CIFS backup file size
We have Backup Exec 2012 running backups to CIFS on a Quantum DXi6700. I've been looking into setting up the maximum file on the storage properties in Backup Exec because it was initially set to 4GB by the tech who configured it, which would make the backup job go to 'loading media' for a duration of 60 seconds after writing each 4GB file. This adds up in a large backup job. As a test I changed the maximum file size to 12GB and a test job was much faster.
My questions are, what is the impact of increasing the maximum file size settings, is there an optimal/recommended setting? The only documentation that I could find states that Backup Exec will by default set the maximum file size to 50GB or the capacity of the disk.
Cheers
Hi,
If you increase the size of your B2D, it means bigger file sizes allocated to the backups, and if duplicating to tape, better performance as less B2Ds are streamed.
From a backup, and specifically restore perspective, the larger the files, the more data you fit into them, and should you have less B2D files with more data and 1 fails, you run a greater risk of losing considerably more data.
Ie. you backup 50GB with 5GB file sizes = 10 files. losing 1 of the 10 files = 10% data loss...backing up the same data with 10GB file sizes = 5 files. Losing 1 of the 5 = 20% data loss...
By default, the B2D file size is 4GB, and I have seen guys increase the size. See what is fit for your environment...
Thanks!
