Find which Netbackup client , backedup a particular unique file

[NortonsFan]

Find which Netbackup client , backedup a particular file

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Is it possible to know which Netbackup client backedup a particular unique file ?

Provided the only reliable information readily available is the file name which was backedup. We don't know anything

apart from that, when & which client backedup that file.

[Mark_Solutions]

I dont think there is anything built into NetBackup to do this but there is a little workaround, although it could take a while to get the results.

Go to <installpath>\veritas\netbackup\db\images\ and do a search for text within files for what you are looking for.

Each .f file in the catalog does actually have the backed up files names listed in them.

They are not very readable but once you have found the file you will be able to see which folder it is in and that will show you the client that backed it up and the date it was backed up (in Unix time)

So the client is easy and to get the date lookj at the folder name, for example 1311000000, and drop that into here to get the time and date of the backup:

http://www.onlineconversion.com/unix_time.htm

Hope this helps

[Mark_Solutions]

have you said thanks on the wrong thread?

If you are happy with this dont forget to mark as helpful and if resolved mark the solution

Thanks

[Andy_Welburn]

of me find it - i.e. the ability to find which client backed up which file - & I'm sure it wasn't too long ago.

As far as the "Unix time" is concerned, you could always try bpdbm -ctime <ctime_number>

***EDIT***

Found the discussion I was thinking of, basically involves feeding a list of clients into bplist & searching the results for the string you're interested in - I have a feeling this could take some time in a large environment!

https://www-secure.symantec.com/connect/forums/command-find-client

[NortonsFan · Accepted solution]

Excellent memory Andy,

you lead me to the right thread , where such problem had been already solved

https://www-secure.symantec.com/connect/forums/command-find-client

[Marianne]

Hi Mark, .f files are no longer text files - changed to binary (if memory serves me right) roundabout NBU 4.5 FP3.

[Mark_Solutions]

Marianne

You are right which is why i said they are not exactly readable, but the file names do reside in them

So on Windows in a command line window if you are looking for a file named filename.ext you could  go to:

C:\Program Files\veritas\netbackup\db\images\

Then run:

findstr /s /i filename.ext *.*

This will pipe out the files containing that file plus that files details but it will list the client name and unix path so does give you everything needed pretty quickly.

[Andy_Welburn]

Or 'strings' & 'grep' for *nix........

[Andy_Welburn]

.... & quite a few searches, altho' I did have a feeling Nicolai was involved somewhere!

[Nicolai]

Search for MS SQL tabel space files that hasn't been excluded from file system backup. Regular checks save me multiple TB of useless backup every month.

Nortonsfan: Glad you found a remedy

Andy: You still surprise me :)