.  
        MSDP client deduplication fails
      4.  
        MSDP volume state changes to DOWN when volume is unmounted
      5.  
        MSDP errors, delayed response, hangs
      6.  
        Cannot delete an MSDP disk pool
      7.  
        MSDP media open error (83)
      8.  
        MSDP media write error (84)
      9.  
        MSDP no images successfully processed (191)
      10.  
        MSDP storage full conditions
      11.  
        Troubleshooting MSDP catalog backup
    7.  
      Viewing MSDP disk errors and events
    8.  
      MSDP event codes and messages
    9. Troubleshooting CloudCatalyst issues
      1. CloudCatalyst logs
        1.  
          Error messages in esfs_filesystem
      2. Problems encountered while using the Cloud Storage Server Configuration Wizard
        1.  
          Unable to select the desired media server
        2.  
          Unable to select the Deduplication option
        3. Storage Server Creation Status errors
          1.  
            Login credentials or certificate failed message
          2.  
            Failure to add credentials
      3. Disk pool problems
        1.  
          Disk pool creation problem due to timeout issue
        2.  
          One disk pool for each CloudCatalyst storage server
      4. Problems during cloud storage server configuration
        1.  
          Media server not available in Media Servers tab to add credentials
        2.  
          Add credentials failed message for media server
      5.  
        Status 191: No images were successfully processed
      6.  
        Media write error (84) if due to a full local cache directory
      7.  
        Trouble restarting ESFS after the CloudCatalyst storage server is down
      8.  
        Restarting the vxesfsd process
      9.  
        Problems restarting vxesfsd
      10. CloudCatalyst troubleshooting tools
        1.  
          esfs_cleanup.sh script
        2.  
          esfs_check consistency checking tool
        3.  
          setlsu_ioctl tool
        4.  
          cred_ioctl tool
  14. Appendix A. Migrating to MSDP storage
    1.  
      Migrating from PureDisk to the NetBackup MSDP
    2.  
      Migrating from another storage type to MSDP

NetBackup MSDP log files

The NetBackup deduplication components write information to various log files. Some NetBackup commands or processes write messages to their own log files. Other processes use the Veritas unified log (VxUL) files. VxUL uses a standardized name and file format for log files. An originator ID (OID) identifies the process that writes the log messages.

See About legacy logging.

See About unified logging.

In VxUL logs, the messages that begin with an sts prefix relate to the interaction with the deduplication plug-in. Most interaction occurs on the NetBackup media servers. To view and manage VxUL log files, you must use NetBackup log commands. For information about how to use and manage logs on NetBackup servers, see the NetBackup Logging Reference Guide. The guide is available through the following URL:

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

Most interaction occurs on the NetBackup media servers. Therefore, the log files on the media servers that you use for disk operations are of most interest.

Warning:

The higher the log level, the greater the affect on NetBackup performance. Use a log level of 5 (the highest) only when directed to do so by a Veritas representative. A log level of 5 is for troubleshooting only.

Specify the NetBackup log levels in the Logging host properties on the NetBackup master server. The log levels for some processes specific to certain options are set in configuration files as described in Table: Logs for NetBackup MSDP activity.

Table: Logs for NetBackup MSDP activity describes the log files for each component.

Table: Logs for NetBackup MSDP activity

Component

VxUL OID

Description

Backups and restores

117

The nbjm Job Manager.

Backups and restores

N/A

Messages appear in the log files for the following processes:

  • The bpbrm backup and restore manager. The following is the path to the log files:

    UNIX: /usr/openv/netbackup/logs/bpbrm

    Windows: install_path\Veritas\NetBackup\logs\bpbrm

  • The bpdbm database manager. The following is the path to the log files:

    UNIX: /usr/openv/netbackup/logs/bpdbm

    Windows: install_path\Veritas\NetBackup\logs\bpdbm

  • The bptm tape manager for I/O operations. The following is the path to the log files:

    UNIX: /usr/openv/netbackup/logs/bptm

    Windows: install_path\Veritas\NetBackup\logs\bptm

Catalog shadow copies

N/A

The MSDP catalog shadow copy process writes messages to the following log files and directories:

UNIX:

/storage_path/log/spad/spad.log
/storage_path/log/spad/sched_CatalogBackup.log
/storage_path/log/spad/client_name/

Windows:

storage_path\log\spad\spad.log
storage_path\log\spad\sched_CatalogBackup.log
storage_path\log\spad\client_name\

Client deduplication proxy plug-in

N/A

The client deduplication proxy plug-in on the media server runs under bptm, bpstsinfo, and bpbrm processes. Examine the log files for those processes for proxy plug-in activity. The strings proxy or ProxyServer embedded in the log messages identify proxy server activity.

They write log files to the following directories:

  • For bptm:

    UNIX: /usr/openv/netbackup/logs/bptm

    Windows: install_path\Veritas\NetBackup\logs\bptm

  • For bpstsinfo:

    Windows: /usr/openv/netbackup/logs/admin

    UNIX: /usr/openv/netbackup/logs/bpstsinfo

    Windows: install_path\Veritas\NetBackup\logs\admin

    Windows: install_path\Veritas\NetBackup\logs\stsinfo

  • For bpbrm:

    UNIX: /usr/openv/netbackup/logs/bpbrm

    Windows: install_path\Veritas\NetBackup\logs\bpbrm

Client deduplication proxy server

N/A

The deduplication proxy server nbostpxy on the client writes messages to files in the following directory, as follows:

UNIX: /usr/openv/netbackup/logs/nbostpxy

Windows: install_path\Veritas\NetBackup\logs\nbostpxy.

Deduplication configuration script

N/A

The following is the path name of the log file for the deduplication configuration script:

  • UNIX: storage_path/log/pdde-config.log

  • Windows: storage_path\log\pdde-config.log

NetBackup creates this log file during the configuration process. If your configuration succeeded, you do not need to examine the log file. The only reason to look at the log file is if the configuration failed. If the configuration process fails after it creates and populates the storage directory, this log file identifies when the configuration failed.

Deduplication plug-in

N/A

The DEBUGLOG entry and the LOGLEVEL in the pd.conf file determine the log location and level for the deduplication plug-in. The following are the default locations for log files:

  • UNIX: /var/log/puredisk/pdplugin.log

  • Windows: C:\pdplugin.log

You can configure the location and name of the log file and the logging level. To do so, edit the DEBUGLOG entry and the LOGLEVEL entry in the pd.conf file.

See About the MSDP pd.conf configuration file.

See Editing the MSDP pd.conf file.

Device configuration and monitoring

111

The nbemm process.

Device configuration and monitoring

178

The Disk Service Manager process that runs in the Enterprise Media Manager (EMM) process.

Device configuration and monitoring

202

The storage server interface process that runs in the Remote Manager and Monitor Service. RMMS runs on media servers.

Device configuration and monitoring

230

The Remote Disk Service Manager interface (RDSM) that runs in the Remote Manager and Monitor Service. RMMS runs on media servers.

drcontrol utility

N/A

You must run the drcontrol utility on the MSDP storage server host. The command requires administrator privileges.

The utility creates a log file and displays its pathname in the command output. The utility writes log files to the following directory, depending on the operating system:

UNIX:

/[storage_path]/log/drcontrol/policy_admin

/storage_path/log/drcontrol/dedupe_catalog_DR

Windows:

storage_path\log\drcontrol\policy_admin

storage_path\log\drcontrol\dedupe_catalog_DR

See About protecting the MSDP catalog.

See About recovering the MSDP catalog.

Installation

N/A

The NetBackup installation process writes information about the installation of the deduplication components to a log file in the following directory:

  • UNIX: /var/log/puredisk

  • Windows: %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Symantec\NetBackup\InstallLogs

NetBackup Deduplication Engine

N/A

The NetBackup Deduplication Engine writes several log files, as follows:

  • Log files in the storage_path/log/spoold directory, as follows:

    • The spoold.log file is the main log file

    • The storaged.log file is for queue processing.

    • A log file for each connection to the engine is stored in a directory in the storage path spoold directory. The following describes the pathname to a log file for a connection:

      hostname/application/TaskName/MMDDYY.log

      For example, the following is an example of a crcontrol connection log pathname on a Linux system:

      /storage_path/log/spoold/server.example.com/crcontrol/Control/010112.log

      Usually, the only reason to examine these connection log files is if a Veritas support representative asks you to.

  • A VxUL log file for the events and errors that NetBackup receives from polling. The originator ID for the deduplication engine is 364.

NetBackup Deduplication Engine

364

The NetBackup Deduplication Engine that runs on the deduplication storage server.

NetBackup Deduplication Manager

N/A

The log files are in the /storage_path/log/spad directory, as follows:

  • spad.log

  • sched_QueueProcess.log

  • SchedClass.log

  • A log file for each connection to the manager is stored in a directory in the storage path spad directory. The following describes the pathname to a log file for a connection:

    hostname/application/TaskName/MMDDYY.log

    For example, the following is an example of a bpstsinfo connection log pathname on a Linux system:

    /storage_path/log/spoold/server.example.com/bpstsinfo/spad/010112.log

    Usually, the only reason to examine these connection log files is if a Veritas support representative asks you to.

You can set the log level and retention period in the Change Storage Server dialog box Properties tab.

See Changing MSDP storage server properties.

Optimized duplication and replication

N/A

For optimized duplication and Auto Image Replication, The following are the log files that provide information:

  • The NetBackup bptm tape manager for I/O operations. The following is the path to the log files:

    UNIX: /usr/openv/netbackup/logs/bptm

    Windows: install_path\Veritas\NetBackup\logs\bptm

  • The following is the path name of MSDP replication log file:

    /storage_path/log/spad/replication.log

Resilient network connections

387

The Remote Network Transport Service (nbrntd) manages resilient network connection sockets. It runs on the master server, on media servers, and on clients. Use the VxUL originator ID 387 to view information about the socket connections that NetBackup uses.

Note:

If multiple backup streams run concurrently, the Remote Network Transport Service writes a large amount of information to the log files. In such a scenario, Veritas recommends that you set the logging level for OID 387 to 2 or less. To configure unified logs, see the following guide:

The NetBackup Logging Reference Guide:

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

Resilient network connections

N/A

The deduplication plug-in logs information about keeping the connection alive.

For more information about the deduplication plug-in log file, see "Deduplication plug-in" in this table.

The pd.conf file FILE_KEEP_ALIVE_INTERVAL parameter controls the connection keep alive interval.

See About the MSDP pd.conf configuration file.

See Editing the MSDP pd.conf file.