Forum Discussion

mn79's avatar
mn79
Level 3
5 years ago

Library paritioning

Hi,

I have an SL3000 that is currently connected to one of the Master servers. Going forward I'll have a second Master to cater for backups in another network, security issues. I would have to configure tape backups for the second master as well. So I am thinking of partitioning my production library.

How will this impact my current production, i.e.would I face issues with NetBackup as the one robot changes and will be seen as two logical robots. So will this be interpreted as a new library that Netbackup knows nothing about?

Thank you.

  • If all tape drives and library slots and media were assigned to the single, un-partitioned library, you will need to divide the CAP, drives and slots between the partitions. 

    If partition 1 will be assigned to current master and partition 2 to new server, you will need to remove all tapes from partition 2 slots and insert new tapes for new server. 

    Just to be safe, I would remove all tapes from the library, and delete current devices from NBU. Restart NBU device management service (ltid). 

    After partitioning and checking zoning, confirm that only devices for relevant partition is seen at OS-level by each server. 
    Use 'scan' command to report on devices - check robot serial number, number of slots in robot, and drive serial numbers. 

    If all good, insert tapes in correct partition. 

    Re-add devices using the Device Config Wizard. 
    Inventory robot. 
    Check Storage Unit config - adjust max number of drives. 

    Again - this is how I would do it. 

  • In theory it shouldn't - providing the new partition doesn't change the config of the existing one.

    It's been years since I have done this myself, but if I recall with the IBM 3500 series, if you had an unpartionioned library (in use) and then turned on ALMS and partioined it, it affected the original setup.  If you started with it partitioned, but with only one partition, and then added another, it didn't - but I could be wrong it was many years ago.

    Best thing to do is check with the hardware vendor.

     

    • mn79's avatar
      mn79
      Level 3

      Hi,

      The library is not partitioned at the moment. The partitioning will change the configuration. The library hardware supports partitioning, there are no issues here.

      My question was more regarding the steps, and precautions to take at the Netbackup layer.

       

      Regards

      • Marianne's avatar
        Marianne
        Level 6

        If all tape drives and library slots and media were assigned to the single, un-partitioned library, you will need to divide the CAP, drives and slots between the partitions. 

        If partition 1 will be assigned to current master and partition 2 to new server, you will need to remove all tapes from partition 2 slots and insert new tapes for new server. 

        Just to be safe, I would remove all tapes from the library, and delete current devices from NBU. Restart NBU device management service (ltid). 

        After partitioning and checking zoning, confirm that only devices for relevant partition is seen at OS-level by each server. 
        Use 'scan' command to report on devices - check robot serial number, number of slots in robot, and drive serial numbers. 

        If all good, insert tapes in correct partition. 

        Re-add devices using the Device Config Wizard. 
        Inventory robot. 
        Check Storage Unit config - adjust max number of drives. 

        Again - this is how I would do it.