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PranavB's avatar
PranavB
Level 4
10 years ago

NDMP backups over FC using DDBOOST

Geeks !

 

We do not have much NDMp data to backup and we are looking for possible disk based backup solutions for our NAS data and do not want an overhead to implement a VTL.

 

Is it possble to use DDBOOST over FC for NDMP backups as well as we would be using it for our other backups as well.

 

If we Zone Netapp Adapter or VNX data movers Aux's to Data Domain HBA's ,would be able to leverage netbackup OST for backing up our NDMP backups.

 

Thanks,

PB

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  • RiaanBadenhorst's avatar
    RiaanBadenhorst
    10 years ago

    Hi,

     

    No you can't do that. There are only two ways to configure NDMP type backups (for the purpose of this conversation)

    1. Backup to tape (physical or virtual)
    2. remote NDMP over the LAN to a media server

    So to the question about DD boost, yes you can put DD boost on the media server, but that really has nothing to do with where the data comes from or what type it is. DD boost only offloads segment processing from the DD.

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  • RiaanBadenhorst's avatar
    RiaanBadenhorst
    Level 6
    10 years ago

    Hi,

     

    No you can't do that. There are only two ways to configure NDMP type backups (for the purpose of this conversation)

    1. Backup to tape (physical or virtual)
    2. remote NDMP over the LAN to a media server

    So to the question about DD boost, yes you can put DD boost on the media server, but that really has nothing to do with where the data comes from or what type it is. DD boost only offloads segment processing from the DD.

  • Nicolai's avatar
    Nicolai
    Moderator
    10 years ago

    I think it  may be  possible for VNX - see link below:

     http://www.slideshare.net/emcacademics/emc-for-network-attached-storage-nas-backup-and-recovery-using-ndmp

    Since BOOST is a software plug-in, it is not possible to install on a NDMP device. But you will still get deduplication when writing do a Data Domain - it "just" mean that the Data Domain box will do the entire process. BOOST plug-in as such does not do deduplication but fingerprint hashing.

    Hope it helps

    Best Regards

    Nicolai

  • PranavB's avatar
    PranavB
    Level 4
    10 years ago

    thanks Nic,any idea how we do it ?

    can data flow over FC from VNX data movers to Media server and then to data Domain - All over FC ?

  • RiaanBadenhorst's avatar
    RiaanBadenhorst
    Level 6
    10 years ago

    Hi Nicolai,

     

    I'm sure that document has some fine print stating that you need to configure a VTL on the DD. Otherwise it means they've rewritten the NDMP protocol to be able to write to something other than tape. Which would be cool ;)

  • Marianne's avatar
    Marianne
    Level 6
    10 years ago

    My 2c:

    The problem with NAS/NDMP devices is that no backup software or OST plugins can be installed.
    For OST over SAN to work, the OST plugin needs to be installed.

    I would use the NBU docs to find the answer.

    The NBU 7.x HCL (updated as and when more OST devices and features are supported): http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH76495   still only lists the 3 connection methods for NDMP:
    1. Direct-attach
    2. Remote
    3. 3-way

    Direct-attach description:
    Data travels from disk to a tape device on the same NDMP host, or from disk to tape device on a SAN. Backup data is NOT sent over local network. NOTE: The tape drives must be in NDMP-type storage units.

    More reading matter:
    NDMP Appliance Information  
    NetBackup for NDMP Administrator's Guide 
     

  • Nicolai's avatar
    Nicolai
    Moderator
    10 years ago

    EMC VNX can write to disk system using a VTL emulator called VTLU.

    So the ability to write NDMP to disk seems very device specific. !!

    http://corpusweb130.corp.emc.com/upd_prod_VNX/UPDFinalPDF/en/NDMP_Backups.pdf

    A VTLU is a software-based TLU that resides on a Data Mover and emulates a physical TLU. It is also known as NDMP2D. A VTLU allows for compatibility between NDMP and disk-based storage. The NDMP-compliant backup software cannot distinguish between a physical TLU and a VTLU. This allows you to manage the VTLU as if it were a physical TLU. Configuring NDMP Backups to Disk on VNX provides more information on VTLUs