Forum Discussion

dori_bashan's avatar
dori_bashan
Level 6
9 years ago

connect an auto loader to two servers at the same time?

Hello

assuming i have an auto loader with 80 slots and 4xLTO7 drives, is it possible to cinnect two drives to server A and two drives to server B and partition the auto loader so each server will see a 40 slot auto loader with 2x LTO7 drives?

of course both server will run full version of Backup Exec (without agents).

i know i can use one server and install an agent on the second server, but we want to know if what i wrote above is possible.

Thanks!

15
Windows Server (2003/2008)
  • Larry_Fine's avatar
    Larry_Fine
    9 years ago

    CASO also adds the ability to share hardware and to share the BE catalogs which greatly simplifies restores.  But, if you don't want/need it, it is not required at all.  It could always be added later if things change.

    You are correct about the workflow.

    As far as the sharing... it is apparently hardware "magic".  The library queues up requests for one server/library if the other server/library is busy.  BE is not aware of the partitioniong/sharing.  Mounting or unmounting a tape is relatively quick, so the second request justs gets delayed slightly and BE tolerates it fine.  Each tape drive is not shared, so there is no contention there.

    When you configure the partitioning within the 6480, it create two "logical" robotic arms.  One logical arm is assigned to the first tape drive in the first partion and one arm is assigned to the first tape drive in the second partiton.

  • Larry_Fine's avatar
    Larry_Fine
    Level 6
    9 years ago

    Assuming that your tape library hardware supports that feature (most do), then Yes, you can.  And it generally works really well.  Using the BE CAS option may or may not suit your needs & deires.  You also need to be aware of tape drive licensing requirements.

    Generally, you do not have to split the library evenly, so you could make a 1 drive logical library with 10 slots and a 3 drive logical library with 70 slots, if that suits your needs better.

    You do need to be aware that if a backup was made on server A and library partition A, but then (for whatever reason) you want to restore using Server B, you will need to export the tape from partition A, then import it into partition B.  If you are using CAS with shared catalogs, then you can restore now.  If you are not using CAS with shared catalogs, then you will need to catalog the tape on Server Bbefore it can be restored.

    • dori_bashan's avatar
      dori_bashan
      Level 6
      9 years ago

      Thanks for your replay.

      we are talking about the HP MSL 6480 with 4x LTO7 drives.

      as for now we have two servers running with Win Server 2012 R2, each  server is running BE 15, and each server got an MSL4048 with two LTO5 drives.

      we want to replace both MSL4048, and to install one HP MSL6480 that will serve both servers.

      i am not very fimiliar with CASO, but if what it offers is just central managemenf of jobs, we don't really need that.

      we have no problem contiune using two servers and manage each server seperatly, also, we have no problem to restore data that was moved to LTO from Server A - only to Server A.

      Is that workflow - can i just use one MSL 6480 (80 slots) with 4x LTO 7 drives, and connect two drives to server A and two drives to server B, and partition the auto loader so each server will have 40 slots?

      how does the robotics know what to do when two serves are asking to mount or unmount a tape at the same time?

       

      Thanks!!

      • Larry_Fine's avatar
        Larry_Fine
        Level 6
        9 years ago

        CASO also adds the ability to share hardware and to share the BE catalogs which greatly simplifies restores.  But, if you don't want/need it, it is not required at all.  It could always be added later if things change.

        You are correct about the workflow.

        As far as the sharing... it is apparently hardware "magic".  The library queues up requests for one server/library if the other server/library is busy.  BE is not aware of the partitioniong/sharing.  Mounting or unmounting a tape is relatively quick, so the second request justs gets delayed slightly and BE tolerates it fine.  Each tape drive is not shared, so there is no contention there.

        When you configure the partitioning within the 6480, it create two "logical" robotic arms.  One logical arm is assigned to the first tape drive in the first partion and one arm is assigned to the first tape drive in the second partiton.