Forum Discussion

W_M_Wong's avatar
W_M_Wong
Level 4
18 years ago

How to correctly decommission a NetBackup Media Server and remove it from the NetBackup v6.0?

Hi,
 
I read this article on how to decomission a media server.
 
Anyone has a similar steps to decomission a media server in Version6.0?
 
Thank you.
7.1.x and Earlier
Backup and Recovery
NetBackup
  • J_H_Is_gone's avatar
    J_H_Is_gone
    16 years ago
    1) Make sure all storage units are documented.
    a. #bpstulist –L (this will list all the info we need for current storage units so we can recreate them) send to output file or print.
    b. #bppllist –allpolicies (this will list all the policies and you can see what storage units each policy uses) send to output file or print
    2) Deactivate all policies
    3) get all the tape #;s that are under the control of the server being removed, and have them chang control to another media server.
    a. run a script or command to get the tape numbers.: bpmedialist -mlist -l -h <oldmediaserver>
    b. now change control to a new media server: bpmedia  -movedb -ev <mediaid> -oldserver <oldmediaserver> -newserver <newmediaserver>
    c. verify that no tapes are anylonger under control of the old media server.
    4) Set up <newmdiaserver> to be able to do restores for any tapes that were moved. Add the following line to the bp.conf.
    a. FORCE_RESTORE_MEDIA_SERVER= <oldserver> <newserver>
    b. Add this line for each media server being removed.
    5)  place all tapes in standalone status.
    6) For the server being taken out use the GUI to Delete:
    a. The Tape Drives
    i. Go to Media and Device management
    ii. Devices
    v. remove the drives for that media servers
    b. Remove the storage units that reference the server(s) being taken out.
    7) Power down everything, media, master and robot and make your cabling changes
    or  just out the zoneing for the media server from the san.
    8) Bring up everything

    10) Change any policies that referenced the old storage units to use the new storage units
    11) Change the server name in the bp.conf or vm.conf of media, master and client properties
    a. go to the list of hosts
    b. you can highlight all of them and right click for properties (wait for it 5 yo 6 mins)
    c. do a remove from all lists of the old server names
    d. do a add to all lists of the new server name.
    e. Say ok (wait for it 5 to 6 mins) handle by hand any that gave errors
    11) Change the list of files the catalog backs up.
    f. Remove reference to old servers.
    g. Add the files for the new server.
    12) Activate one policy that uses a new storage unit and do a test backup to make sure it uses the new server
    13) Activate all the policies and we should be good.

  • Anonymous's avatar
    Anonymous
    16 years ago
    DOCUMENTATION: What is the process for decommissioning a NetBackup 6.0 media server?
    http://seer.entsupport.symantec.com/docs/289139.htm

    DOCUMENTATION: What is the process for decommissioning a NetBackup 6.5 media server?
    http://seer.entsupport.symantec.com/docs/306838.htm

  • Taqadus_Rehman's avatar
    Taqadus_Rehman
    Level 6
    16 years ago
     When a media server is decommisioned before removing from Netbackup , plz follow the below steps to make the setup stable once again.

    Step 1 : go to server host properties & delete the media server name in the “Media server” List & also in the “server” list.

    Step 2. Remove the storage unit which belongs to the particular decomissioned media

    Step 3 : stop all the services then, Go to \install path\volmgr\database.

    Rename the below files. globdb, robtic_def & ltdevis to .old
    go to misc folder & delete all the files except the robotic_def directory.
    get inside to this robotic_def dir & delete the files.

    Step 4. start all the netbackup services

    Open cmd promt & go to volmgr\bin dir
    type

    vmglob -set_gdbhost

    Step 5. go to configure storage devices wizard. you can still see the decommisioned media server entry checkbox.

    Delete the decomissioned media server entry alone & discover the conf storage device for the remaining servers

    Now u will be able to run bpmedialist without any issues. Some of the tapes will show DBBackup status. You can bring them to scratch or secure the data. (solution given in previously for other person). run thru the forum for this.





    If you decommission a server incorrectly, then add it back and you cannot retreive data from the tapes, definatly you have critical data that you need to restore from those tapes, but because the server wasn’t decommissioned properly, you haven’t been able to inventory the tapes in order to restore the data then what’s the fix for that?



    Try to remove the tapes from NetBackup and then run an import.

    step 1:
    How to manually remove a tape completely from NetBackup/Media Manager. http://seer.support.veritas.com/docs/208420.htm

    step 2:
    start an import procedure using the wizard
  • Sriram's avatar
    Sriram
    Level 6
    16 years ago
    1. Take a complete FULL backup of the server ( While taking this backup ensure you take the backup using master server as media server, because it will save you time in case of restoring)
    2. Retain it for 7 years (or what ever the retention policy is)
    3. Now take a catalog backup for the media server
    4. Retain it for 7 years (or what ever the retention policy is)
    5. Take a complete catalog backup of master server also
    6. Reatain it for 7 years (or what ever the retention policy is)
    7. Move all the tapes assigned to the media server, to be managed by master server
    8. Login to JAVA GUI or Admin Console to deactivate the media server.
    9. Go to /usr/openv/pack/save and uninstall the netbackup patches and agents
    10. Login to master server remove the SERVER and MEDIA_SERVER entry from bp.conf
    11. Using nbemmcmd command remove any aliases for the media server first
    12. Using nbemmcmd command now delete the media server host entry from NBDB
    13. From SAN side remove the zoning for the drives and robots
    14. Run sgscan to verify if all the tape drives and robots are not seen by media server OS

    DONE
  • J_H_Is_gone's avatar
    J_H_Is_gone
    Level 6
    16 years ago
    1) Make sure all storage units are documented.
    a. #bpstulist –L (this will list all the info we need for current storage units so we can recreate them) send to output file or print.
    b. #bppllist –allpolicies (this will list all the policies and you can see what storage units each policy uses) send to output file or print
    2) Deactivate all policies
    3) get all the tape #;s that are under the control of the server being removed, and have them chang control to another media server.
    a. run a script or command to get the tape numbers.: bpmedialist -mlist -l -h <oldmediaserver>
    b. now change control to a new media server: bpmedia  -movedb -ev <mediaid> -oldserver <oldmediaserver> -newserver <newmediaserver>
    c. verify that no tapes are anylonger under control of the old media server.
    4) Set up <newmdiaserver> to be able to do restores for any tapes that were moved. Add the following line to the bp.conf.
    a. FORCE_RESTORE_MEDIA_SERVER= <oldserver> <newserver>
    b. Add this line for each media server being removed.
    5)  place all tapes in standalone status.
    6) For the server being taken out use the GUI to Delete:
    a. The Tape Drives
    i. Go to Media and Device management
    ii. Devices
    v. remove the drives for that media servers
    b. Remove the storage units that reference the server(s) being taken out.
    7) Power down everything, media, master and robot and make your cabling changes
    or  just out the zoneing for the media server from the san.
    8) Bring up everything

    10) Change any policies that referenced the old storage units to use the new storage units
    11) Change the server name in the bp.conf or vm.conf of media, master and client properties
    a. go to the list of hosts
    b. you can highlight all of them and right click for properties (wait for it 5 yo 6 mins)
    c. do a remove from all lists of the old server names
    d. do a add to all lists of the new server name.
    e. Say ok (wait for it 5 to 6 mins) handle by hand any that gave errors
    11) Change the list of files the catalog backs up.
    f. Remove reference to old servers.
    g. Add the files for the new server.
    12) Activate one policy that uses a new storage unit and do a test backup to make sure it uses the new server
    13) Activate all the policies and we should be good.

  • J_H_Is_gone's avatar
    J_H_Is_gone
    Level 6
    16 years ago
    Can I ask about step 3.

    I have never gone and removed/renamed files when decoming a server.  I can do almost everything from the gui ( all except move ownership of tapes).

    Why do you go to disk and rename these files?  Would not removing them correctly from GUI take care of this?