creating duplicate to tape with data domain

[dhabz]

Hi

We have recently purchased some data domain boxes but no proper thought has gone behind the design of backup exec environment and I've been handed the job after the decisions to buy have een made.

Currently we have standalone backup exec servers (windows 2008 servers and BUE 2012) at all our remote sites which backup to local tape devices.  We will replace tape devices at all remote sites with a data domain box.

Backups will be written to a CIFS share on the dd box and then replicated to a central dd box in our main site.

We want to be able to write monthly full backups to tape at our central site from the replicated copy.

The remote backup exec servers cannot see the tape device at our central site.

The question we have is do we need to redesign our environemnt - i.e. move to a CASO environment to be able to drive the duplicate to tape from a backup exec server at our central site (central master server with several remote media/slave servers).

Any simple advise greatly appreciated.

cheers

[pkh]

Replicating the contents of your DD is equivalent to copying the backup sets. This is not recommended. You should always duplicate your backup sets.

[CraigV]

Hi,

The only way I see this working with CAS is buying the Enterprise Server Option license. Load that onto a server. You'd need to centralise your Catalogs on the CAS server (read the TN below). This will allow you to control and delegate jobs from the CAS to the MMS.

Backup to the site Data Domain, and then put in a stage to duplicate to the primary Data Domain connected to the CAS. From there put in a stage to duplicate to tape.

Be aware that when duplicating to tape you will see your data rehydrating.

http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO73652

Thanks!

[pkh]

In order to use the DD's as dedup appliances, the DD's needs to be licenced for Boost and each media server needs to have the dedup option.  You also need to install the DD OST-plugin on each of the media server.

When you are duplicating from one DD dedup appliance to another DD dedup appliance, you are using optimised duplication which means that only the changed data blocks are transmitted across the WAN link thus minimising bandwidth requirements.

[VJware]

Have a look @ this KB as well - http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=TECH188896