Pure Disk - OST Devices Question

[mgmasterv2]

hi

1. what is certified Pure Disk Device?
2. what can i do with a Certified Pure Disk Appliance?
3. what is the difference between a pure disk appliance and a OST Appliance?
4. do i need additional license or plugin on Puredisk - OST Appliance to use it with Backup Exec?
5. Can i share a Pure Disk Appliance over FC so all backup Exec Server Can Use it as deduplication storage? (all BE server use same LUN of Device)

[CraigV]

Hi there,

Found this...

http://eval.symantec.com/mktginfo/enterprise/white_papers/b-symantec_netbackup_puredisk_WP.en-us.pdf

While this is for NBU, the concepts are the same. Give it a read and then come back with questions...

Thanks! 

[Siddhant_Saini · Accepted solution]

Hello Mehrdad,

Here are the answers to your queries: 

1. PureDisk is another option for a deduplication appliance, using the OpenStorage specification. PureDisk allows for flexibility in the disk subsystem. A certified PureDisk Device is the one which is listed in the Backup Exec 2012 Hardware Compatibility List(under the 'PureDisk Deduplication Option' section). Link for the Backup Exec 2012 Hardware Compatiblity List: http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH175582

2. For knowing what you can do with a PureDisk Appliance, I'd request you to refer to the following link: http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH139108

3. Both PureDisk Appliance and OST Appliance fall under the 'Deduplication Appliance' or 'Appliance Deduplication' type of Deduplication. From what I understand, both PureDisk Appliance and a OST Appliance have the ability to use PureDisk/OST as both, a destination for Appliance Deduplication, and Backup Exec Remote Agents can backup data directly to the PureDisk/OST storage pool(all the devices in the pool need to belong to the same vendor) through Client Deduplication. Here the difference is that only deduplication disk storage devices and PureDisk devices support optimized duplication for GRT-enabled backup sets.

For more details on this you may refer to the Backup Exec 2012 Administrators Guide: http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=DOC5211

4. Yes, you would need a 'Deduplication Option' license. 

5. Yes, you can share it(by making use of the options like CAS(Central Admin Server)).
Edit: Refer to the following link: http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO73693

Note: I'd wait for input's from other experts on the information provided above. 

[mgmasterv2]

thank you sidd3009, i got ibm Storwize v3700 wich is a Certified Pure Disk appliace .

do i need a  to have pure disk OS & Pure Disk Application servers in my environment to use pure disk feature? or ibm Storwize is enough. im confused

[Siddhant_Saini · Accepted solution]

Hello Mehrdad, based on the following link, I'd like to let you know that to use a Symantec PureDisk Device from another vendor, you need to contact the Device manufacturer and get an appropriate plugin which would act as a connector. With Backup Exec 2012, you only have two options for the Deduplication option viz. add a Deduplication folder(as a Disk Storage) or add an OpenStorage Device(based on the plugin you get from the vendor). You'll have to add the device as an OpenStorage Appliance. 

Reference Link: http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=HOWTO23357

[mgmasterv2]

thank you , you almost solved all of my problems .

can you tell me is it possible to share a Pure Disk Appliance over FC so all backup Exec Server Can Use it as deduplication storage? (all BE server use same LUN of Device) i got physical & Virtual BE Servers.

[CraigV]

Check the BE 2012 HCL under the OST section and see if the appliance you want to use supports FC:

http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=TECH175582

THanks!

[mgmasterv2]

its listed in Pure Disk section (storWize v3600) , and i cant find any plug-n for it.

do i need Storage Foundation to use a pure disk appliance? or backeup Exec alone is enough?

[mgmasterv2]

i want to share a FC SAN storage-IBM Storwize v3700 a certified FC PureDisk Appliance between all BE Servers but i cant find Symantec Connector for it , do i need the connector for using a pure disk appliance?

or Connector is just for OST Appliances? plz Help Me.

[Siddhant_Saini · Accepted solution]

Mehrdad, the connector/plugin is something that the Hardware Vendor provides. If you are not able to get it from there then you may use the deduplication feature at the Backup Exec level. For that you'd have to add a volume/partition associated to the device to the Backup Exec Server and create a Deduplication storage folder on it(using Backup Exec). 

Please refer to the following article to get more details on it: http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=HOWTO74446

Alo, for sharing a deduplication folder, you need to refer to this: http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=HOWTO73693