Q1) What is the command / process to "duplicate" an image that I need to "stu-masterA-nbuxfer"? what is the difference between "duplicate" and "export", or are they the same?
A1) You could use the "bpduplicate" command, but if you only have a few images to migrate then it might be simpler to use the GUI - on both sides... on side "A" for the duplicate, and on side "B for the import followed by the duplication. NetBackup doesn't have an "export" function.
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Q2) Are you saying to mount the same NFS FS onto two diffrent servers, MasterA and MasterB, then do the dulicate and then import in two different time?
A2) Great question - which has made me realise, that if masterA expires an image then masterB catalog will be refering to something that no longer exists, which is not good. So, I have updated the procedure above to use two exports and to use a manual copy between the two NFS areas. Have another look and come back with additional questions if required.
Re timing: My advice would be do work it in a "set" or "sets", i.e. for however many backup images... work through the whole process before starting the next batch - i.e. so that at the start of the procedure both exports are empty - i.e. do not start a batch of images whilst another batch of images are already underway through the process.
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Q3) Basically, I need to selectively extract some backups from old environment to the new environment.
A3) The above process will help you achieve this. Essentially it duplicates the backup images. If you want the old masterA to forget the duplicated images then add a step 11 to finally remove the backup images from masterA from whatever storage it the original copy is still residing upon.
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NB - step 7 is actually two steps - I've split it in to 7a) and 7b).
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Warning 3: If you are not familiar with the concept of multiple "copies" of backups (images) on different storage units, then you need to either read some manuals and/or tech notes, or search this forum for topics related to multiple copies, or practice a bit with one or more backups that you are willing to loose if you get the above process wrong. What I mean is that... my very brief process assumes a certain level of understanding of NetBackup, and so if this is your first time with manually duplicating backup images to create multiple copies in multiple disparate masters/catalogs, then do not do your first few/couple of test iterations with important backup data.
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If you have enough disk space on your NFS server, then you may be able to do it all on only a few iterations.