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Yamoo
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14 years ago
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How to configure Netbackup off-host alternate backup for HP EVA using HP VSS and SSSU

I am just wondering if there is anyone in this forum that caan assist me with clarification on the setup requirements to implement Netbackup "off-host alternate backup for windows client with presented LUN on the HP EVA 6x00 using the VSS and netbackup flashbackup policy.
It is not clear from symantec guides.The document only mentioned to contact HP regarding the configuration of the tools required.In the requirements, symantec stated HP VSS and SSSU , but i dont to know how and where(is it on the alternate client which is the media server or on the primary client whose lun needs to be backuped or on both)to configure this.Will appreciate if any one could define the steps to achieve this configuration or point me to relevant documentation.
We use netbackup enterprise 6.5.4 with snapshot client and the servers are windows 2008

 

Thanks.

  • It most definately needs to go on both - NBU needs to call SSSU commands/utilies.

    No scripts are needed - as long as the SSSU software is installed and the array credentials are added, the policy will call the neccessary SSSU commands to create the snapshot and present it to the media server.

    You might want work with your HP array support team to test the utilities manually before trying to automate it with a backup policy.

    Please check snapshot options in the policy carefully - details in Snapshot Admin Guide, p.172.

    Also create all the necessary log directories to troubleshoot initial 'teething problems'. bpfis is a must.

    I remember that our first attempt failed - we could see in the log that connection to the <array-name> failed. The HP support person realized that only half of the array name was displayed in the bpfis log. The problem was that there was a space in the 'array-name'. They renamed the array so that there was no space, we again configured array credentials, and subsequent backup was successful.

  • Hi,

     

    I've looked at the NetBackup snapshot compatibility list and I see there are three snapshot technologies listed for HP

     

    They are HP EVA Snapclone, Snapshot and Vsnap. None of the are compatible with windows though.

     

    Can you post the documents you have regarding this configuration requirement/suggestion.

  • Row 1015 of NetBackup 6.x Snapshot Client (CL):     http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH43676:

    FlashBackup Alternate Client Microsoft x64 Windows 2008 VSS (Array Provider) - plex NTFS / none HP EVA File System 6.5.4


    I remember seeing a Windows section in the Snapshot Client Admin Guide when I had to config HP EVA offhost backups on Solaris.

    HP EVA  configuration starts on p. 168.

    Table 8-6 on p.169 lists  Software that is required for HP EVA :

    'NetBackup clients' include NetBackup media server/ alternate client.

     

    For Windows
    To use an HP EVA disk array with Volume Shadow Copy Service, contact HP Corporation for the required software and versions. HP supplies this software as a bundle, to ensure that the software components are at the right level and function correctly.

    Also see Figure 8-3 on p.170 for a diagram of Software components on NetBackup clients and HP EVA.

  • Thanks for the response. That is the same page I have seen in the documentation and it wasnt clear to me whether the SSSu only need to be installed on the alternate(media server) client alone and not on the primary client. No mention of any script involvement as well, Do you have to do any SSSU script when you were implementing the off-host backup for solaris?

    There is another reference in the Documentaton that says HP SSSU and HP VSS provider are requirements but no detailed configuration mentioned. I have got the HP VDS/VSS provider with SSSU. so my question is how does the Netbackup policy interface with this tools?

     

     

    Thanks.

  • I'm certain you'd need to install it on both source and alternate client. You need to configure the disk array access/credentials in NetBackup and then configure the policy.

    Configure NetBackup to access the array

    1  In the NetBackup Administration Console, click the Media and Device Management > Credentials > Disk Array Hosts node in the NetBackup Administration Console.
    2    Right-click in the Disk Array Hosts pane and select New Disk Array Host.
    3    Enter the host name through which the array management service is to be accessed. For some arrays, the array management service runs on a separate host; for other arrays it runs in the array itself.
    4    Select HP EVA in the Disk Array Host Type pulldown menu. 5    Enter the user name and password for the array management service. 6    Clear (uncheck) the Connect using port number box.

    Configure a NetBackup policy for an HP EVA array method


    For initial help setting up a NetBackup policy in the NetBackup Administration Console, see “Configuring a Snapshot client policy” on page 59.
    1    In the NetBackup Administration Console, click the Perform snapshot backups box on the policy Attributes tab.
    2    Click the Snapshot Client Options button to display the Snapshot Options dialog box.
    3    In the Snapshot method pull-down list, select an HP EVA method.
    4    You can set the Maximum snapshots (Instant Recovery only) parameter. The maximum value is 16 snapshots or vsnaps per source device. Refer to “Maximum Snapshots parameter” on page 108 for an explanation of the Maximum Snapshots parameter.

  • It most definately needs to go on both - NBU needs to call SSSU commands/utilies.

    No scripts are needed - as long as the SSSU software is installed and the array credentials are added, the policy will call the neccessary SSSU commands to create the snapshot and present it to the media server.

    You might want work with your HP array support team to test the utilities manually before trying to automate it with a backup policy.

    Please check snapshot options in the policy carefully - details in Snapshot Admin Guide, p.172.

    Also create all the necessary log directories to troubleshoot initial 'teething problems'. bpfis is a must.

    I remember that our first attempt failed - we could see in the log that connection to the <array-name> failed. The HP support person realized that only half of the array name was displayed in the bpfis log. The problem was that there was a space in the 'array-name'. They renamed the array so that there was no space, we again configured array credentials, and subsequent backup was successful.

  • Thanks guys for this lot. So if no script is involve, does it mean that internal process of Netbackup is able to identified the required primary vdisk to snapshot buy just the backup selection (e.g \\. \E:) in the policy?

    Do you recon?