deduplication

[noazara]

Hi ALL,

we are working on using deduplication technology in our environment but want to have below things clear:Just the basic idea?

1. Before NBU 7.x,How do we do deduplication? we use symantec netbackup pure disk?
2. Symantec NetBackup PureDisk is a product that provides a complete backup and deduplication environment. It can be used as a stand-alone (PureDisk writes data to the storage pools) or as a back-end for NetBackup. How it is use as standalone and as backend?
3. now in 7.1 we have MSDP.This is also using Pure disk?
4. What is this MSDP?And this PDDO?

[PeteWall]

Great questions.  I hope I can clear some things up.

First, NetBackup PureDisk is a standalone backup software that uses deduplication to reduce the amount of data written to its storage disks.  PureDisk Deduplication Option (PDDO) is the link between NetBackup and PureDisk.  With PDDO, your NetBackup backups are sent to your PureDisk servers to be stored in the deduplicated storage pool.

In NetBackup 7.0, we introduced Media Server Deduplication Pool (MSDP), which took the engine and core components of PureDisk and added them to the NetBackup media server.  This allowed NetBackup backups to be dedup'ed and stored on the media server, rather than a separate PureDisk server.

I'll try and answer your questions then:

1. Yes, before NetBackup 7.x, to use a deduplicated storage, you would use PDDO to connect to a PureDisk storage pool.

2. PureDisk is a standalone backup product, so you could use the separate PureDisk agents to capture the files you want to backup and the PureDisk servers to store it.  You can also use the NetBackup clients and media servers to capture the data and send it to the PureDisk server (using PDDO) for storage.

3. MSDP was actually introduced in NetBackup 7.0.  While it is not the same as PureDisk, it shares much of the same technology.  MSDP is deduplicated storage on the NetBackup media server.

4. Hopefully, I've explained the differences between MSDP and PDDO above.  If you have further questions, I can try and help more.

Thanks!

-Pete

[noazara]

Thanks Petewall.Great explanation. !!

1. Before NBU 7.0; deduplication was done through pure disk st pool.we need to buid a separate pure disk server for this and all thing is managed by pure disk server?what netbackup does in that?
2. In NBU 7.1,We use MSDP .but what is the use pure disk deduplication pool in this?
3. If we are using MSDP,we need to have a separate st server?
4. From where  my storage will come in case of this MSDP?

[PeteWall]

1. Yes, before NetBackup 7.0, you would use a PureDisk storage pool to get deduplication.  This would involve at least one separate server (the PureDisk SPA) but may include more (typically extra content routers).  The PureDisk side would be managed by PureDisk, while the NetBackup side (storage units, disk pools, etc...) would be managed by NetBackup.

2. After NetBackup 7.0, you now have the option of using either PureDisk or MSDP.  There are many reasons why you would choose one over the other, so picking PureDisk or MSDP depends more on your use cases, rather than on a technological answer.

3. MSDP configures its storage on the NetBackup media server.  You do not require a seperate server for MSDP.

4. When you create the MSDP storage server, you can specifiy the path where the MSDP storage will be created.

Hopefully, I've answered your questions!

-Pete

[noazara]

4.When you create the MSDP storage server, you can specifiy the path where the MSDP storage will be created.  

For this I needs to have a pure disk server separately?

The storage for this needs to come from SAN?

.2. After NetBackup 7.0, you now have the option of using either PureDisk or MSDP.  There are many reasons why you would choose one over the other, so picking PureDisk or MSDP depends more on your use cases, rather than on a technological answer.

This Pure disk after 7.0  is similar what was prior to Netbackup 7.0?

[noazara]

4.When you create the MSDP storage server, you can specifiy the path where the MSDP storage will be created.  

For this I needs to have a pure disk server separately?

The storage for this needs to come from SAN?

.2. After NetBackup 7.0, you now have the option of using either PureDisk or MSDP.  There are many reasons why you would choose one over the other, so picking PureDisk or MSDP depends more on your use cases, rather than on a technological answer.

This Pure disk after 7.0  is similar what was prior to Netbackup 7.0?

[Vikas_Verma1]

4.  As MSDP resides on Netbackup Media server, You can either use the DAS or SAN stoarge attached to it(Media server). you can specify the same PATH in the MSDP configuration wizard and create the Disk pool and stoarge unit(STU) accordingly. Now all the backups you take on this STU would be store at same path.

5. As alraedy discussed, PureDisK is a seprate standalon product and independant of NBU version, so in general there are no such direct dependancy. however there can be some plug-in cases which would be version dependant between them from compatbility prospective.

So the long story short, the PureDisk(6.6.x) can work with NB(7.x).

Regards,

-Vikas Verma.

[noazara]

So the long story short, the PureDisk(6.6.x) can work with NB(7.x).

1. I just want to know difference between MSDP and pure disk in NBU 7.0?

2.In 7.0 pure disk deduplication we also need a pure disk server separately?

3.In 7.0 MSDP,we need a pure disk server separately?

[PeteWall]

Yes, PureDisk 6.6.x will work with NetBackup 7.x.

1. MSDP and PureDisk are two deduplication storage destinations for NetBackup.  MSDP stores the data on the media server, using a path you specify when configuring MSDP.  PureDisk requires a seperate set of servers that stores the data on those servers (on the content routers).  NetBackup 7.x uses PDDO to connect to those PureDisk servers.

2. PureDisk always requires seperate servers with the PureDisk software installed on them.

3. MSDP does not require seperate servers, because it is configured on the NetBackup media server.

[noazara]

Thanks Pete.One last doubt:

1. MSDP and PureDisk are two deduplication storage destinations for NetBackup.  MSDP stores the data on the media server, using a path you specify when configuring MSDP.  PureDisk requires a seperate set of servers that stores the data on those servers (on the content routers).  NetBackup 7.x uses PDDO to connect to those PureDisk servers.

Doubts:

a)What Netbackup uses to connect  to pure disk servers in NBU 6.x?

b)In both nbu 6.x and 7.x ,we are using separete pure disk servers part from media server for storage.Then what is the diff between 6.x and 7.x regarding pure disk dedupe?

c)What is source dedupe and target dedupe in case of pure disk dedupe?

[Vikas_Verma1]

a) >=NB6.5.4 would be OK to connect to PureDisk pool.

Pls remember in case of NB6.5.x you need to manually copy the PureDisk agent from PD server(SPA) based on respective NBU media server OS flavour and then need run the same wizard for PDDO configuration from NBU media server.

b) In NB6.x the only possible way to achive deduplication for NBU backup was via PD(SPA) pool. this is non NBU embedded offering.

With NB7.x, you have a option to either chose the earlier way(PDDO) or you can also use the NBU media server embedded deduplication way(MSDP) for deduplication purpose.

c) The Source dedupe means that data has been deduplicated at source(often a NBU client) before traversing over the NW to media server.

The Target dedupe means all the client data travers through the NW and deduplication only happen a Media server.a) >=NB6.5.4 would be OK to connect to PureDisk pool.

Pls remember in case of NB6.5.x you need to manually copy the PureDisk agent from PD server(SPA) based on respective NBU media server OS flavour and then need run the same wizard for PDDO configuration from NBU media server.

b) In NB6.x the only possible way to achieve deduplication for NBU backup was via PD(SPA) pool. this is non NBU embedded offering.

With NB7.x, you have a option to either chose the earlier way(PDDO) or you can also use the NBU media server embedded deduplication way(MSDP) for deduplication purpose.

c) The Source dedupe means that data has been deduplicated at source(often a NBU client) before traversing over the NW to media server.

The Target dedupe means all the client data traverse through the NW and deduplication only happen a Media server.

[noazara]

Thanks Vikas.

@Pete:

b)In both nbu 6.x and 7.x ,we are using separete pure disk servers part from media server for storage.Then what is the diff between 6.x and 7.x regarding pure disk dedupe?

Can u please show some sight on above statement?

[noazara]

and in nbu 6.x and  nbu 7.x pure disk,we need to have a separate pure disk servers?

[noazara]

Hi,

Pete.Please provide an update onto this.

[PeteWall · Accepted solution]

Since PureDisk and NetBackup are seperate products, they have separate version numbers.

NetBackup 6.x can use PureDisk for deduplication.  This requires seperate servers for the NetBackup media server as well as the PureDisk servers.

NetBackup 7.x can still use PureDisk for deduplication, using the same number of servers as the NetBackup 6.x example.  There is little difference bewteen the two, as the major differences in how the deudpilcation is performed would be on the version of PureDisk chosen.  The rest of the differences would be only on the NetBackup side.

NetBackup 7.x can also use MSDP, which is a part of the NetBackup media server (no separate PureDisk product used), which only needs one server: the media server where MSDP will be configured.

[Vikas_Verma1]

As far as the below query...

"and in nbu 6.x and  nbu 7.x pure disk,we need to have a separate pure disk servers?"

There would always a seperate Puredisk server(PDDO) needed irrespective of NBU version(be it 6.x or 7.x). the only part which has been chnaged with NB7.x is manually coppying the PD agent from PD server(SPA) basesd on the respective OS flavour. this step is no more needed as the PD agent is also by default shipped with NB7.x installed.

sethere 

[noazara]

Thanks both Vikas and pete.Highly obliged.I am Marking pete comment as solution.

[PeteWall]

Glad we could help!

[Marianne]

Seems you forgot to Mark Solution?