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kproehl's avatar
kproehl
Level 5
14 years ago

Specify what media server a restore runs through

Hi all,

I have a question about restores and what media server it uses.  We currently have 3 media servers two in location A and one in location B.  I want to know if there is a way in NetBackup to dynamically chose what media server the restore runs through.  I know that if I run a backup on media1 in location A that by default NetBackup will run the restore through that same media server.  I know i can also setup a restore fail-over server so if something were to happen to media1 in location A it could use media2 in location A for example. 

Is there i way for me to chose what server it restores through? 

  • Enabling automatic failover to an alternate server

    NetBackup allows the administrator to configure automatic restore failover to an

    alternate server if the original server is temporarily inaccessible. Once it is

    configured, this method does not require administrator intervention.

    See Restore Failover propertieson page 168.

    Some examples of when to use this method are as follows:

    Two or more servers share a robot, each with connected drives.

    When a restore is requested, one of the servers is temporarily inaccessible.

    Two or more servers have stand-alone drives of the same type.

    When a restore is requested, one of the servers is temporarily inaccessible.

    In these instances, inaccessible means that the connection between bprd on the

    master server and bptm on the original server (through bpcd) fails.

    Possible reasons for the failure are as follows:

    The original server is down.

    The original server is up but bpcd on that server does not respond. (For example,

    if the connection is refused or access is denied.)

    The original server is up and bpcd is fine, but bptm has problems. (For example,

    if bptm cannot find the required tape.)

    Note: The failover uses only the failover hosts that are listed in the NetBackup

    configuration. By default, the list is empty and NetBackup does not perform the

    automatic failover.

    Failing over to an alternate server

    Use the following procedure to enable automatic failover to an alternate server.

    To enable automatic failover to an alternate server

    1 Modify the NetBackup configuration on the master server are as follows:

    By using the NetBackup Administration Console:

    Open the RestoreFailover host properties dialog box of the master server.

    Add an entry in the Alternate Restore Failover Machines list that lists

    the media server and failover restore server(s).

    By modifying the bp.conf file on a UNIX NetBackup server:

    As root, add the following entry to the

    /usr/openv/netbackup/bp.conf file:

    FAILOVER_RESTORE_MEDIA_SERVERS =

    failed_host host1 host2 ... hostN

    Where:

    failed_host is the server that is not operational.

    host1 ... hostN are the servers that provide failover capabilities.

    When automatic failover is necessary for a given server, NetBackup searches

    through the relevant FAILOVER_RESTORE_MEDIA_SERVERS list. NetBackup

    looks from left to right for the first server that is eligible to perform the

    restore.

    There can be multiple FAILOVER_RESTORE_MEDIA_SERVERS entries and each

    entry can have multiple servers. However, a NetBackup server can be a

    failed_host in only one entry.

    2 Stop and restart the NetBackup Request daemon on the master server.

4 Replies

  • Enabling automatic failover to an alternate server

    NetBackup allows the administrator to configure automatic restore failover to an

    alternate server if the original server is temporarily inaccessible. Once it is

    configured, this method does not require administrator intervention.

    See Restore Failover propertieson page 168.

    Some examples of when to use this method are as follows:

    Two or more servers share a robot, each with connected drives.

    When a restore is requested, one of the servers is temporarily inaccessible.

    Two or more servers have stand-alone drives of the same type.

    When a restore is requested, one of the servers is temporarily inaccessible.

    In these instances, inaccessible means that the connection between bprd on the

    master server and bptm on the original server (through bpcd) fails.

    Possible reasons for the failure are as follows:

    The original server is down.

    The original server is up but bpcd on that server does not respond. (For example,

    if the connection is refused or access is denied.)

    The original server is up and bpcd is fine, but bptm has problems. (For example,

    if bptm cannot find the required tape.)

    Note: The failover uses only the failover hosts that are listed in the NetBackup

    configuration. By default, the list is empty and NetBackup does not perform the

    automatic failover.

    Failing over to an alternate server

    Use the following procedure to enable automatic failover to an alternate server.

    To enable automatic failover to an alternate server

    1 Modify the NetBackup configuration on the master server are as follows:

    By using the NetBackup Administration Console:

    Open the RestoreFailover host properties dialog box of the master server.

    Add an entry in the Alternate Restore Failover Machines list that lists

    the media server and failover restore server(s).

    By modifying the bp.conf file on a UNIX NetBackup server:

    As root, add the following entry to the

    /usr/openv/netbackup/bp.conf file:

    FAILOVER_RESTORE_MEDIA_SERVERS =

    failed_host host1 host2 ... hostN

    Where:

    failed_host is the server that is not operational.

    host1 ... hostN are the servers that provide failover capabilities.

    When automatic failover is necessary for a given server, NetBackup searches

    through the relevant FAILOVER_RESTORE_MEDIA_SERVERS list. NetBackup

    looks from left to right for the first server that is eligible to perform the

    restore.

    There can be multiple FAILOVER_RESTORE_MEDIA_SERVERS entries and each

    entry can have multiple servers. However, a NetBackup server can be a

    failed_host in only one entry.

    2 Stop and restart the NetBackup Request daemon on the master server.

  • You cannot pick at the time of starting a restore what meida server to use.

    you would have to setup a

    FORCE_RESTORE_MEDIA_SERVER = <media server that did backup> <media server you want to do restore>

    in your bp.conf or in the gui config  and remove it when done.

     

  • Just a little tack on to what Judy wrote.After adding the entry to the bp.conf file  run the command

    bprdreq -rereadconfig

  • If you are restoring from disk (particularly OST devices, dedup), bprestore new argument (page 318-319 of Commands manual from NBU7.0.1):

    -disk_media_server media_server
        Identifies the disk media server to be used for the restore operation. The
        default server is the one currently being used.